You have been working in QA for several years, starting as a manual or automation QA engineer. Over time, you earned a promotion to become a QA leader. While this may not be the peak of your career, you may be wondering, what’s next? There are several paths for developing a QA lead career. In this article, we will explore the four most popular ones: management track, engineering track, specialized track, and DevOps track. Discover the positions you can pursue within these tracks.
Before we start
The management track focuses on managerial responsibilities, strategic planning, and ensuring overall product quality through effective team coordination.
The engineering track emphasizes automation, developing testing tools and frameworks, and resolving complex testing challenges.
The specialized track involves developing deep expertise in a particular domain and contributing to the overall testing strategy.
The DevOps track emphasizes continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), release management, and ensuring quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
The management track is suitable for QA professionals who have strong leadership skills and a passion for overseeing teams and projects. This path focuses on managerial responsibilities, strategic planning, and ensuring the overall quality of products through effective team coordination.
Key challenges
Balancing leadership and technical skills. QA managers need to maintain their technical skills while also developing strong leadership and management capabilities.
Team coordination and motivation. Managing a diverse team of QA professionals requires excellent communication, coordination, and motivational skills. Ensuring that team members are aligned with project goals, feel valued, and are motivated to perform their best can be a complex task.
Strategic planning and execution. QA managers must be able to think strategically, plan long-term, and ensure that their plans are executed efficiently.
Handling pressure and expectations. QA managers often face significant pressure to deliver high-quality products within tight deadlines. Managing stakeholder expectations and maintaining high-quality standards under pressure can be challenging.
Conflict resolution. Conflicts can arise within the team or with other departments, such as development or product management. QA managers need strong conflict resolution skills to address and resolve these issues effectively.
Communication with stakeholders. QA managers must be able to convey technical information in a clear and understandable manner.
Career path
- QA Analyst. Entry-level position focused on identifying and documenting defects in software.
- QA Lead. Manages a team of QA analysts, sets testing priorities, and ensures adherence to testing standards.
- QA Manager. Oversees multiple QA teams, develops quality assurance strategies, and works closely with other departments to ensure product quality.
- QA Director. Responsible for the overall quality assurance strategy of the organization, manages budgets, and ensures the QA process aligns with business goals.
Skill matrix for a management track
QA Analyst
QA Analysts review and test software to identify and fix defects and ensure that the final product meets the specified requirements and standards. In addition, QA Analysts guarantee that software applications meet user expectations and perform reliably under various conditions. They work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to improve the overall quality of the product.
This position includes review and understanding software requirements and specifications, test plans, test cases/test scripts development, test objectives, scope, and testing approach identification/choosing. QA Analysts perform manual or/and automated testing, execute tests and document the results. Next, they identify, report, and track software defects using bug tracking tools.
According to Payscale, the QA Analyst salary ranges from $53,000 to $82,000 per year, depending on experience level.
QA Lead
QA Leads oversee the quality assurance processes and team members to ensure the delivery of high-quality software products. They work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to maintain and improve the quality standards of the organization.
QA Leads participate in planning, coordinating, and executing testing activities, while also providing leadership and direction to the QA team. By managing the QA processes, they help prevent costly issues in production and contribute to the overall success and reputation of the organization.
QA Leads develop comprehensive test plans, test strategies, and test cases based on project requirements. They define the scope, objectives, and timelines for testing activities. Additionally, they oversee the execution of manual and automated tests, ensuring adherence to test plans and schedules, and they review and validate test results for accuracy and completeness.
QA Leads continuously evaluate and improve QA processes, tools, and methodologies, implement best practices and industry standards to enhance the quality assurance process, and stay updated with the latest QA trends, tools, and technologies. Additionally, a QA Lead provides training and support to QA team members to enhance their skills and knowledge, promotes a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the QA team, and ensures that the team is well-prepared to meet project goals and deadlines.
According to Payscale, the QA Lead salary ranges from $56,000 to $107,000 per year, depending on experience level.
QA Manager
QA Managers oversee the quality assurance activities and team members.
This position includes developing and implementing QA strategies, policies, and procedures. QA Managers lead, mentor, and manage the QA team, providing direction and support to foster a culture of continuous learning and professional development. They develop detailed test plans, test schedules, and resource allocation for testing activities. Additionally, they coordinate with project managers, developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure testing activities align with project goals.
QA Managers oversee the execution of manual and automated testing processes, monitor and review the progress and results of testing activities, and ensure adherence to test plans and established quality standards. They also collect, analyze, and report on quality metrics to assess the effectiveness of QA activities, provide regular status updates, test reports, and quality metrics to stakeholders, and identify trends and areas for improvement based on these metrics. QA Managers continuously evaluate and improve QA processes, tools, and methodologies, implement best practices and industry standards, and stay updated with the latest QA trends, tools, and technologies.
