Quality Analyst Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

[Your Company Name] is hiring experienced quality analysts to work full-time. We’re looking for dependable, detail-oriented candidates with keen analytical thinking skills and the ability to adapt. Quality analysts create and execute test plans to make sure our products function properly. They identify and remedy problems, recommend actions to meet quality assurance standards, and ensure that industry rules and regulations are followed. Quality analysts also investigate customer complaints and make sure the user’s expectations are met during the testing process. If you have excellent communication skills and at least three years of experience in quality assurance, our company could be the perfect fit for you.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Develop test plans, cases, scripts, and reports on multiple projects of varying size
• Perform testing on various software, telecom, and reporting systems
• Identify and facilitate issue resolution with functional and technical groups
• Manage software beta test programs
• Validate user expectation success during the testing process

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related discipline

Required skills and qualifications

• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Outstanding written and oral communication abilities
• Several years of experience in an SDLC quality analysis environment

Preferred qualifications

• 2+ years related work experience
• Strong understanding of testing principles and concepts
• Knowledge of web development practices and terminology

Summary – the basic function of the role

The Quality Analyst position is integral to the success of ABC Company’s growing business; the position will have the responsibility for ensuring that the quality management system on the manufacturing floor is robust and followed to ensure product compliance. The successful candidate will work closely with various departments to review and validate products based on quality requirements, recommend changes to predetermined quality guidelines, demonstrate strong attention to detail, and have analytical and problem-solving abilities. This role is also responsible for interpreting and implementing quality assurance standards to provide accurate and comprehensive feedback to colleagues.

Job duties and responsibilities

• Promote quality goals, policies, objectives, and standards throughout company operations
• Develop and revise procedures and work instructions for compliance with the QMS while identifying opportunities for improvement
• Perform assessments to ensure the functionality, reliability, performance, and quality of the products
• Identify and remedy defects within the production process
• Recommend, implement, and monitor preventative and corrective actions to ensure that quality assurance standards are achieved
• Compile and analyze statistical data
• Ensure that user expectations are met during the testing process
• Investigate customer complaints and product issues
• Ensure ongoing compliance with quality and industry regulatory requirements
• Effectively manage and communicate product processes and system quality issues with applicable departments on a day-to-day basis
• Develop and carry out any quality-related training required within their area of expertise
• Promote regular communication of customer requirements to production supervisors and shift leads
• Participate in special projects and continuous improvement projects as required by management
• Inspect parts and products to customer, company, and supplier dimensional drawings and standards
• Control internal calibration plan and calibrate critical measurement tools internally as required
• Review the accuracy of destructive and non-destructive testing such as proof load, break tests, electrical resistance tests, linear density, and elongation tests, as applicable
• Create and review certificates of conformance, certification manuals, and data books for especially products
• Perform incoming inspection of critical products, noncompliant, and/or returned materials for verification, disposition, and recording of appropriate information and records, as required
• Generate inspection reports, maintain, and control inspection records, as required
• Responsible for completion, reporting, and investigation of NCR as assigned by the manager
• Process priorities in a timely manner
• Keep a safe and clean environment and follow safety rules
• Perform compliance assessments and internal audits
• Accompany third-party inspectors for validation of test reports and witnessing purposes
• Additional tasks as assigned

Skills and competencies

• Ability to interact professionally with internal and external customers and suppliers
• Proficiency in dimensional inspection equipment
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Write and complete technical forms and reports
• Develop and revise quality procedures and work instructions
• Read and interpret blueprints and engineering specifications
• Apply concepts such as functions, percentages, rates, and proportions to simple data
• Be able to work in a team environment
• Meticulous attention to detail

Education requirements

• High School diploma or GED
• Associate degree or higher preferred

Experience requirements

• At least 3 years of experience in quality inspection, calibration, auditing, and testing
• Strong computer skills and knowledge of QA databases and applications
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience using common tools (calipers, micrometers, functional gauges, megohmmeters, tape measures, laser mics, and more) is preferred.
• Internal calibration of measurement tools experience
• Auditing experience, ISO 9001 preferred

Physical demands

Employees may have to lift documents/materials up to 50 pounds in weight. The employee will have to be able to walk/climb to a variety of primary work locations, including traveling by air/auto to other sites. The employee will need to listen, understand, and speak with team members in person, telephonically, and electronically at all levels within a diverse workforce and with supported organizations. The employee is able to work in front of a personal computer and telephone for long periods of time.

Approximately 25% travel to support other ABC Company locations as needed.

Work environment

The primary work environment is a non-temperature-controlled workshop/manufacturing facility where following appropriate safety protocols at the location would be required.

