What Does A Software Tester Do?

WHAT DOES A SOFTWARE TESTER DO?

Published: Dec 24, 2025 - The Software Tester supports implementation projects by validating vendor solutions through comprehensive testing, including data conversion, functional, system, integration, security, and performance evaluations. This role involves developing and executing manual and automated test cases, creating SQL queries and SOAP UI scripts, and ensuring results meet business and technical requirements across the full software development life cycle. The Tester also collaborates with cross-functional teams, analyzes testing outcomes, and drives continuous improvements while working independently with minimal guidance.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Software Tester

1. Software Tester Duties

Agile Testing: Develop testing processes and approaches according to Scrum and Agile standards.
Test Planning: Help design, develop, and implement test plans, test scripts, and tools using the detailed business requirements documents provided by business analysts.
Test Data Preparation: Work with business and technology leads to identify appropriate data for testing and prepare that data for the test cases.
Design Review Support: Assist application developers and technical support staff in identifying and implementing changes in product design.
Test Analysis: Assess and revise test sequence and scope based on test results and changes in product design.
Test Coordination: Coordinate component, system, and documentation testing with the appropriate technical groups and release management.
Test Documentation: Document test procedures and test cases.
Results Reconciliation: Reconcile test results from different tests and different groups.
Quality Assessment: Assess readiness and deviation of product or project performance based on test results and product specifications.
Test Automation: Write automation scripts using Selenium for both web applications and mobile applications.
Defect Tracking: Document reported defects and track defect status.

2. Software Tester Details

Data Collection: Collect and organize information to support detailed analysis and evaluation activities.
Data Analysis: Analyze gathered data to identify system requirements and improvement opportunities.
Logical Design: Perform logical system design to define functional structures and workflows.
Physical Design: Execute physical system design to support implementation and operational needs.
Documentation Management: Review, prepare, and maintain system documentation and technical specifications.
Technical Research: Conduct technical research on potential system upgrades and enhancements.
Feasibility Analysis: Evaluate upgrade feasibility, including cost, required effort, timelines, and system compatibility.
Report Preparation: Prepare clear and structured reports, studies, and supporting documentation.
Technical Presentation: Deliver presentations to communicate findings, recommendations, and technical details.
Stakeholder Engagement: Participate actively in meetings with technical and business stakeholders.
Problem Management: Manage complex problem areas, including advanced network administration, security analysis, and capacity planning.

3. Software Tester Responsibilities

Test Planning: Create detailed test plans and execute them in collaboration with other team members.
Test Coordination: Coordinate testing activities to ensure consistent implementation of the agreed test approach.
Test Automation: Design and implement automated test cases to improve coverage and efficiency.
Manual Testing: Execute manual test cases to validate complex calculations and business scenarios.
Advanced Testing: Perform performance, scalability, migration, memory, security, and regression testing.
Requirements Coverage: Ensure testing adequately covers both functional and non-functional requirements.
Quality Strategy: Contribute to the development of quality control strategies aligned with project goals.
Test Scheduling: Support the creation of testing schedules and resource plans with the Development and Project Management teams.
Code Coverage: Ensure testing efforts provide accurate code coverage and support delivery timelines.
Defect Analysis: Perform defect impact analysis to assess risk and severity.
Defect Validation: Work with Project Managers and QC leadership to validate fixes, support remediation, and review user documentation for accuracy and completeness.

4. Software Tester Duties and Roles

Test Execution: Execute and maintain test procedures and test cases for new and existing products.
Test Compliance: Perform tests in accordance with approved test plans, procedures, and applicable policies.
Defect Management: Report and manage defects.
Regression Testing: Regression test software fixes for new and existing products.
Requirements Review: Participate in requirements and functional specifications reviews of new features and verify that these requirements are reflected in the test specifications.
Issue Documentation: Document, troubleshoot, and follow up on issues found during testing.
Process Improvement: Actively work with other members of the team to constantly improve the process, tools, and effectiveness of the team.
Debugging Support: Assist in development with replicating and debugging problems.

