Software QA Teams: Purpose, Value & How To Build One

Quality assurance (QA) testing teams play a vital role in the software development process. Throughout this article, we’ll explain how QA professionals help software engineers and developers create software that meets high-quality standards.

You’ll discover what QA testers do and why many companies consider them invaluable. We’ll also introduce you to different types of QA team members and explore the roles of each.

What is quality assurance (QA)?

In terms of software development, QA is the process of ensuring that a program meets or exceeds expectations at every stage of development.

Throughout the quality assurance process, team members inspect everything from the code and design of the software project. They also run simulations and other tests to ensure that each aspect of the project functions properly.

Additionally, QA professionals conduct compliance reviews and security testing to reveal any potential vulnerabilities. Through a combination of manual testing and automated testing methodologies, QA testers can help the development process go as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Particular software testing metrics and methods may vary slightly by project. However, the goal of the testing process is always to help the development team ensure that the project meets pre-defined standards and specifications.

Quality assurance vs. testing assurance

While people often use the terms quality assurance and testing interchangeably, these are two different concepts. Testing is just one part of an overall quality assurance process and usually doesn’t occur until the end of the development life cycle.

Product testers are often brought in right before a product’s launch to verify it meets relevant quality standards. If the product does have any issues that need to be addressed, the testers will find them and report them to the development team.

Unfortunately, at that late stage of the process, the team will often be forced to do a great deal of backtracking to fix the errors. Imagine building an entire house only to discover a major problem with the foundation right before the finished building was due to go on the market.

A thorough quality assurance process, on the other hand, is a preventive methodology that evolves alongside the product’s development. In terms of our house metaphor, a QA team would have gone over every inch of the foundation and spotted any errors before the construction crew continued building the framework.

Do you need a QA team?

A QA team can help ensure a smooth development experience at several different stages of the software life cycle. Whether you’re creating a brand-new piece of software or updating an old one, a great quality assurance team can be a great investment if you need to accomplish any of the following:

• Launching new software. QA teams can greatly optimize the software development process by ensuring the product remains error-free at every stage.‍
• Launching software upgrades. A QA team can help developers address any customer complaints and spot the potential for new problems and opportunities early on.‍
• Creating a new user experience in existing software. While rolling out new features on a piece of software, QA teams make sure no issues arise. To help mitigate any issues, a QA team will thoroughly test any new integrations before they’re released to the public.

Benefits of a QA team

A successful QA team can go a long way toward giving your company’s software products a winning edge. Their experience and expertise can help save your business time and money throughout the entire software development life cycle.

Here’s a closer look at some of the benefits a great QA team can bring to your development projects:

Reducing time to market by spotting errors early‍

Few things can delay a new product release faster than a flaw that isn’t spotted until a project nears completion. That’s why many developers start working with a QA testing team in the earliest phases of the development process.

A software tester can help your team successfully complete each phase before moving on to the next by providing detailed bug reports and test results. Correcting vulnerabilities as soon as possible can prevent minor issues from becoming huge problems and big-time consumers in later development phases.

Preventing excessive late-stage development costs

The need for excessive backtracking is not only time-consuming but often requires extra resources that otherwise could have been used more efficiently. A single late-stage glitch can drastically inflate workflows, forcing software engineers to spend extra time correcting a project instead of moving on to the next.

Implementing a rigorous QA test plan throughout the development life cycle increases the odds of getting a project right the first time. The QA team can streamline workflows by ensuring every detail is covered so that the overall project runs as smoothly as possible.

Improving product quality by reducing errors

Software quality assurance teams are trained to spot small errors that can have catastrophic consequences. In 2012, an incident now commonly known as the Knight Capital disaster became one of the most infamous cautionary tales the QA world has ever known.

During what should have been a routine update, a glitch in the financial firm’s trading software resulted in a $440 million loss in less than an hour. From financial software to health care programs, never forget that your final products are capable of life-altering effects. That’s why it’s vital to ensure your QA process is as thorough and effective.