According to Payscale, the QA Manager salary ranges from $65 000 to $103 000 per year, depending on experience level.
QA Director
QA Directors provide leadership and direction to the QA department.
QA Directors collaborate with senior leadership, including project managers, developers, and product managers, to ensure that QA efforts align with project goals and timelines. They oversee the execution of both manual and automated testing processes, ensuring adherence to test plans and established quality standards. They also monitor and review the progress and results of testing activities, making necessary adjustments to meet quality objectives.
In addition, QA Directors continuously evaluate and improve QA processes, tools, and methodologies, implementing best practices and industry standards.
According to Payscale, the QA Director salary ranges from $78 000 to $138 000 per year, depending on experience level.
How to advance your career in the management track
The key skills for success in the management track are soft skills: strong leadership and excellent communication. To advance in a management role:
#1. Cultivate leadership skills. Whether you're mentoring team members, leading projects, or setting the vision for the entire department, strong leadership will inspire and guide your team toward success.
#2. Enhance communication abilities. Practice clear, concise reporting, actively participate in meetings, and ensure your insights contribute to strategic discussions.
#3. Demonstrate strategic thinking. Align QA objectives with overall business goals to showcase your ability to contribute to the broader success of the company.
#4. Strengthen management skills. Continuously hone your management abilities, and consider additional training or certifications to enhance your effectiveness as a leader.
#5. Manage stakeholder relationships. Develop the ability to negotiate, influence, and effectively communicate QA strategies and results to senior management and other departments.
The engineering track is suitable for QA professionals who have a strong technical background and are interested in the technical aspects of software testing. This path focuses on hands-on testing, automation, and developing testing tools and frameworks.
Key challenges
Keeping up with technological advances. Rapid advancements in technology require continuous learning and adaptation to new tools, frameworks, and methodologies.
Automation complexity. Developing and maintaining complex automated test suites and frameworks can be challenging, requiring strong programming skills and an understanding of software architecture.
Integration with development processes. Ensuring seamless integration of testing processes with development workflows, including CI/CD pipelines.
Scalability of testing. Designing tests that scale effectively with the size and complexity of the application, ensuring coverage and efficiency.
Balancing manual and automated testing. Determining the appropriate balance between manual and automated testing to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
Career path
- QA Analyst. Identifies and documents defects in software.
- QA Engineer. Develops and executes test plans, writes automated tests, and collaborates with developers to resolve issues.
- Lead QA Engineer. Leads a team of QA engineers, oversees the creation of automated test suites, and ensures testing best practices are followed.
- Senior QA Engineer. Focuses on complex testing challenges, mentors junior engineers, and drives improvements in the QA process.
Skill matrix for engineering track
QA Analyst
Engineering track emphasizes technical aspects of testing. So compared with the QA Analyst position in the management track, the QA Analyst position in the engineering track includes responsibilities such as test automation, test execution, technical problem-solving, tool development, and continuous improvement.
Required skills for this track involve proficiency in programming and scripting languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript, experience with automation tools such as Selenium or Appium, a strong understanding of software development and testing methodologies, analytical skills to develop appropriate test plans, and problem-solving abilities to quickly identify and resolve issues.
QA Engineer
QA Engineers are responsible for ensuring the quality and reliability of software products through rigorous testing and automation.
A QA Engineer designs, develops, and maintains automated test frameworks and scripts based on project requirements. They execute functional, performance, and regression tests to ensure the software behaves as expected under different conditions. Additionally, they perform hands-on testing, including manual tests when necessary, to identify defects and verify fixes. They use debugging and troubleshooting skills to analyze issues found during testing and work with the development team to resolve them.
According to Payscale, the QA Engineer salary ranges from $65 000 to $91 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Lead QA Engineer
Lead QA Engineers play a vital role in designing, developing, and implementing automated test frameworks and strategies. They oversee the effective execution of testing activities and the continuous improvement of QA processes, contributing significantly to the overall success and reputation of the organization. Also, they define the scope, objectives, and timelines for automated testing activities and ensure that test coverage is robust and efficient. Additionally, they lead the execution of automated and manual tests, ensuring adherence to test plans and schedules.
A Lead QA Engineer continuously evaluates and improves QA processes, tools, and methodologies, implementing best practices and industry standards to enhance the quality assurance process. A Lead QA Engineer provides training and support to QA team members to enhance their technical skills and knowledge, promoting a culture of continuous learning and professional development within the QA team. They ensure that the team is well-prepared to meet project goals and deadlines.