5. Software Tester Accountabilities

Product Evaluation: Evaluate a wide range of state-of-the-art software and hardware products.
Requirements Assessment: Assess products to ensure functionality meets defined requirements and expectations.
Cultural Validation: Perform cultural correctness validation to ensure content is appropriate for target regions.
UX Testing: Conduct user experience testing to evaluate usability and interaction quality.
UX Feedback: Provide clear and actionable UX feedback to support product improvement.
Test Execution: Execute test cases according to defined testing strategies and plans.
Issue Analysis: Identify issues encountered during testing and analyze their impact.
Solution Recommendation: Suggest practical solutions or improvements for identified problems.
Defect Reporting: Document and report defects accurately in online bug tracking systems.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with test leads and international testing teams to ensure consistent quality outcomes.

6. Software Tester Functions

Test Automation: Automate test execution using tools such as Selenium and Cucumber.
Scenario Design: Design and write clear test scenarios aligned with functional requirements.
Test Case Design: Create detailed test cases to ensure comprehensive test coverage.
Platform Knowledge: Maintain a clear understanding of the overall functionality of the COOL platform.
System Integration: Stay familiar with the behavior and integration of related applications.
Manual Testing: Manually test new features and enhancements to validate expected functionality.
Usability Testing: Perform visual and usability testing on laptops and Chromebooks.
Testing Strategies: Apply multiple testing approaches, including functional, exploratory, and end-to-end testing.
Cross-Technology Testing: Validate system behavior across different technologies and user scenarios.
Quality Ownership: Take responsibility for ensuring the overall quality of software delivered to production.

7. Software Tester Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Requirements Review: Review product requirements and technology specifications.
Test Planning: Develop an overall test plan for product features and the product system.
New Feature Testing: Define test cases for new features or special business requirements.
Regression Testing: Define test cases for old features due to requirement changes.
Test Automation: Write, execute, and maintain test scripts for automation testing.
Test Reporting: Run and analyze automation test reports and report bugs found during automation or manual testing.
Bug Verification: Perform bug verification.
Status Communication: Communicate testing status, issues, and risks to management and stakeholders.
Quality Improvement: Assist in the quality management continuous improvement process.
Comprehensive Testing: Cover functional, display, and technical testing using both manual and automation methods.
Results Reporting: Report test results to the product owner, engineering team, and related teams.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Participate proactively with cross-functional teams, including product, growth, developer, and customer support, to deliver the product with high quality and stability.

8. Software Tester Overview

Release Testing: Work on major product releases across multiple customer accounts and solutions, including ATMs and other devices that dispense and accept cash, as well as transaction switching solutions.
Team Collaboration: Work closely with the professional services QA team and project or delivery managers within the region.
Testing Types: Perform different types of testing, such as functional testing, device testing, and performance testing.
Environment Setup: Set up test environments, including the installation of Windows operating systems and ATMs.
Test Planning: Work with the QA lead and project team to understand requirements and provide input into overall test planning and execution.
Test Case Execution: Design, create, and execute test cases based on solution requirement specifications, development tasks, and project documentation.
Defect Analysis: Analyze test results and develop skills in diagnosing the root causes of defects.
Defect Reporting: Raise defects with appropriate levels of information and collaborate with developers for defect validation.
Test Reporting: Prepare and submit daily test execution and completion reports.
Test Repository: Contribute to expanding and maintaining a test repository.
Release Documentation: Contribute to expanding and maintaining software release documents.

9. Software Tester Details and Accountabilities

Test Design: Design test cases, test plans, protocols, and reports for software components and products in line with SDLC requirements.
Quality Compliance: Ensure verification and validation activities comply with defined quality and regulatory standards.
Hands-On Testing: Perform hands-on testing of software components and complete products.
Functional Validation: Execute tests to validate functionality, reliability, and expected behavior.
Defect Identification: Identify software defects and quality issues during testing activities.
Issue Documentation: Document identified issues clearly to support analysis and resolution.
Effort Estimation: Provide realistic effort and time estimates for assigned testing tasks.
Progress Tracking: Track progress and report status against agreed plans and milestones.
V&V Coordination: Collaborate proactively with team members to coordinate software V&V activities.
Engineering Collaboration: Support cross-functional collaboration with engineering teams to improve product quality.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with biology, service, and other stakeholder teams involved in product design and enhancement.