Improving overall DevOps implementation

QA teams often prove invaluable when it comes to instituting DevOps (merged development and operations) methodologies in an Agile work environment.

Miscommunication can happen when separate software development and operations teams hone in on their individual contributions to a project instead of contextualizing their roles.

QA professionals help bridge the gap by focusing on the project’s big picture. The testing tools and strategies they use can help both teams understand how their efforts contribute to the other’s goals.

Enhancing user experience

The role of a quality assurance team doesn’t begin and end with spotting potential software issues. QA analysts also enhance software projects by thoroughly evaluating them from an end user’s point of view.

Their insights can give stakeholders valuable clues on fine-tuning details like a product’s user interface, functionality, or overall appearance. The fresh perspective of a QA team can transform a new project into an exceptional customer experience.

Meeting compliance and safety standards

A solid QA testing strategy can help verify that your product complies with any relevant regulatory or safety standards. Ensuring the quality of your final product before it hits the market can greatly reduce the risk of costly recalls.

For example, Tesla was recently forced to recall nearly 54,000 self-driving cars due to a software glitch that prevented the vehicles from fully halting at stop signs. Software product glitches can be inconvenient for customers at best—and dangerous at worst.

Improving business reputation

Whether your customers are small startups or large corporations, their satisfaction will ultimately fuel your software project’s success. Allowing QA professionals to work out your software’s flaws in a controlled test environment is one of the best ways to make sure your customers don’t experience problems.

Over time, your company will form a reputation for producing high-quality products that people can depend on. As history can attest, a company’s reputation often proves its most valuable asset for increasing sales and customer loyalty.

The QA process

A strong quality assurance process is designed to help software developers deliver the project in full, on time, and free of errors. But what exactly does a QA test plan entail?

Throughout the next several sections, we’ll take you through each stage of the typical testing process. This should give you a better idea of the role that the QA testing team plays in each stage of development.

Review the project and requirements

From the outset, QA teams collaborate with developers to create a comprehensive project blueprint. This planning stage establishes a foundation addressing both functional and non-functional requirements:

• Functional requirements refer to features end users directly interact with, addressing what the software is designed to do.
• Non-functional requirements cover the software's inner qualities and architecture, including security, maintainability, scalability, and usability.

For example, when developing medical appointment scheduling software, the QA team might review functional requirements such as:

• User authentication methods
• Symptom input capabilities
• Appointment confirmation system

They might also review the following non-functional capabilities:

• Security measures to detect and respond to threats
• Accessibility features for patients with limitations
• Reliability of real-time appointment availability updates

Test strategy development

After the vision for the project has been solidified, the QA team will begin to map out a testing plan. During this phase, they’ll identify key metrics to measure the success of the project’s performance in each stage of development.

The QA manager, team lead, and (if applicable) the test architect will plan an overall test strategy detailing which tests will be carried out, how, and when. Each team member will be given their assignments and begin testing the software as soon as the developers are ready for feedback.

Report issues and software defects

Once the QA process begins, the testing team will immediately alert the software development team about any issues. They will spot bugs, potential issues, and root causes.

Once corrections have been made, the QA team will retest the software to ensure the issues have been fixed. They also commonly run regression tests to check that the fixes have not resulted in any new errors.

Test documentation

Test documentation and reporting is also a vital component of QA testing services. QA teams keep detailed reports of each of their test results, the issues uncovered, and how they were fixed.

These software quality assurance reports can go a long way toward helping the software development team prevent similar errors in the future. They can also provide vital clues to the source of any new issues that may arise later in the development process.

QA team roles and responsibilities

A quality assurance team is made up of a group of professionals, each with a unique role to play. Let’s look at some of the most common types of QA professionals and the roles and responsibilities of each.

QA manager

Also known as the test manager, the QA manager is generally the head of their department if the team is in-house. This highly skilled expert oversees the test strategy development for the entire project and is usually in charge of assigning team member tasks.

