Quality Assurance Manager (QA Manager) is a senior-level skilled professional who oversees and ensures the quality of a company’s products or services. They play a vital role in any organization. Quality Assurance Managers develop, implement, and maintain quality assurance policies, and programs. Typically, they have a strong technical background and experience in quality assurance methodologies. QA Managers work closely with other departments to ensure the high standards of all products and services. They are responsible for protecting the company’s reputation. The role requires certain qualifications. So, let us dive into the details of a quality assurance manager job description.
Post Highlights:
- Position Levels
- Education Level
- Course Types
- Certification/License
- Work Experience
- Duties/Responsibilities
- Equipment Types
- Abilities/Skills
- Work Environment
- Physical Demands
- Resume Format
- Top Industries
- Job Types
- Salary Information
- Benefits/Perks
Position Levels
Some common job levels include-
- Associate Quality Assurance Manager
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Senior Quality Assurance Manager
- Director of Quality Assurance
- Principal Quality Assurance Manager
- Vice President of Quality Assurance
Education Level
Some common education levels include-
- High School Diploma or GED
- Bachelor’s Degree (computer science, engineering, business administration)
- Bachelor’s Degree (quality assurance, management)
- Master’s Degree (quality assurance, business administration)
- CWI Certification (preferred)
Course Types
Some common course types include-
- Agile Quality Assurance Course
- Automation Testing Course
- General Quality Assurance Course
- Industry-Specific Quality Assurance Course
- Performance Testing Course
- QAM Certification Preparation Course
- Security Testing Course
- Software Quality Assurance Course
Certification/License
Some common certifications include-
- Certified Agile Quality Assurance Practitioner (CAQAP) by Agile Alliance
- Certified Automation Tester (CAT) by ISTQB
- Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE) by ASQ
- Certified Performance Tester (CPT) by ISTQB
- Certified Pharmaceutical GMP Professional (CPGP) by RAPS
- Certified Quality Assurance Engineer (CQE) by ASQ
- Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) by ASQ
- Certified Security Tester (CST) by ISTQB
- Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSTE) by SQEa
- Certified Supplier Quality Professional (CSQP) by ASQ
Work Experience
Some common experience types include-
- Agile development methodologies experience
- Automation testing experience
- Cross-functional team working experience
- Experience conducting security assessments
- Experience working with customers
- Expertise in relevant NDT methods
- Experience working with stakeholders
- Performance testing experience
- QA engineer team leading experience
- Quality assurance methodologies and tools experience
- Security testing experience
- Software development projects experience
Duties/Responsibilities
Some common duties include-
- Analyze quality data and trends
- Automate quality assurance testing
- Conduct software application security assessments
- Develop quality assurance plans/procedures
- Implement continuous integration/delivery pipelines
- Implement quality assurance metrics
- Implement quality assurance processes
- Lead a team of QA engineers
- Liaise with vendors and suppliers
- Maintain a quality assurance knowledge base
- Negotiate quality assurance budgets
- Oversee the testing of products/services
- Participate in product planning meetings
- Present quality assurance results to stakeholders
- Represent the QA team at industry events
- Review marketing materials demos
- Stay up-to-date on the latest quality assurance trends
- Train and mentor QA engineers
- Work with customers to gather feedback
- Work with other departments
Equipment Types
Some common equipment types include-
Computer/Software
- Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) tools
- Defect tracking tools
- Quality assurance metrics and reporting tools
- Test automation tools
- Test case management tools
Testing Devices
- Accessibility testing tools
- Application programming interfaces (APIs)
- Embedded systems
- Environmental chambers
- Mobile devices
- Networking devices
- Performance testing tools
- Security testing tools
- Web browsers
Additional Equipment
- Containers
- Data loggers
- Emulators
- Load testing tools
- Network traffic analyzers
- Oscilloscopes
- Protocol analyzers
- Simulators
- Spectrum analyzers
- Stress testing tools
- Virtual machines
- Other specialized testing equipment
Abilities/Skills
Some common skills include-
Technical Skills
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines
- Experience with software development lifecycles (SDLCs)
- Experience with test automation
- Experience with testing techniques
- Knowledge of welding or manufacturing procedures
- Knowledge of quality assurance methodologies and tools
Business Skills
- Ability to communicate with stakeholders
- Ability to report on quality assurance metrics
- Ability to understand business requirements
- Organizational skills
Leadership Skills
- Ability to lead a team of QA engineers
- Ability to provide feedback and coaching
- Ability to resolve conflicts
- Ability to set goals and delegate tasks
- Time management skills
