Quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst

Find out what a quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst in government does and the skills you need to do the job at each level.

Published 7 January 2020

Contents

— What a quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst does
— Quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst role levels

— 1. Tester (QAT)
— 2. QAT analyst
— 3. Senior QAT analyst
— 4. Lead QAT analyst

— Roles that share quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst skills

What a quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst does

A QAT analyst designs and executes test plans, and carries out exploratory testing as part of a broader risk-based approach.

Quality assurance testing (QAT) analyst role levels

There are 4 quality assurance testing (qat) analyst role levels, from tester (qat) to lead qat analyst.

The typical responsibilities and skills for each role level are described in the sections below. You can use this to identify the skills you need to progress in your career, or simply to learn more about each role in the Government Digital and Data profession.

1. Tester (QAT)

Testers work closely with test engineers and QAT analysts to learn the activities and techniques required to establish the basis of testing.

At this role level, you will:

have domain and business knowledge
develop test scripts under supervision
identify and manage defects

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

EO (Executive Officer)
HEO (Higher Executive Officer)

Skill	Description
Functional testing Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: show an awareness of functional testing techniques execute test scenarios and identify defects, raising awareness of them run tests others have written and know the processes to do so show an understanding of a range of standard testing techniques
Non-functional testing Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: show an awareness of non-functional testing techniques execute non-functional test scenarios and identify defects run non-functional tests others have written and know the processes to do so understand a range of standard non-functional testing techniques
Technical breadth Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: show an awareness of a range of tools and techniques for test automation demonstrate some technical attributes
Test analysis Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: contribute to improving delivery and understand the importance of evidence-based design and analysis

You can:

show an awareness of functional testing techniques
execute test scenarios and identify defects, raising awareness of them
run tests others have written and know the processes to do so
show an understanding of a range of standard testing techniques

You can:

show an awareness of non-functional testing techniques
execute non-functional test scenarios and identify defects
run non-functional tests others have written and know the processes to do so
understand a range of standard non-functional testing techniques

You can:

show an awareness of a range of tools and techniques for test automation
demonstrate some technical attributes

You can:

contribute to improving delivery and understand the importance of evidence-based design and analysis

2. QAT analyst

A QAT analyst undertakes and executes appropriate test design, and performs exploratory testing.

At this role level, you will:

collaborate with delivery teams and determine the testability of functional and non-functional requirements
have domain and business knowledge
take a business and operational view when analysing the system under test

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

HEO (Higher Executive Officer)
SEO (Senior Executive Officer)

Skill	Description
Functional testing Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: design and execute test cases using standard testing techniques come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team
Non-functional testing Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: show an awareness of non-functional testing techniques execute non-functional test scenarios and identify defects run non-functional tests others have written and know the processes to do so understand a range of standard non-functional testing techniques
Technical breadth Level: awareness Awareness is the first of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: show an awareness of a range of tools and techniques for test automation demonstrate some technical attributes
Test analysis Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: identify simple patterns and trends investigate problems and opportunities in existing processes, and contribute to recommending solutions work with stakeholders to identify objectives and potential benefits

You can:

design and execute test cases using standard testing techniques
come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team

You can:

show an awareness of non-functional testing techniques
execute non-functional test scenarios and identify defects
run non-functional tests others have written and know the processes to do so
understand a range of standard non-functional testing techniques

You can:

show an awareness of a range of tools and techniques for test automation
demonstrate some technical attributes

You can:

identify simple patterns and trends
investigate problems and opportunities in existing processes, and contribute to recommending solutions
work with stakeholders to identify objectives and potential benefits

3. Senior QAT analyst

A senior QAT analyst has similar responsibilities to a QAT analyst but at a more complex level and on a greater scale.

At this role level, you will:

take a business and an operational view to finding solutions to complex problems
provide test coverage support for test engineers and software developers
come up with functional and non-functional testing procedures and requirements

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

SEO (Senior Executive Officer)
G7 (Grade 7)

Skill	Description
Functional testing Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: design and execute a wide range of testing techniques and communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders make decisions on the environment for testing, and can coach others identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity
Non-functional testing Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: design and execute a wide range of non-functional testing techniques communicate non-functional test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders make decisions on running types of non-functional testing coach and mentor others identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity
Technical breadth Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: demonstrate a good working knowledge of different tools and techniques, and can train others advise others on testing techniques and frameworks effectively research, plan and train others within the team
Test analysis Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: think creatively, ask the right questions and critically evaluate and communicate findings to a larger team lead investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing processes drive the collection of information and the creation of recommendations for improvements absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to determine solutions

You can:

design and execute a wide range of testing techniques and communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
make decisions on the environment for testing, and can coach others
identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity

You can:

design and execute a wide range of non-functional testing techniques
communicate non-functional test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
make decisions on running types of non-functional testing
coach and mentor others
identify defects, alert the business to them, and help to prioritise them based on defect severity

You can:

demonstrate a good working knowledge of different tools and techniques, and can train others
advise others on testing techniques and frameworks
effectively research, plan and train others within the team

You can:

think creatively, ask the right questions and critically evaluate and communicate findings to a larger team
lead investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing processes
drive the collection of information and the creation of recommendations for improvements
absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to determine solutions

4. Lead QAT analyst

A lead QAT analyst sets the strategy for test analysis, establishing standards and methods. They are accountable and responsible for activities at high risk.

At this role level, you will:

take both a business and an operational view
have management responsibilities
coach and mentor staff
lead the delivery practice, focusing on complex problem solving and influencing senior team members
be a specialist in an area of testing and influence the QAT industry
have expert technical understanding and provide advice to project teams

This role level is often performed at the Civil Service job grade of:

G7 (Grade 7)
G6 (Grade 6)

Skill	Description
Functional testing Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: advise on up-to-date functional testing techniques assess and peer-review the work of others coach and mentor others write test approaches for major projects and provide guidance on risk approaches devise new test techniques and provide recommendations
Non-functional testing Level: working Working is the second of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: design and execute non-functional test cases using standard testing techniques, in instructed environments come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team
Technical breadth Level: practitioner Practitioner is the third of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: demonstrate a good working knowledge of different tools and techniques, and can train others advise others on testing techniques and frameworks effectively research, plan and train others within the team
Test analysis Level: expert Expert is the fourth of 4 ascending skill levels	You can: analyse and collect information and evidence, identify problems and opportunities and ensure recommendations fit with strategic business objectives communicate recommendations persuasively to important stakeholders, and identify the simplest of a variety of approaches solve complex problems, applying logical reasoning

You can:

advise on up-to-date functional testing techniques
assess and peer-review the work of others
coach and mentor others
write test approaches for major projects and provide guidance on risk approaches
devise new test techniques and provide recommendations

You can:

design and execute non-functional test cases using standard testing techniques, in instructed environments
come up with different business scenarios for a feature, working with others in the team

You can:

demonstrate a good working knowledge of different tools and techniques, and can train others
advise others on testing techniques and frameworks
effectively research, plan and train others within the team

You can:

analyse and collect information and evidence, identify problems and opportunities and ensure recommendations fit with strategic business objectives
communicate recommendations persuasively to important stakeholders, and identify the simplest of a variety of approaches
solve complex problems, applying logical reasoning

Role	Shared skills
Test engineer	Functional testing Non-functional testing Technical breadth Test analysis
Test manager	Functional testing Non-functional testing Technical breadth Test analysis
Solution architect	Technical breadth

Functional testing

Non-functional testing

Technical breadth

Test analysis

Functional testing

Non-functional testing

Technical breadth

Test analysis

Technical breadth