Common QA manager responsibilities include:

• Selecting which performance metrics to focus on
• Calculating the QA budget for each project
• Overseeing the team’s progress as a whole
• Test documentation
• Communicating with developers or other stakeholders on behalf of the software testing team.

QA team lead

The QA team leader plays an important role in overseeing the entire project, working more directly with the testing team. Their responsibilities often include:

• Supervising and coordinating team activities
• Actively carrying out testing processes
• Developing or collaborating on the test plan with the QA manager
• On-the-ground test documentation

Test architect

A QA test architect focuses on developing effective testing methods. Their responsibilities include:

• Staying current with the latest testing innovations
• Designing automation frameworks and complex test architecture
• Serving as quality consultants
• Providing team training
• Developing test environments, tools, and technologies

Note: In smaller teams, these duties are usually handled by the test manager.

QA analyst

QA analysts focus on the aspects of quality assurance, such as business and test documentation. Their duties typically include:

• Serving as a liaison between the testing team and key stakeholders
• Designing and prioritizing test cases
• Keeping stakeholders informed with test result reports
• Understanding and applying major product requirements

Manual QA engineer

Manual QA engineers ensure software adheres to project specifications. Their responsibilities usually include:

• Developing and executing test cases with the end user in mind
• Catching nuances that don't align with project goals or vision
• Verifying software functionality across various platforms
• Investigating issues after product launch

Automation QA engineer

Automation QA engineers use automated testing tools to thoroughly test software. Their duties often entail:

• Developing and writing scripts to automate the QA process
• Updating automation testing frameworks to address new challenges
• Incorporating AI methods to increase productivity
• Handling tasks such as simplifying test creation and updates
• Performing auto diagnosis and maintenance

Performance QA engineer

Performance engineers specialize in ensuring software functionality at peak capacity. Their responsibilities tend to include:

• Verifying software can handle large surges in traffic
• Predicting and preventing issues related to traffic spikes
• Ensuring smooth software performance regardless of user load
• Testing software performance under various conditions

Qualities to look for in QA team members

In addition to relevant education and training, successful QA team members bring several valuable skills to the table. Here are some of the qualities to look for in your search for the right QA specialists for your team.

• Communication. QA team members must be able to communicate insights clearly with everyone, from key stakeholders and developers to other team members. QA experts with a solid understanding of the dual languages of technical coding and UI/UX can also help bridge the gap across various teams.  
• Collaboration. A great QA team functions like a well-oiled machine. That’s why it's so important to select professionals who understand how to work collaboratively in pursuit of a common goal.
• Attention to detail. A project’s long-term success often depends on the QA team's ability to spot even the smallest issues before they become much larger problems.
• Organization. The QA process requires a thorough, systematic approach in order to run efficiently. QA team members should be reliable and able to manage their time wisely in order to meet deadlines.
• User-oriented. QA testers should be very familiar with what goes into creating a great user experience. By analyzing a product from an end user’s perspective, testers can provide valuable insights for enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Curiosity. Modern technology is evolving rapidly. A love of learning and staying on top of the latest industry innovations can give a QA specialist a winning edge.

How much do QA services cost?

A QA tester’s rates may be impacted by everything from their experience and specialty to location and market conditions. Additionally, rates may vary depending on the size of the team and the scope of an individual project.

Upwork is home to a wide variety of expert QA testers with the skills needed to take your next software development project to the next level. On average, QA testers on Upwork charge $12-$20 an hour, depending on their experience level.

Start building your QA team on Upwork

Upwork is a great place to connect with QA professionals, from QA managers and Performance engineers to Manual QA engineers and automation engineers. No matter what skills your project requires, we’d be happy to help connect you with the right experts for your needs.

If you’re a QA specialist searching for your next client, check out the many opportunities on Upwork. You’ll find clients in search of QA management professionals, remote QA engineers, automation engineers, and other QA testing expertise.

No matter your specialty or experience level, Upwork is your gateway to top clients in search of your unique skill set.

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Upwork does not control, operate, or sponsor the tools or services discussed in this article, which are only provided as potential options. Each reader and company should take the time to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.