Software tester
Digital
Level 4 -
Carrying out tests to make sure computer software works as intended and is fit for purpose.
Reference: OCC0129
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 2136/00 IT quality and testing professionals
- 2132/05 IT test managers
- 3131/03 Quality assurance testers
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
IBM, Capgemini, Microsoft, Cisco, BT, HP, The Royal Signals, Lowe and Partners, Qinetiq, Weboo, 4Ps Marketing, Fujitsu, Accenture, Atos, CGI, Visa, Contentive, Thales, Ticket Master, NCA, Virgin Media
Summary
A software tester is found in any organisation that develops and applies software. This ranges from large multi-national organisations with dedicated teams of software testers to small consulting firms that work on a contract basis to deliver software testing services to a varied client base. For example, within financial services a software tester could be integral to testing software for delivering bespoke payroll or HR services whereas in a large corporate they could be providing consultancy services for global multi-national clients across a range of software products. Software Testers are responsible for ensuring that the software developed meets the business's functional, security, performance, and usability requirements by participating in development activity at all stages of the software development life cycle..
The broad purpose of the occupation is to ensure that software operates as intended for Software development practices so that they understand the context in which they are operating. Software Testers are responsible for the quality of software development and deployment with a view to the commercial requirements of the client and their organisational parameters. Some of the duties include analysis of software and systems to mitigate the risk of software problems arising and making informed recommendations to internal and external clients. Software testers are involved particularly in the quality assurance stage of software development and deployment. They conduct manual and automated tests to ensure the software created by developers is fit for purpose and any bugs or issues are removed within a product before it gets deployed to everyday users. The Software Tester role is integral to the creation of software systems and technical products. A Software Tester might work on bespoke, individual projects creating enterprise solutions for email compliance and marketing. or multinational projects spanning the globe and costing billions of pounds. In a defence and security context they may interact with cyber security teams to ensure that software developed is secure from inception.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with other members of software testing teams, other areas within the organisation's software development function and business areas commissioning software testing services, as well as external clients and other associated stakeholders. This is an office based or remote working role with some visits to client’s premises.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for working collaboratively within a team and with stakeholders with a minimum of direct supervision within broad but generally well defined parameters, A Software Tester will be required to apply their knowledge and skills in a broad range of complex or technical work activities, performed in a variety of contexts. They will address problems which are both routine and non-routine while normally fairly well defined. They will take responsibility for courses of action, including, where relevant, responsibility for the work of others and allocation of resources. They will typically pair with other technical roles such as software developers, or work alone at times, and provide input to the planning of work and advise on risks and improvements within software products.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
IBM, Capgemini, Microsoft, Cisco, BT, HP, The Royal Signals, Lowe and Partners, Qinetiq, Weboo, 4Ps Marketing, Fujitsu, Accenture, Atos, CGI, Visa, Contentive, Thales, Ticket Master, NCA, Virgin Media
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Analyse test objectives to design and prepare a test plan that aligns with the test strategy
Duty D2
Review requirements with relevant stakeholders to identify defects early and to define a comprehensive test scope coverage based on product risk with due consideration to accessibility and usability requirements.
Duty D3
Design and build test cases, test scripts/procedures, and defineexpected results to meet the test scope coverage criteria.
Duty D4
Collect, interpret and develop representative and realistic test data.
Duty D5
Specify test environment requirements.
Duty D6
Conduct a range of different software test types within the broadcategories of functional, non-functional, white box/structural and change-related testing interpreting and executing test scripts usingorganisationally agreed methods and standards.
Duty D7
Conduct and support testing at different test levels (such as unittesting, component integration testing, system testing, system integrationtesting and user acceptance testing)
Duty D8
Conduct testing activities on software applications such asdesktop, web, mobile, embedded, mainframe, internet of things (IoT)and AI to detect defects and demonstrate the software is fit forpurpose.
Duty D9
Operate the organisation's software testing tools.
Duty D10
Raise defects in line with organisational policy at any point in the testprocess and progress them through to successful completion.
Duty D11
Document and report test results against the acceptance criteria,record accurate data to support defect management and maintaininformation traceability between requirements, tests and defects.
Duty D12
Communicate status and metrics against test activities, test resultsand defects using appropriate communication styles and media
Duty D13
Advise and support others on testing activities including providingfeedback, for example on challenges arising within testing or withinmulti-disciplinary teams.
Duty D14
Store, manage and share all test and related data securely in acompliant manner
Duty D15
Practice continuous self-learning to keep up to date withtechnological developments to enhance relevant skills and takeresponsibility for own professional development
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Technical Occupations
Levels 2-3
Higher Technical Occupations
Levels 4-5
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Levels 6-7
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