IT Quality Assurance - Senior​/Specialist

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

IT Quality Assurance
- Senior/Specialist

Olympia WA, Thurston County (Flexible/Hybrid)

June 2nd, 2026

$92,760.00 - $ Annually

This position leads Quality Assurance (QA) Test activities for assigned projects and plays a critical role in the DCYF IT software development process. It is responsible for designing and executing comprehensive testing strategies, including defining test approaches, developing acceptance criteria, creating and managing test data, and building both manual and automated test scripts. The role independently evaluates software solutions and development processes to ensure they meet business objectives, while identifying defects, risks, and opportunities for improvement.

It also involves analyzing performance and security, maintaining test artifacts, and leveraging advanced tools and methods to support high-quality, reliable system delivery.

• Manage test activities on assigned project teams.
• Leads, mentors, and coaches lower-level testers by assigning and reviewing their work, providing advanced support in complex problem-solving.
• Represent QA in agile team meetings and design sessions to collaborate with development staff on test approach and to refine acceptance criteria.
• Research system requirements, user stories, topic papers, technical documents, and design documents to design test plans for each release.
• Create system and business relevant test cases, system test scripts & dependency data.
• Conduct usability testing to verify software meets UI standards and complies with ADA requirements.
• Oversee test resources, maintain shared test environments, and coordinate test activities.
• Develop, maintain and execute manual and automated test scripts, run system batches and coordinate testing with interface partners.
• Conduct User Acceptance Testing by setting up complex dependency data and validating potential incidents.
• Develop and conduct performance and stress tests using automated testing tools.
• Track test results, document outcomes using the incident tracking application.

Ten years of testing experience in a software development environment such as: writing manual and automated test scripts, executing test scripts, smoke test, system test, performance test, regression test, user-acceptance test.

OR

A bachelor's degree and 7 years of testing experience in a software development environment such as: writing manual and automated test scripts, executing test scripts, smoke test, system test, performance test, regression test, user-acceptance test.

• Five years of experience in leading QA test projects such as; coding automated test scripts, design test automation platform, executing test scripts, generating test data, managing user acceptance test programs, troubleshooting test systems, running bug triage meetings, evaluating conformance to technical requirements. (may be gained concurrently with the experience above).

• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in a public sector environment.
• Ability to evaluate automated or AI-generated outputs for accuracy, fairness, and appropriateness.
• Understanding of data governance, privacy, and ethical considerations in technology use.
• Commitment to continuous learning and adaptation to evolving technologies.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge.

Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, .