Quality Assurance Analyst, Sr

Countrywide Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is a nationwide financial services company. As a national leader in residential finance, we're recognized as an innovator of new financial products and services.

QUALITY ASSURANCE ANALYST, SENIOR

Artificial Intelligence Department

Under minimal supervision, the Senior Quality Assurance Analyst acts as part of a team to provide testing services of a highly complex nature for assigned custom software application(s) in a microcomputer environment. Assignments at this level are usually release-related and task-oriented, but may include testing and other analysis outside of specific release cycles. Testing usually occurs on multiple platforms (both web and client/server based) and across applications. Incumbent must be able to use own initiative and experience/knowledge to locate anomalies in functionality of assigned PCR's. Incumbent must also be able to work under the pressure of strict time constraints and constantly changing priorities.

Responsibilities:
- Generates complex test scripts including: utilizing existing test scripts, modifying existing test scripts, and/or creating new test scripts, to test the impact of a PCR on multiple systems (one platform). Testing is not routine and successful testing requires initiative and insight of the Analyst. The Senior Analyst is expected to go beyond surface testing and actively search for anomalies in functionality. Evaluate testing, promotional, database sampling software.
- Reviews and analyzes PCR's, usually of high complexity and across platforms, assigned from QA Lead/Manager for potential impact to the application the PCR addresses. In addition, the Senior QA Analyst must extrapolate from the PCR potential impact to other systems within the Countrywide network.
- Documents, both verbally and in a documentation database, the results of testing efforts.
- Reports status of testing both verbally and in writing. Reporting primarily relates to problems found during testing and does not usually include analysis of the problem. May work with developers to discuss problems that arise during testing.
- Traces updates made in executable code back though build process verifying that check-ins made in source code control system include updates as expected.
- May mentor and train lower level QA Analysts as needed.
- Creates executable software through running software build process being cognizant of source code.

Required:
- 5+ years previous testing experience in a microcomputer environment including the creation of new test scripts and modification of existing test scripts.
- Knowledge of mortgage banking terminology, processes and procedures.
- Analytical skills sufficient to extrapolate information from complex, written documents when information is missing or not clear.
- Demonstrated skill in using initiative and acquired knowledge in testing efforts.
- Ability to deal with the constant pressure of strict time constraints and ever-changing priorities.
- Oral and written communication skills sufficient to clearly report and document results of testing efforts.
- Ability to act individually and as a team member in resolving problems and completing projects.
- Strong organization skills and ability to multitask.

Experienced in:
- Performing systems testing, functional testing, regression testing using both automated and manual techniques.
- Performing and documenting test procedures, results and analysis, documenting problem issues, performing problem isolation, initial diagnostics and interfacing directly with development staff.
- Creating and documenting comprehensive test plans and procedures, creating and executing test requirements matrices.
- Adhering to quality assurance methods and processes.
- Performing code reviews.
- Performing the builds on production software from source code control systems.
Tracking updates from the executable production into the source code through the source code control systems.
- Creating trace ability matrices from requirements source to code design.
- Managing a quality assurance and/or testing group.

Familiar with:
- QA methods, processes and documentation software source code control systems, software build tools and processes, software development lifecycle.
- C++, Visual basic.
- Commercially available Automated Test Tools (e.g. WinRunner, QA Partner, Silk etc.) and assessing their applicability.
- CMM or equivalent.

The ideal candidate would have had a software development background of at least 3-5 years and have since migrated into Quality assurance with no less than 3 years of QA experience.




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