Department: Information Technology

Classification: Info Technology Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 06

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The mission of the Enterprise Applications (EA) department is to plan, implement and maintain integrated central and distributed information systems and associated databases that support the business needs of the University. These systems include the Banner administrative applications (supporting student, finance, admissions, human resources, payroll, financial aid and procurement), Data marts/Business Intelligence (supporting strategic and operational end-user reporting requirements), decentralized systems and web applications (supporting budgeting, sponsored programs activity and other University applications) and support for Cloud-based platforms such as Salesforce/CRM and related add-ons, AWS, and Informatica data integration platforms. The environment is comprised of Oracle databases supporting Ellucian Banner and other administrative systems (e.g. Ellucian Workflow), In house systems (BSN app, PATS, PODS, Faculty Hiring system, eMOU, EIP, Travel Reimbursement, OSP Applications (PODS, PATS, Budget, etc.) using PL/SQL, Pro*C, Pro*Cobol, Oracle Forms, XML/JSON, ASP, JAVA, .NET Framework and Microstrategy running on Sun Solaris, Linux and Windows platforms. Support and administration is also provided for other third party systems such as AppWorx, fsaAtlas, Xtender (imaging) solutions, Workflow, DynamicForms, TK20 and others running on Windows, Solaris/Linux Servers. University applications written in Cold Fusion are also supported along with Web Content Management Systems using WordPress, and Drupal.

The Enterprise Applications Support & Development (EASD) team within ITS's EA group works closely with Mason's Provost's office and units under the Provost's office as well as other units within the university in support of academic and research mission of the institution by supporting and addressing various needs related to IT, data, analytics, reporting, security, and process reengineering/automation, application development & support. The division strives to provide quality, timely, and efficient services to and to collaborate with members of the Mason community in support of the University vision and strategic plan.

About the Position:

The Senior Quality Assurance Analyst performs analysis, testing, documentation and implementation of CRM software (Native Salesforce and Connected apps) and other related application systems within Salesforce and related platforms and their integration with other enterprise systems, as well as assists in governance, project management activities and other assigned tasks. This work is performed by collaborating with stakeholders and team members including Salesforce Architects, Developers, and Administrators to meet the project requirements, completing tasks, and communicating project information to clients, project managers, or other project stakeholders while adhering to university policies and compliance with accessibility related standards (W3C, ADA, Section 508, etc.).

Responsibilities:

• Requirements Analysis:
  • Performs requirements analyses by reviewing business requirements and technical specifications related to Salesforce implementations; and
  • Collaborates with business analysts, developers, and other stakeholders to ensure clarity and completeness of requirements.
• Test Planning, Design, and Execution:
  • Develops comprehensive test plans outlining the scope, objectives, and approach for testing Salesforce applications. Identifies test scenarios, test cases, and data requirements based on functional and technical specifications;
  • Creates detailed test cases that cover all aspects of Salesforce functionality, including customizations, integrations, and configurations. Executes manual and automated tests to validate that Salesforce applications meet specified requirements. Performs regression testing to ensure that new enhancements do not negatively impact existing functionality;
  • Documents and tracks defects found during testing, providing detailed information for developers to reproduce and address issues. Collaborates with the development team to ensure timely resolution of identified defects;
  • Conducts performance testing to assess the responsiveness, scalability, and overall performance of Salesforce applications. Identifies and addresses performance bottlenecks in collaboration with the development team;
  • Verifies the seamless integration of Salesforce with other systems and applications. Validates data flow and consistency across integrated platforms; and
  • Ensures the availability of relevant test data for Salesforce testing purposes. Develops and maintains data sets to cover various testing scenarios and conditions.
• Documentation:
  • Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation of test cases, test scripts, test data, and testing processes; and
  • Provides reports on test execution progress, defects, and overall quality metrics.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Remains informed about Salesforce updates, best practices, and industry trends; and
  • Identifies opportunities for process improvements and contributes to the evolution of testing methodologies within the organization.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Works closely with cross-functional teams, including developers, administrators, and business analysts, to ensure a collaborative approach to quality assurance; and
  • Communicates effectively with stakeholders to report testing progress, issues, and recommendations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Salesforce Developer and/or Administrator training certificate(s) or equivalent required;
• Substantial QA experience (typically five or more years);
• Significant demonstrated experience as a Salesforce QA Analyst in projects related to CRM application development and integration;
• Experience with integration with third party products with existing infrastructure (e.g. Informatica, Ethos);
• Experience with Salesforce connected app architecture;
• Experience with latest tools, best practices, QA methods, and Agile delivery;
• Experience with user interface issues pertaining to navigation, usability and functionality;
• Experience with or exposure to enterprise systems such as Banner, PeopleSoft, Workday, etc.;
• Knowledge of Salesforce.com, Lightning, Visualforce, Apex;
• In-depth knowledge of testing methodologies, techniques and best practices as well as security standards and techniques to improve stability and security of new and existing systems;
• Good understanding of issue troubleshooting within Salesforce and related platforms;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Excellent organization and time management skills and ability to assess priorities in meeting multiple deadlines;
• Ability to perform unit, functional, smoke, integrations, and regression testing with proper test coverage in all areas;
• Ability to define and implement improvements to testing and quality assurance processes within the team and across teams;
• Ability to analyze and understand software requirements to determine feasibility of testing within time and cost restraints;
• Ability and willingness to acquire new knowledge/skills and lead/train/assist other staff on projects as needed;
• Ability to manage multiple assigned tasks and responsibilities in high-pressure environments;
• Identifies and resolves problems in an effective and efficient manner;
• Demonstrated ability to follow instructions and complete assigned project and other miscellaneous tasks;
• Ability to perform work effectively in self-managed and team-based Agile projects and the ability to provide technical guidance and leadership to other team members; and
• Commitment to quality through the ability to translate complex functional/technical requirements into thorough test plans.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within higher education industry; and
• Experience with test automation tools.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Senior Quality Assurance Analyst at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date: March 26, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: April 23, 2024

Open Until Filled?: Yes