Additional Skills
- Ability to stay up-to-date on the latest trends
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong analytical skills
- Problem-solving skills
Work Environment
Some common working conditions include-
- Deal with tight deadlines
- Interact with a variety of stakeholders
- Manage a team of QA engineers
- Sit for long periods of time at a computer desk
- Stay up-to-date on the latest QA trends
- Troubleshoot complex problems
- Work as part of a team or independently
- Work in a fast-paced environment
- Work on a variety of projects simultaneously
Physical Demands
Some common physical demands include-
- May need to bend/reach to access materials
- May need to climb stairs to access different levels
- May need to exert force to open/close cabinets
- May need to perform repetitive tasks
- May need to stand for long periods of time
- May need to travel to customer sites/testing facilities
- May need to walk around the office/testing facility
- May occasionally need to carry heavy objects
- Occasionally need to lift/carry light objects
- Often spend long hours at a computer
Resume Format
A suggested resume format includes-
Contact Information
- Full Name
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Location (city and state)
Summary
- Add your skills and experience
- Highlight your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments
Skills
- List your hard skills and soft skills
Experience
- List your previous roles (most recent first)
- For each role, include the following information-
Company name
Job title
Dates of employment
Responsibilities and accomplishments
Education
- List your educational background (most recent first)
Certifications (if applicable)
- Add any relevant certifications
Awards/Honors
- List any awards or honors
References
- Generally, not required (available upon request)
Optional Sections
- List any presentations
- List any publications
- List relevant projects
Resume Formatting Tips-
- Keep the resume well-organized
- Use a consistent format
- Keep the resume short (1-2 pages)
- Use a professional font (11-12 points)
- Maintain a professional tone throughout
- Tailor your resume to the specific job
- Proofread your resume (no grammatical errors)
Top Industries
Some common employment areas include-
- Aerospace/Defense Sectors
- Automotive companies
- Construction/Real Estate Sectors
- E-Commerce Companies
- Education Sector
- Energy/Utilities Companies
- Financial Services Sector
- Gaming/Entertainment Sectors
- Government Agencies
- Healthcare Sectors
- Hospitality/Tourism Industry
- Insurance Companies
- IT Industries
- Manufacturing Industry
- Media/Communications Companies
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Retail Sectors
- Software Development Companies
- Telecommunication Sectors
- Transportation/Logistics Companies
Job Types
Some common job titles include-
- Aerospace/Defense QA Manager
- Automotive QA Manager
- Construction/Real Estate QA Manager
- E-Commerce QA Manager
- Education QA Manager
- Energy/Utilities QA Manager
- Financial Services QA Manager
- Gaming/Entertainment QA Manager
- Government QA Manager
- Healthcare QA Manager
- Hospitality/Tourism QA Manager
- Insurance QA Manager
- IT QA Manager
- Manufacturing QA Manager
- Media/Communications QA Manager
- Non-Profit Organization QA Manager
- Retail QA Manager
- Software QA Manager
- Telecommunications QA Manager
- Transportation/Logistics QA Manager
Salary Information
On average, a Quality Assurance Manager earns $60 per hour in the United States. But factors like education, experience, skills, certification, location, and company size affect salary trends.
However, the approximate salary ranges for Quality Assurance Managers include.
Hourly Wage
- Minimum – $45
- Average – $60
- Maximum – $75
Monthly Salary
- Minimum – $7,200
- Average – $9,000
- Maximum – $12,000
Yearly Salary
- Minimum – $86,400
- Average – $108,000
- Maximum – $144,000
These salary figures are just estimates, and actual salaries can vary from place to place depending on various local circumstances and market trends. Additionally, Quality Assurance Managers working in high-cost areas may earn higher salaries than those who work in lower-cost areas.
Benefits/Perks
Some common benefits include-
- Cell Phone Reimbursement
- Company Car
- Competitive Salaries/Bonuses
- Conference Travel
- Continuing Education Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Flexible Work Arrangements
- Free Snacks/Drinks
- Gym Membership Reimbursement
- Health Insurances
- Laptop/Other It Equipment
- On-Site Fitness Center
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Pet Insurance
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Retirement Savings Plans (401(k)
- Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
Summary
Quality Assurance Managers develop and implement quality standards, test products/services, and identify/resolve potential defects. They play a significant role in ensuring the quality of products and services. The role requires certain qualifications and experience to work smoothly. Quality Assurance Managers typically obtain competitive salaries and benefits. Besides this, they enjoy professional development opportunities and flexible work arrangements. Overall, Quality Assurance Managers are pivotal figures in maintaining and implementing the stipulated product standards.