Overview

Protecting our policyholders’ dreams, passions, and livelihoods has a direct impact on the communities we serve. We work towards excellence, conduct ourselves with high integrity, and take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Small Details. Big Difference. Find out how you can make a difference with a career at ABC Company.

ABC Company is seeking an experienced Quality Analyst! This role will adhere to and promote quality assurance methods and procedures to ensure all information systems and data solutions meet minimum company standards, and end-user requirements, and are free from defects. The Quality Analyst will plan, document, and execute quality assurance (QA) testing; and track and report testing results.

About the role

• Defines, implements, and executes data or application development quality assurance (QA) and regression business system manual testing within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). This includes planning, creating, evaluating, and tracking testing results
• Isolates, replicates, and reports defects; verifies defect fixes in the SDLC
• Works as part of an agile team building trust with the business to achieve organizational, business owner, and product owner goals
• Reviews user stories and acceptance criteria to ensure a full understanding of deliverables and identification of test requirements
• Coaches, mentors, and assists business departments in defining user acceptance test cases and plans
• Enables, promotes, and improves quality assurance (QA) SDLC processes. Develops new and updates existing QA best practices
• Estimates quality assurance efforts on user stories
• Demonstrates practical experience in a variety of insurance industry procedures and practices while interacting with internal employees, outside vendors, and consultants
• Demonstrates proficient understanding of the design, execution, and reporting of software testing
• Performs a variety of tasks to facilitate the completion of projects including but not limited to coordinating communication with outside departments, writing documentation and specifications, testing, and consulting
• Assists with the execution of automation scripts for agile teams’ ad hoc needs
• Assists in the selection, design, development, and implementation of quality assurance tools

About you

• You enjoy using logic and analysis to solve problems
• You are creative and innovative and enjoy challenging the status quo
• You are curious and enjoy seeking additional information – always asking the “why”
• You enjoy brainstorming and can deal with concepts and complexity comfortably
• You are a self-starter and enjoy taking a lead role in improving products and services
• You are quality-focused and can manage multiple responsibilities

What it will take

• Associate’s degree in computer science or a business-related discipline with a minimum of 4 years of work experience related to information system and/or business analysis
• Experience with manual and/or automated data or system application testing including developing, documenting, and executing test cases
• Extensive computer software knowledge (above-average word processing knowledge, ability to create and maintain spreadsheets, extensive experience with entering data into databases) – OR – SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SQL (writing queries), or other databases and BI reporting tools (e.g., Microsoft Power BI). Knowledge of and experience with data movement validation (ETL, ELT, CDC)
• Experience working within a project-management environment
• Demonstrated writing, editing, and proofing skills with attention to clarity, grammar, and detail. Strong communication skills to seek out details, express ideas, and present solutions in ways the audience can understand. This may involve researching, interviewing, and anticipation of how to apply a solution to a current or new process
• 3 or more years of Commercial P&C insurance and/or Guidewire experience is highly desirable
• Experience working within an agile environment, writing detailed business requirements or user stories, and Microsoft Azure DevOps and Test Manager highly desirable

The quality analyst ensures compliance with cGMP regulations in the manufacturing area including all documentation complying with the company’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), governmental regulations, and other requirements where applicable, and facilitates communication between departments to ensure a smooth flow of materials and release. The GMP quality analyst reviews and releases raw, intermediate, and finished materials, and leads quality assurance initiatives and implementations.

Essential areas of responsibility

• Coordinates the sampling, testing, and release of printing components used for packaging operations
• Reviews receiving records and manufacturing documentation of materials (bulk, printed components, etc.) to be used in the manufacture of finished goods
• Confirms products to be released in ERP System
• Supports production activities by performing in-process monitoring-related tasks (i.e. temperature/humidity, pressure, statistical checks (AQLs), etc.
• Assists in the training of new employees in job duties according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), current Good Manufacturing Practices, (cGMP), and Company training procedures
• Coordinates, assembles, and reviews the site (retention area) Annual Product Review
• Interfaces with manufacturing, warehouse, QC, and materials management to ensure adherence to policies and procedures
• Supports the Investigation, CAPA, and Effectiveness Checks quality system by initiation deviations and participating in the event response team initiative
• Prepares change controls for SOPs
• Updates SOPs for the review and release of finished goods and raw materials
• Maintains QA documentation files, database, and logs
• Responsible for completing all training requirements and maintaining 100% compliance with all assignments
• Performs additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Requires High School Diploma or equivalent
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in a regulated environment (Manufacturing or Quality) or one (1) year of satisfactory performance as a Quality Inspector
• Experience in Microsoft Office required