Senior QA Tester – Accessibility Testing, WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, SQL & API Testing
Industry: Government / Public Sector
Experience: 5+ Years
 

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior QA Tester with strong expertise in manual software testing, accessibility compliance, API testing, and SQL/database validation to support application development and enhancement initiatives for the Department of Education.

The role focuses on testing applications used to monitor and administer Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants, including Parts B and C. Current initiatives include two AEA funding streams, a fiscal monitoring tool, and three standalone form-upload processes supporting budget and claims workflows.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with WCAG 2.2 Level AA, Section 508 compliance, accessibility testing, manual QA, test case development, SQL queries, API testing, and defect management. Accessibility expertise is essential, including a relevant certification such as CPACC, WAS, or an equivalent credential.

The Senior QA Tester will work closely with business analysts, developers, project managers, and business stakeholders to validate requirements, identify defects, maintain test documentation, and ensure application quality throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

Key Responsibilities

• Perform manual software testing, including functional testing, regression testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), usability testing, and accessibility testing.

• Develop, execute, maintain, and update test plans, test cases, test scripts, and test scenarios.

• Conduct accessibility testing and validate compliance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA and Section 508 standards.

• Identify accessibility issues and document findings using applicable accessibility testing tools and methodologies.

• Develop and maintain automated test scripts to support test automation where appropriate.

• Review business requirements, functional specifications, and technical documentation to establish test coverage.

• Collaborate with business analysts to clarify requirements and develop comprehensive testing scenarios.

• Perform API testing, web service testing, and database validation to verify application functionality and data integrity.

• Write and execute SQL queries to validate database records, application outputs, and data processing.

• Document test results, defects, test evidence, and recommendations.

• Participate in defect triage, troubleshooting, root-cause investigation, and production support activities.

• Validate application changes and support testing during releases and production deployments.

• Support application enhancements ranging from minor updates to large-scale project initiatives.

• Maintain user documentation, system documentation, and testing records as business processes evolve.

• Participate in business process validation and continuous quality improvement activities.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the software development lifecycle.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Quality Assurance (QA), software testing, or application testing.

• Strong hands-on experience in manual testing and QA methodologies.

• Accessibility testing certification, such as CPACC, WAS, or an equivalent credential.

• In-depth knowledge of WCAG 2.2 Level AA accessibility requirements.

• Strong understanding of Section 508 compliance and government accessibility standards.

• Practical experience testing applications for accessibility compliance.

• Experience creating and maintaining automated test scripts.

• Strong proficiency in SQL queries, database testing, and data validation.

• Hands-on experience with API testing and web service validation.

• Experience developing test plans, test cases, and test documentation from business and technical requirements.

• Ability to translate requirements into effective test scenarios and comprehensive test coverage.

• Experience with defect tracking, defect triage, and software testing lifecycle processes.

• Familiarity with accessibility testing tools and techniques.

• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with business analysts, developers, project managers, and business stakeholders.

• Experience working in Agile or similar collaborative development environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting government, state agency, or public-sector applications.

• Experience testing grant management systems, fiscal monitoring applications, or compliance-driven software.

• Experience supporting application enhancements, release validation, and production testing.