According to Payscale, the Lead QA Engineer salary ranges from $88 000 to $122 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Senior QA Engineer
The responsibilities of a Senior QA Engineer include communicating with clients and managers, studying the specifics of the product, analyzing the project, and planning the work execution. They are also tasked with designing and implementing testing tools, conducting tests, evaluating results, and providing recommendations to improve product quality. To succeed in this role, a Senior QA Engineer must possess a strong background in computer science, have relevant certifications, and boast over five years of experience in similar positions. Skills in error detection, report maintenance, process automation, database management, test result interpretation, and test planning are essential.
According to Payscale, the Senior QA Engineer salary ranges from $76 000 to $145 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Tips for advancing your career in the engineering track
#1. Master the latest technologies. Regularly update your technical skills to keep up with rapid advancements in technology.
#2. Develop strong automation skills. Enhance your programming abilities in languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript, and gain expertise in automation tools such as Selenium or Appium.
#3. Design scalable testing solutions. Create tests that scale effectively with the size and complexity of the application.
#4. Integrate seamlessly with development processes. Work closely with developers to ensure smooth integration of testing processes with development workflows, including CI/CD pipelines.
The specialized track is designed for QA professionals who want to focus on specific areas of testing, such as test automation, performance testing, or security testing. This path often involves developing deep expertise in a particular area and contributing to the overall testing strategy.
Key challenges
Developing deep expertise. Achieving a high level of expertise in a specific domain requires extensive learning and continuous professional development.
Tool proficiency. Mastering specialized tools and technologies that are specific to their domain, which can be complex and require significant time and effort to learn.
Balancing breadth and depth. Maintaining a balance between deep domain-specific knowledge and a broad understanding of overall QA practices and methodologies.
Customization of testing strategies. Designing and implementing tailored testing strategies that address the unique challenges and requirements of their specialized domain.
Career path
- QA Analyst. Identifies and documents defects in software.
- QA Engineer. Develops and executes test plans, writes automated tests, and collaborates with developers to resolve issues.
- SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test). Focuses on developing automated tests and testing tools.
- Senior SDET. Leads the development of advanced test automation solutions, mentors junior SDETs, and drives test automation strategy.
- QA Architect. Designs and oversees the implementation of comprehensive testing solutions across the organization.
- Principal QA Architect. Provides technical leadership and vision for the entire QA organization, ensuring the highest quality standards.
Skill matrix for Specialized track
QA Analyst
QA analysts in the specialized track need deep expertise in their specific domain, proficiency with specialized testing tools and software, and relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Ethical Hacker for security testing). They also need strong analytical skills to assess the impact of domain-specific issues and the ability to stay updated with the latest industry trends and standards. This track requires continuous learning and staying ahead in specific testing techniques, making it essential for QA analysts to be highly specialized and detail-oriented.
QA Engineer
A specialized QA Engineer develops and executes detailed test plans tailored to the specific domain. For example, in security testing, they conduct vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and risk analysis to identify potential security threats. In performance testing, they design and run stress tests, load tests, and scalability tests to evaluate the system's performance under various conditions.
Additionally, specialized QA Engineers utilize domain-specific tools and technologies. For instance, a security QA Engineer might use tools like OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite, while a performance QA Engineer might employ tools such as JMeter or LoadRunner. They must stay updated with the latest industry trends, tools, and regulatory changes relevant to their specialization.
Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
A Software Development Engineer in Test is a developer who focuses on both the development of software products and the creation of frameworks and tools to test those products. This dual role allows SDETs to contribute effectively in both development and testing capacities, participating in the entire software development process. They possess a thorough understanding of both software development and testing, making them integral to ensuring the quality of the software.
SDETs specialize in writing code to test software and are involved in the entire development process, from planning and designing test cases to implementing automation frameworks and conducting tests. They are responsible for writing test cases to automate the testing process, creating and maintaining frameworks and tools for automated testing, and collaborating with developers and QA engineers to define test scenarios and ensure comprehensive test coverage. Their work ensures the rapid delivery of software updates by integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and contributing to test strategy and planning efforts.
According to Payscale, the SDET salary ranges from $65 000 to $138 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (Senior SDET)
Senior Software Development Engineers in Test (Senior SDETs) in a specialized track focus on leading and implementing advanced testing strategies within domain-specific areas. They are responsible for ensuring that software products meet rigorous industry-specific standards and regulatory requirements, applying their deep technical expertise and leadership skills.