10. Software Tester Tasks

Test Definition: Define tests based on the available specifications.
Manual Testing: Plan, implement, and execute manual tests to ensure software quality.
Specification Review: Review test specifications.
Testability Analysis: Be actively involved in the specification review process with regard to the testability of the requirements.
Test Automation: Script and manage automated tests.
Performance Testing: Configure and execute functional and non-functional tests, especially load and performance tests.
Defect Management: Manage defects.

11. Software Tester Roles

Requirements Analysis: Work closely with members of the client programme team to fully understand the functional and business requirements of a client’s implementation.
Test Leadership: Lead the implementation of test campaigns, taking ownership of design, planning, execution, quality assurance, and defect management activities.
Test Strategy: Design test strategies for all required aspects of testing.
Test Execution: Execute testing in accordance with the delivery schedule, including both manual testing and the use of automated testing tools.
Progress Reporting: Report on progress during test campaigns.
Quality Assessment: Provide input into the assessment of test outcomes and overall quality measures to support delivery decisions and risk assessment.
Defect Logging: Ensure that any defects raised during implementation test campaigns are logged.
Client Engagement: Engage with clients, supporting triage activities and coordinating with third parties.
Process Optimization: Establish efficiencies and de-duplication of test activities across product delivery and client implementation phases.
Risk Management: Manage issues and risks proactively, escalating on demand.
Stakeholder Management: Proactively manage stakeholder expectations by ensuring realistic and achievable targets are set and maintained.
Client Consultancy: Provide client consultancy and represent the organization off-site with clients.

12. Software Tester Additional Details

End-to-End Testing: Actively contribute to end-to-end test activities, such as test script development, test execution, and defect management.
Risk-Based Testing: Work collaboratively with the test lead and business analysts on the project to assess test scenarios and provide test requirements based on a risk-based testing methodology.
Test Design: Design, develop, and maintain test scenarios, test conditions, test scripts, test data, and expected results for test streams, including product testing, integration testing, technical testing, and deployment testing.
Regression Assets: Develop, update, and maintain existing regression test assets.
Test Data Management: Identify and manage test data and test environment needs.
Developer Support: Work closely with developers and provide support for various testing activities, including test case and script writing, clarification, data loading, and build deployments.
Test Execution: Execute test scripts.
Test Reporting: Provide test progress and test results with accurate reporting to leads.
Defect Prioritization: Provide clarity on defect severity and priority.
Continuous Improvement: Participate in continuous improvement initiatives.

13. Software Tester Essential Functions

Manual Testing: Ensure test cases are manually executed in accordance with the assigned priority.
Functional Testing: Conduct functional and end-to-end testing.
Test Documentation: Document all test results for verification.
Defect Logging: Log testing defects for errors encountered during test execution.
Developer Support: Provide clarifications to developers on logged errors.
Progress Tracking: Track and report testing progress and defect resolution progress.
Defect Retesting: Re-test fixed defects to ensure proper closure.

14. Software Tester Role Purpose

Requirements Review: Review business and software requirements and provide inputs.
Test Planning: Prepare and review test plans.
Test Development: Prepare test cases, test scripts, and test data.
Test Execution: Execute tests manually or using automated tools.
Defect Reporting: Report defects and assist in their understanding.
Result Analysis: Analyze test results on database impacts, errors, bugs, and usability.
Test Reporting: Prepare reports on all aspects related to the software testing carried out and report to the design team.
Client Interaction: Interact with clients to understand product requirements.
Design Review: Participate in design reviews and provide input on requirements, product design, and potential problems.

