Testing Engineer

Roles and responsibilities

An Application Testing Engineer plays a critical role in ensuring that software applications are reliable, functional, and meet user expectations. To excel in this role, certain technical and soft skills are essential. Below is a detailed skill set typically expected from an Application Testing Engineer:

• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience as Application Testing Engineer.
  

Testing Fundamentals

• Understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): Knowledge of different models like Waterfall, Agile, and DevOps.
• Testing Life Cycle (STLC): Understanding the various phases such as test planning, test design, test execution, defect tracking, and reporting.
• Types of Testing: Proficient in functional and non-functional testing methods such as:
• Functional Testing: Unit, Integration, System, Sanity, Regression, Smoke Testing.
• Non-Functional Testing: Performance, Load, Stress, Usability, Compatibility, Security Testing.
• Manual and Automated Testing.
• Test Case Design: Writing detailed test cases based on requirements and use cases, and ensuring they cover both positive and negative scenarios.
  

Automation Testing Tools

• Scripting & Programming Skills: Ability to write test scripts using languages like:
• .NET, Java, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, or C#.
• Proficient in automation frameworks such as Selenium, TestNG, JUnit, Appium (for mobile testing), or Cucumber.
• Continuous Integration Tools: Knowledge of CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab, CircleCI, or Bamboo to automate test execution as part of the build pipeline.
• Version Control Systems: Familiarity with Git, SVN, or similar systems for managing test scripts.
  

Manual Testing Skills

• Test Planning and Execution: Developing test strategies, executing test cases manually, and reporting defects.
• Defect Management: Ability to identify, log, and manage defects using tools like Azure DevOps, JIRA, Bugzilla, Quality Center, or TFS.
• Exploratory Testing: Investigating applications to discover edge cases that aren’t covered by formal test cases.
• Usability Testing: Ensuring that applications are user-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing.

Desired candidate profile

Performance Testing

• Tools for Load & Stress Testing: Familiarity with tools like JMeter, LoadRunner, Gatling, or Apache Bench.
• Performance Metrics: Ability to analyze application performance and generate meaningful reports on response time, scalability, and load handling.
  

API Testing

• API Testing Tools: Knowledge of tools like Postman, SoapUI, Rest Assured, and Swagger.
• Understanding of Web Services: Familiarity with RESTful and SOAP web services, including making requests, validating responses, and handling authentication mechanisms like OAuth.
• JSON/XML Handling: Parsing and validating response data in JSON or XML format.
  

Security Testing

• Security Testing Tools: Familiarity with tools like OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, or Nessus for identifying vulnerabilities in applications.
• Understanding of Common Security Vulnerabilities: Knowledge of the OWASP Top 10 security risks such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), etc.
• Authentication & Authorization Testing: Verifying the security of authentication protocols, access controls, and permissions.
  

Mobile Testing

• Mobile Testing Tools: Knowledge of mobile testing tools like Appium, MonkeyTalk, or Robot Framework.
• Cross-Platform Testing: Familiarity with testing mobile apps across different platforms (iOS, Android) and devices with tools like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs.
• Responsive Design Testing: Testing web applications for responsiveness on various screen sizes, including mobile and tablet devices.
  

Database Testing

• SQL Knowledge: Ability to write and execute SQL queries to validate data integrity, perform back-end testing, and verify that data is being stored and retrieved correctly.
• Database Management Systems: Familiarity with DBMS like Oracle, SQL Server, MySQL or PostgreSQL.
• Data Migration & Validation: Ensuring data consistency when migrating or upgrading systems.
  

Cloud Testing

• Cloud Platforms: Experience with cloud services like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.
• Cloud Testing Tools: Familiarity with cloud-based testing tools like AWS Device Farm, BrowserStack, or Sauce Labs.
  

Soft Skills

• Attention to Detail: Ability to spot issues, inconsistencies, and edge cases that others might miss.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical skills for troubleshooting and resolving issues.
• Collaboration: Ability to work closely with development, business analysts, and product teams to understand requirements and issues.
• Communication Skills: Ability to document test cases, test results, and communicate issues and status reports effectively.
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning: The field of testing constantly evolves, so a proactive approach to learning new tools, technologies, and methodologies is essential.
• Time Management: Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Work well within cross-functional teams, especially in agile or DevOps environments.
• Critical Thinking: Ability to approach problems methodically and provide logical solutions.