Compared to an SDET, a Senior SDET brings a higher level of expertise and a broader perspective to the role. With more years of experience, Senior SDETs are often tasked with leading the development and implementation of complex test automation strategies. They play a crucial role in shaping the test strategy and planning efforts for entire projects or product lines, ensuring that best practices and industry standards are adhered to. Their experience allows them to tackle more challenging problems and mentor junior team members.
According to Payscale, the Senior SDET salary ranges from $88 000 to $165 000 per year, depending on experience level.
QA Architect
QA Architects lead and oversee the development of advanced testing frameworks, automation strategies, and testing infrastructure tailored to their domain expertise.
They design and implement test strategies and methodologies that address unique challenges within their domain. Additionally, QA Architects drive innovation in testing practices by researching and implementing cutting-edge tools and technologies specific to their domain. They provide technical guidance and leadership in selecting appropriate testing tools and frameworks that enhance test coverage and efficiency.
Furthermore, QA Architects analyze and optimize testing processes, identifying opportunities for automation, efficiency improvements, and cost reduction. They ensure that all testing activities adhere to regulatory requirements and industry best practices, providing insights and recommendations to stakeholders on compliance and risk management.
A QA Architect collaborates with cross-functional teams to integrate quality assurance into the software development lifecycle, from requirements analysis to deployment. They conduct reviews and audits of testing practices, documentation, and results, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and customer expectations.
According to ZipRecruiter, the QA Architect salary ranges from $69 000 to $258 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Principal Architect
Principal Architects are senior leaders responsible for shaping and driving the overarching QA strategies across complex domains such as security testing, performance testing, mobile testing, or compliance testing. They provide strategic direction and technical expertise to ensure that software products meet rigorous industry-specific standards and regulatory requirements.
Principal Architects collaborate closely with executive leadership, development teams, and key stakeholders to define and execute comprehensive testing strategies aligned with business objectives and industry standards.
Speaking of responsibilities, a specialized Principal Architect establishes and evolves the overarching quality assurance architecture within their domain. For instance, in security testing, they define strategies for threat modeling, risk assessment, and security posture improvement to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.
Moreover, specialized Principal Architects collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical challenges, address critical issues, and drive initiatives that enhance product quality and customer satisfaction. They advocate for quality-driven initiatives, championing a culture of quality assurance excellence throughout the organization.
According to Payscale, the average Principal Architect salary ranges from $111 000 to $223 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Tips for advancing your QA career in the specialized track
#1. Develop deep expertise. Focus on gaining deep knowledge in your chosen area of specialization, whether it's test automation, performance testing, or security testing. Invest in continuous learning and professional development to stay at the cutting edge of your domain.
#2. Master specialized tools. Become proficient in the tools and technologies specific to your specialization. Dedicate time to learning these tools deeply to enhance your effectiveness.
#3. Customize testing strategies. Design and implement tailored testing strategies that address the unique challenges of your specialized domain. Your ability to customize testing approaches will be critical in ensuring comprehensive coverage and high-quality outcomes.
The DevOps track is ideal for QA professionals who are interested in the integration of QA processes with development and operations. This path focuses on continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), release management, and ensuring quality in all stages of the software development lifecycle.
Key challenges
Monitoring and logging. Implementing and maintaining monitoring and logging solutions to track the performance and reliability of applications in production. You need to analyze logs and metrics to identify potential issues and areas for improvement.
Handling rapid deployments. Adapting to the fast-paced nature of DevOps, where deployments can occur multiple times a day. You must ensure that testing processes are efficient and can keep up with the rapid release cycles.
Ensuring continuous quality. Maintaining high-quality standards in a continuous delivery environment, where the emphasis is on quick iterations and frequent releases. This requires robust automated testing and continuous monitoring.
Career path
- QA Analyst. Identifies and documents defects in software.
- QA Engineer. Develops and executes test plans, writes automated tests, and collaborates with developers to resolve issues.
- SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test). Focuses on developing automated tests and testing tools.
- Release Manager. Manages the release process, ensuring smooth deployment of software updates and coordinating with development and operations teams.
- DevOps Engineer. Focuses on automating the CI/CD pipeline, ensuring quality and stability of software releases, and integrating QA processes into the DevOps workflow.
Skill matrix for DevOps track
QA Analyst
QA Analysts in a DevOps track combine technical expertise in automation, scripting, and infrastructure management with a deep understanding of DevOps methodologies. This position highlights the specialized focus on automation, integration, and collaboration within the DevOps context, distinguishing it from other QA analyst tracks that emphasize leadership, technical testing skills, or domain-specific expertise.