15. Software Tester General Responsibilities

Test Planning: Develop test plans and test cases.
Test Automation: Develop automated tests.
Test Execution: Perform manual and automated tests for software functionality, installation, and usability.
QA Metrics: Define and track quality assurance metrics such as defect densities and open defect counts.
Bug Management: Manage bugs and error tracking.
Results Reporting: Document and present test results to management.
Test Coordination: Coordinate and prioritize testing of application modifications and bug fixes.
Team Collaboration: Work with multiple development teams and software projects.

16. Software Tester Key Accountabilities

Test Strategy: Plan an effective testing strategy aligned with product requirements and delivery timelines.
Release Quality: Ensure the testing approach supports timely and high-quality releases.
CI/CD Testing: Execute tests as part of a continuous integration and delivery pipeline.
Build Integration: Integrate testing activities seamlessly into automated build processes.
Test Automation: Optimize the use of automation tools for testing APIs, web applications, and mobile platforms.
Automation Improvement: Continuously improve automation coverage and reliability.
Issue Identification: Identify software issues through systematic testing activities.
Defect Analysis: Analyze and document defects clearly using Agile engineering and quality assurance practices.
Quality Standards: Apply industry best practices to ensure consistent software quality.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate with product design and development teams to provide a quality assurance perspective.
Requirements Support: Contribute to requirements definition, scheduling decisions, and early problem identification.
Agile Advocacy: Act as a change agent by promoting an Agile mindset and continuous improvement culture.

17. Software Tester Roles and Details

Test Design: Create detailed test cases and test plans based on product and system requirements.
Test Documentation: Prepare comprehensive test documentation to support testing activities and traceability.
Test Execution: Execute tests within designated test environments to validate functionality and performance.
Results Reporting: Record and report test results clearly and accurately.
Quality Monitoring: Monitor product and system quality throughout testing phases before release.
Release Readiness: Evaluate readiness for launch based on defined quality criteria.
Tool Research: Research and learn new testing tools, technologies, and techniques.
Continuous Improvement: Apply acquired testing knowledge to improve test effectiveness and efficiency.

18. Software Tester Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Requirements Collaboration: Work with product managers and developers to help define and clarify requirements for new functionality.
Test Scripting: Write and run test scripts for new functionality and change requests.
Regression Testing: Maintain and run regression test scripts.
Defect Verification: Raise defects and verify defect fixes.
Exploratory Testing: Perform exploratory testing.
Customer Defects: Replicate defects raised by customers during alpha and beta testing.
Customer Liaison: Liaise with customers during the beta test.
Alpha Testing: Alpha test bug fixes found in live software before issuing hotfixes.
Confidence Testing: Perform confidence testing of new builds and patches.
Test Estimation: Plan work and provide estimates for the test effort needed for changes and regression tests.
Performance Testing: Help with running performance and load tests.
Build Deployment: Produce internal builds and deploy them to test environments.
Automation Development: Write and execute automated tests for new software, providing interfaces to the main product.
Quality Improvement: Contribute to continuous improvements in software quality within the company.

19. Software Tester Duties and Roles

Requirements Analysis: Analyze application requirements to ensure a clear understanding and testability.
Test Scenario Design: Develop comprehensive test scenarios aligned with business and functional needs.
Test Execution: Execute test cases and manage test data effectively throughout testing cycles.
Functional Testing: Collaborate with cross-functional teams to perform functional testing activities.
Regression Testing: Work closely with relevant teams to plan and execute regression testing.
Stakeholder Engagement: Engage partners and stakeholders through collaborative team-based workflows.
Test Coordination: Coordinate testing activities to ensure smooth execution and clear communication.
Quality Improvement: Improve user satisfaction and overall application quality by identifying and minimizing defects early.

