IT Quality Assurance - Senior​/Specialist

Salary: $92,760.00 - $ Annually

Location: Thurston County
- Olympia, WA (Flexible/Hybrid)

Job Type: Full Time
- Permanent

Job Number:

Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families

Division: Information Technology

Opening Date: May 12, 2026

Closing Date: July 23, 2026 11:59 PM Pacific

IT Quality Assurance
- Senior/Specialist

Our vision is to ensure Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community. 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, 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 analyzes performance and security, maintains test artifacts, and leverages advanced tools and methods to support high-quality, reliable system delivery.

• Manage test activities on assigned project teams.
• Lead, mentor, and coach 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 refine acceptance criteria.
• Research system requirements, user stories, technical documents, and design documents to design test plans for each release.
• Create system and business relevant test cases, system test scripts, and 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.
• Oversee 5 IT QA Journey positions in performing day-to-day QA testing activities.
• Track test results and document outcomes using the incident tracking application.

Ten years of testing experience in a software development environment, including writing manual and automated test scripts, executing test scripts, smoke test, system test, performance test, regression test, and user‑acceptance test; OR a bachelor's degree and seven years of testing experience in a software development environment.

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

• Five years of experience leading QA test projects such as coding automated test scripts, designing test automation platforms, 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).
• Experience may be gained concurrently.

• 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.

Complete your applicant profile on careers.wa.gov and attach a current resume detailing experience and education, and a letter of interest that explains how you meet the qualifications for this position.

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.

Employees receive health, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement benefits through the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System; paid leave including holidays and personal days; and other standard benefits. For more details, view the job posting for specific job type benefits.