M-Pesa Africa - Senior Software Quality Engineer at Safaricom Kenya

About the Role

The Senior Software Quality Engineer will be responsible for architecting new automated test strategies and frameworks, in addition to creating, implementing, and automating testing in support of software test requirements. This role works with Quality Engineers and other Technology SMEs and teams to develop, maintain, and enhance the test automation framework and automation infrastructure. 

Oversee and perform Automated testing on all applications from the earliest opportunity and with precision before any application is deployed to production.  Communicate all test issues effectively. Participate in the test automation tool selection and adoption process. Develop and execute automated test suites using custom tools. Integrate test suites into the test management system and custom test harnessed. Perform source code reviews. Embrace agile ways of working and drive DevOps integration.

*Please note that we are building pipelines for this role, and it is not an active recruitment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and implement test automation strategy including roadmap, tools, framework & approach.
• Provide leadership, guidance, training and mentoring to implement test automation within the team.
• Creates test architecture and test strategies early enough to drive software development and testing approach; this practice should be able to morph into Agile and Test-Driven Development.
• Produce & manage level test plans, estimate effort and resource test plans.
• Monitor changes to scope during the development cycle and re-evaluate plans and resource accordingly.
• Manage expectations of when testing activities will be complete, mitigating risks to key milestones.
• Liaise with the relevant departments to ensure key infrastructure (environments, interfaces & access) is set-up to enable all required testing activities.
• Manage the UAT process by supporting clients to establish key scenarios to test their business processes to maximize benefit of the UAT process ensuring full acceptance and integration of the software solution.
• Manage processes and procedures locally within the test team and with external teams across the SDLC.
• Build test scripts from various sources including functional specifications, technical specifications and sessions with developers and designers.
• Review requirements, specifications, user documentation and other project documentation to assure quality of the products and tests to be developed, i.e., perform manual static testing.
• Select and develop appropriate test automation tools, applying the latest techniques in test automation, e.g., data-driven testing.
• Use risk-driven techniques to develop, maintain, and execute automated test suites for various Software products, i.e., perform automated dynamic testing.
• Execute automated tests and validate the results.
• Work with the Development team to capture and reuse automated Unit Test Cases, Test Stubs and Drivers, and other Development test objects.
• Work with the Development team to create and maintain an automated nightly build verification (“smoke”) test.
• Ensure proper version control and configuration management of all test objects developed and test environments used.
• To facilitate in-house performance testing ensuring that all key infrastructure, data requirements are met as well as establishing the best tools for the job
• Identify key components of the system that are suitable for automation and implement approach to deliver benefits through automation.
• Results Tracking and Reporting:
  • Monitor defects raised by the team and challenge their prioritization, supporting to resolution.
  • Manage all issues that impact on the team’s ability to complete testing activities on schedule.
  • Create and maintain manual test repositories and regression test packs with a view of constant optimization to improve test estimates.
  • Create, maintain, and manage test related documentation.
  • Provide accurate and precise estimates for assigned task duration, along with confidence levels and foreseeable dependencies.
  • Assist in preparing test plans, budgets, and schedules.
  • Take responsibility to ensure all solutions delivered meet the highest quality standards.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or Related field Experience, relevant work experience in development and/or testing role.
• 5-8 years’ of Software Quality Assurance experience
• ISTQB Foundation Level Certification and any other certification will be an added advantage.
• Experience with Operational readiness/Quality gating processes
• Proven experience in  defining, creating, implementing, and executing test automation frameworks for large-scale systems in agile development environment.
• Experience in several test automation frameworks, e.g., Selenium, Appium, xUnit.
• Familiarity with resiliency testing techniques such as Failure Injection and Chaos Testing
• Ability to create good acceptance and integration test automation scripts and integrate with continuous integration and code coverage tools to ensure 80% or higher code coverage.
• Understanding of agile software development – JIRA, xray & strong SQL skills 
• Understanding of web service integration (e.g.: REST and SOAP XML).
• Experience with Cloud Technology (e.g.: AWS , GCP, Azure) 
• Experience in working on Operating systems like Linux, Windows, and Mainframe
• Experience with Oracle, Mongo DB, Kubernetes, VMware, SQL Server, MySQL database concepts
• Good understanding of object-oriented programming, J2EE architecture, .NET, test automation, CI/CD, DevOps, JavaScript, Jenkins, git, Agile software, LoadRunner, Selenium, Appium etc.
• Familiarity with software packing tools (.exe, .deb, .rpm, Docker…)
• Systematic problem-solving approach, coupled with strong communication skills and a sense of ownership and drive.
• Strong business acumen and leadership mindset with the ability to communicate and influence others
• Passion for staying updated with industry trends and emerging technologies.