20. Software Tester Roles and Responsibilities

Module Testing: Perform software quality testing for assigned application modules.
Test Execution: Execute testing activities and analyze test results to assess product quality.
Result Communication: Document observations and communicate findings clearly to the development team.
Defect Identification: Identify defects, risks, and improvement areas during testing cycles.
Client Interaction: Interact with clients to gain a clear understanding of product requirements.
Design Feedback: Provide feedback when design changes or clarifications are required.
Test Documentation: Create and maintain test-related product documentation.
Quality Traceability: Ensure testing documentation supports traceability and quality standards.
Lifecycle Testing: Participate actively in testing activities across the development lifecycle.
Testing Methods: Engage in both manual and automated testing to support effective software development.

21. Software Tester Responsibilities

Test Case Design: Create detailed, comprehensive, and well-structured test cases.
Requirements Analysis: Analyze functional requirements and user stories and translate them into written test plans, test cases, and test scripts.
Test Planning: Estimate, prioritize, plan, and coordinate testing activities.
Technical Collaboration: Assist developers and participate in technical analysis.
SDLC Compliance: Follow best practice standards for the software development life cycle.
Release Testing: Participate in release-related activities, including pre-release planning, mock releases, smoke testing during release, disaster recovery testing, and post-release verification.
Test Methodology: Define appropriate testing methods to ensure the developed product conforms to requirements and design.
Business Interface: Interface with business representatives and technical management to understand business needs and develop technical system requirements.
UAT Facilitation: Organize and facilitate user acceptance testing sessions during the software development and testing phases to ensure usability and requirement fulfillment.

22. Software Tester Accountabilities

Comprehensive Testing: Participate in all aspects of testing, including unit, integration, functional, regression, load and performance, automation, and system testing.
Test Planning: Work with the team to define the scope and objectives of all levels of QA testing, including establishing the purpose and deliverables of the test effort, developing and implementing test plans and cases, and developing and helping maintain automated testing scripts for complex environments.
QA Practices: Contribute to the definition, development, and implementation of quality assurance practices and procedures, and other QA assessments.
Agile Compliance: Adhere to the standards and best practices within the Agile Scrum methodology.
Quality Metrics: Establish fact-based measurements of test efficiency, effectiveness, and product readiness, including defect densities, defect counts, code coverage, and automation counts.
Defect Resolution: Manage and troubleshoot defects to resolution while proactively identifying risks to management.
Quality Collaboration: Work collaboratively with development to identify the testability of the architectural design and application code while infusing quality into the team's deliverables.
Business Alignment: Work directly with appropriate business partners and development to understand project concepts, objectives, and the approach of software development projects.
Test Leadership: Be responsible for estimating, coordinating, and directing testing for multiple products and projects.
Automation Development: Develop automated testing scripts for complex environments.
Risk Management: Manage defects and proactively identify risks to management.

23. Software Tester Functions

Vendor Testing: Responsible for testing the vendor base solution for the implementation effort.
Test Execution: Handle testing within assigned areas of responsibility, including data conversion, configuration testing, integration testing, data creation, functional testing, system testing, security testing, and execution.
SDLC Experience: Work across all phases of the software development life cycle using agile, iterative, and waterfall methodologies, with an emphasis on agile.
V&V Analysis: Perform analysis, verification, and validation of products or services to ensure they meet specified requirements for large vendor solution systems.
Business Workflow: Understand business workflows, configuration, monitoring, and evaluation of testing results against objectives, and apply recommended improvement actions.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with project managers, business analysts, and developers.
Independent Work: Work independently with minimal assistance while maintaining strong working relationships within and outside quality control and testing teams.
SQL Testing: Prepare and execute SQL commands to manage and verify data.
Test Development: Develop, publish, and execute test cases and test scripts for complex distributed applications throughout the project life cycle.
Automation Frameworks: Create, manage, and maintain automated script execution and development using Selenium WebDriver while following automation best practices.
Web Services Testing: Create, execute, and automate SOAP UI scripts for web services testing.
Test Planning: Develop test plans and user acceptance tests, and create required test data.
Comprehensive Testing: Execute sanity, smoke, functional, security, regression, stress, performance, and load testing based on project needs.
Production Verification: Participate in production implementation verification.

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