QA Analysts are responsible for automating testing processes, infrastructure setup, and deployment pipelines, leveraging their technical expertise to bridge the gap between development and operations teams. Additionally, QA Analysts in a DevOps track ensure the scalability, reliability, and performance of automated testing frameworks and environments. They monitor and analyze test results, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement in collaboration with development and operations teams. QA Analysts in DevOps also contribute to building and maintaining robust infrastructure as code (IaC) for testing environments, promoting consistency and reproducibility in testing practices.
Required skills for QA Analysts in a DevOps include proficiency in scripting and programming languages along with experience in automation tools and frameworks. They possess deep knowledge of DevOps principles and practices, including continuous integration, continuous delivery, and infrastructure automation.
QA Engineer
Compared to QA Engineers in engineering and specialized tracks, QA Engineers in a DevOps track focus heavily on integrating automated testing into the CI/CD pipeline and optimizing testing processes for rapid software delivery. They emphasize infrastructure automation, cloud computing, and collaboration with DevOps teams to achieve seamless integration of quality assurance practices.
SDET
Compared to SDETs in a specialized track, who focus on domain-specific testing areas like security or performance, SDETs in a DevOps track emphasize the integration of testing automation within the broader CI/CD pipeline.
In addition, SDETs in a DevOps track combine software development skills with testing expertise to automate and optimize testing processes within DevOps environments. Key responsibilities include designing and implementing automated test scripts that validate software functionality, performance, and scalability across different environments. They integrate automated tests with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI to enable continuous testing and deployment.
Release Manager
Release Managers in a DevOps QA orchestrates software releases, ensuring the timely and reliable delivery of high-quality software products. They leverage their expertise in DevOps methodologies, project management, and communication to streamline release cycles and enhance overall software delivery efficiency within the organization.
They bridge the gap between development, QA, and operations teams, focusing on optimizing release cycles and minimizing risks associated with software deployments.
Release Managers are responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating software releases across multiple environments, including development, testing, staging, and production. They oversee the deployment process, ensuring that all necessary testing, validation, and approvals are completed before software releases are rolled out to production environments.
Moreover, Release Managers monitor release progress and performance metrics, identifying and mitigating risks and issues that may impact deployment schedules or software quality. They facilitate communication and coordination among cross-functional teams to resolve conflicts, prioritize tasks, and ensure smooth release transitions.
According to Payscale, the average Release Manager salary ranges from $67 000 to $156 000 per year, depending on experience level.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps Engineer is responsible for the smooth operation of a company's IT infrastructure, collaborating with developers to deploy and manage code changes and working with operations staff to ensure systems run smoothly. To succeed in this role, a DevOps Engineer must have a deep understanding of both development and operations processes, along with a strong technical background.
The role of a DevOps Engineer is critical to a project’s overall success, from planning to supporting primary KPIs like customer satisfaction and productivity. DevOps Engineers integrate project functions and resources across the product life cycle, from planning, building, testing, and deployment to support. They are knowledgeable in both technical and IT operations aspects and are expected to be familiar with various automation tools required for process automation and testing. To transition into a DevOps engineer role, it is essential to understand the job functions in detail and identify the required skills and gaps for further improvement. A DevOps career guide is a good start, providing comprehensive information about career development, the technology involved, and the skills required for performing a DevOps engineer’s responsibilities.
According to Payscale, the DevOps Engineer salary ranges from $72 000 to $160 000 per year, depending on experience level.
Tips for advancing your QA career in the DevOps track
#1. Master CI/CD processes. Ensure you’re proficient in using CI/CD tools to automate and streamline testing processes.
#2. Emphasize automation. In the DevOps track, automation is key. Aim to automate as much of the testing process as possible to keep pace with rapid deployments.
#3. Build Infrastructure as Code (IaC) skills. Learn how to manage and automate infrastructure using code. Create consistent, reproducible environments for testing and deployment, which are essential in a DevOps setting.
#4. Advance to release management. As you progress, consider moving into a Release Manager role where you’ll oversee the entire release process. This involves planning, scheduling, and coordinating releases to ensure smooth deployment and high-quality software delivery.
Conclusions
- Choosing your QA career path should be based on both your hard and soft skills. If you have leadership tendencies but lack strong programming abilities, you might consider a management track.
- Research the average salary for different QA roles in your country or region. In the USA, for example, a QA analyst can expect a starting salary of around $53,000 per year, according to Payscale.
- Every career path in QA presents its own challenges. Consider your previous experiences to determine if you prefer solving technical problems, mediating conflicts between QA and development teams, or handling complex stakeholder relationships.
- Pay attention to the career progression opportunities within each track. While management roles often require strong communication and negotiation skills, engineering and DevOps positions demand continuous technical development and a deep understanding of tools.
.png)
