Senior Quality Assurance and Testing Analyst

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

What working at Columbia Threadneedle offers....

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find the promise we make to our clients is the same one we make to our employees: Your success is our priority.

Here, you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses. We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,000 people working together. Our expertise is diverse with more than 450 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements.

Job Purpose Statement

Where you'll fit in & what our team goals are...

In this role as Senior Quality Assurance Analyst (Sr. QAA) you will oversee all aspects of quality across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). You will lead the delivery of improved product quality through the coordination and execution of software quality assurance and testing practices across a functional area. You will track and report metrics related to testing and quality levels, and acts as the point person within a functional area for all testing-related discussions and issues. Ensuring the adequate level of validation is performed to meet quality goals. You will also coordinate and act as contact for all aspects of testing. Working closely with the business, development and requirement teams and acts as a driver for Testing best practices and feedback loop. Working across project and service teams performing on multiple enterprise level projects/initiatives. Overseeing and directing testing activities with testing teams both onshore and offshore.
Using enterprise-standard tools and processes, you will be responsible for the design and creation of all testing artifacts that are used to identify, analyze, and document program flaws. Using a team of off-shore and on-shore testers to create and execute test cases, this position directs and coordinates their activities to ensure that software releases and program documentation conform to programming and customer specifications
The Sr. QAA must be capable of performing under less direction on multiple/complex projects and can be assigned as a mentor to work closely with peer and team members, guiding them to execute job functions and related processes in alignment with company standards.

Role Responsibilities

How you'll spend your time...
• Design and develop the test approach, test plan and test schedule to effectively validate technology projects on both functional requirements and technical specifications. Write test cases/scripts, create test data and document expected test results. Design processes for test case automation and test execution. Review system specifications and documentation at appropriate points in the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Define, track and publish quality assurance metrics related to each project.
• Effectively plan, manage and execute the testing process to validate that all functional and non-functional requirements are met. Maintain records of all test results using the designated tool set. Provide consistent and timely test execution status reporting to the project team and business partners. Review system and functional documentation as part of the testing process and make suggestions for changes or improvements where required. Actively participate in project phase end review sessions.
• Manage and actively participate in the test defect resolution process; Provide feedback to technology teams and business partners on design and usability improvements. Validate all product fixes and escalate issues that may affect the schedule, budget or quality of the product or testing process. Verify compliance of test processes on all projects.
• Translate business partner needs into functionally sound test plans. Analyze and understand industry testing and compliance requirements in addition to specific business partner requests and needs. Participate in business requirements discussions, design sessions and functional specification reviews with the technology teams and business partners. Ensure that test plans adequately test the functionality, interfaces, performance, and data integrity of the project.
• Demonstrate an expert knowledge level of and be a vocal champion for the use of quality assurance principles, advanced testing tools, processes, quality control methodologies and other technology advances. Develop, continually improve and document the Ameriprise testing standards and procedures. Ensure that the appropriate testing methodologies are applied on all assigned projects. Incorporate industry standard quality assurance testing standards and tools into the Ameriprise testing processes.
• Deliver quality process training to technology teams and act as an internal quality consultant to advise and influence business partners and the technology teams. Provide testing expertise and coach/mentor the testing team around best practices in quality assurance methodologies, practices and techniques (this includes more junior Quality Assurance Analysts as well as the broader technology project teams).
• Applies new, relevant industry QA/testing standards or technology to assigned business function projects for example metrics, testing tools, automation, etc.
• Assists in the definition and assurance of necessary SOX compliancy controls.
• Develops documentation, standards, guidelines, or templates to be used by other QAAs.
• Assists in the adoption of relevant quality/testing metrics into other functional areas
• Leads and/or engages in cross-functional area projects / issues.
• Assists with the selection and adoption of new testing tools within the QA Community
• Establishes, builds, and maintains strong relationships with business stakeholders, subject matter experts, functional domain leadership, and other Technical Service disciplines and service teams.
• Coach the activities of QAA I and II level team members

Key Capabilities

To be successful in this role you will have...

• Software testing experience
• Demonstrated use of advanced automated testing tools
• Advanced user experience within the assigned technology domain
• Skilled knowledge in testing concepts, tools and methodologies working in a highly regulated environment/industry
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated experience using version control systems and automated testing tools and using scripting languages
• Expert level knowledge with Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) concepts

Desired Capabilities

If you also had this, it would be great..
• CSTA, CSTE, CTM certifications
• Experience creating test automation scripts with VB and/or JavaScript
• Functional knowledge of assigned assets - from both the technical and user perspective
• Experience understanding and writing SQL queries
• In depth quality assurance testing experience within the Financial Services industry (i.e. broker-dealer, advisor distribution, asset management, insurance, etc.)