Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.
What education do people in this job actually have?
O*NET incumbent survey (2024)How EWU courses prepare you for this work (13 of 30 O*NET tasks have course evidence)
Program a memory management simulation.
- Write, compile and execute a complete program for a given problem.
- Implement a program that uses an array to solve a problem.
- Write, compile and execute a program that will implement the Comparable interface.
- Implement code that reads information from a file.
Analyze a communication system and measure a performance in terms of probability of
- Analyze the asymptotic performance of algorithms.
- Understand and use the heap data structure and its applications in sorting and priority queue.
Interpret output from statistical software correctly
Write, compile and execute a program that will implement the Comparable interface.
- Design a closed-loop system that meets specified transient and steady state error goals.
- Design a P, PI, and PID controller to meet steady state tracking error requirements.
Program a memory management simulation.
Program a memory management simulation.
Program a memory management simulation.
Apply non-parametric statistical tests
Apply non-parametric statistical tests
Write, compile and execute a program that will implement the Comparable interface.
Program a memory management simulation.
Recent regional postings for this occupation
View all 683 postings from the last year →5 most recent CareerOneStop listings for this occupation. "Live" in Quick Facts counts only postings the scraper re-confirmed in the last 7 days; older real postings still appear here until they age out.
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Avionics Test Engineer, Avionics - Amazon Leo2026-06-03Amazon · Redmond, WA5 requirements 16 responsibilities 6 nice-to-have4+ years of hardware design and validation of components, subsystems and systems experience
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RF Test Engineer - 30368572026-06-04Apex Systems, Inc. · Redmond, WA
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Reliability Test Engineer2026-06-04Cascade Engineering Services · Redmond, WA
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Sr. Satellite Test Engineer, Amazon Leo Integrated Vehicle Testing2026-06-05Amazon · Redmond, WA
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RF Test Engineer2026-06-03Actalent · Redmond, WA8 requirements 11 responsibilities 2 nice-to-have3+ years of experience in RF/microwave testing, characterization, or validation.
Where to focus your applied learning (17 taskes without course evidence yet)
These O*NET tasks don't have direct course-objective evidence in the Math BS catalog yet. Each is an opportunity to gain hands-on preparation through an applied project, MAA-sponsored partnership, elective, or internship. The Math BS applied-projects page has examples of project-driven learning that could close these kinds of gaps.
- Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. (importance 4.7/5)
- Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. (importance 4.3/5)
- Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. (importance 4.3/5)
- Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. (importance 4.3/5)
- Create or maintain databases of known test defects. (importance 4.2/5)
- Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. (importance 4.1/5)
- Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. (importance 4.1/5)
- Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. (importance 4.1/5)
- Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. (importance 4.0/5)
- Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. (importance 4.0/5)
- Investigate customer problems referred by technical support. (importance 3.8/5)
- Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. (importance 3.7/5)
- Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance. (importance 3.7/5)
- Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source. (importance 3.7/5)
- Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions. (importance 3.3/5)
- Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking. (importance 3.2/5)
- Recommend purchase of equipment to control dust, temperature, or humidity in area of system installation.
More O*NET details for this occupation (skills, knowledge, tools & technology)
O*NET's tools-and-technology list aggregates software encountered across the occupation's many sub-roles, so the list can be broad. Treat it as a directory of what people in this job might use, not a checklist of what every job requires.
Where this data comes from. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills, and education-incumbents survey come from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 30.2. Washington-state pay and employment projections come from WA Employment Security Department and the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Live job postings come from CareerOneStop, refreshed nightly from a scrape that tracks the original posting date and the date our system last saw each posting live.
How we connect courses to occupations. Course catalog descriptions and program-level learning outcomes are indexed alongside O*NET task statements. Where a course's language aligns with a task an occupation requires, we mark it as evidence of preparation. Faculty review each candidate match and either confirm or veto it; only confirmed matches surface in totals.