Skip to main content
Document · Hiring Exercise JDs

Two paired JDs: Test Technician and Test Lead.
The entry-level role and the role that grows them.

Paired job descriptions for Test Technician (entry-level) and Test Lead (experienced). Useful as hiring-panel reference material, as exercise material in interview training, and as a reminder of what ladder progression looks like inside a test team.

Roles
2
Career stage
Entry / Mid-senior
Use for
Hiring, calibration

Key Takeaways

Four things to remember.

01

The technician role is a career entry point

Organized, responsible, follows direction, eager to learn. Do not gate it on credentials you do not need.

02

The lead role is experienced, not just senior

Four-plus years, including lead roles. Leading test work is a demonstrable skill, not a title transition.

03

Domain knowledge is named explicitly

Windows, Internet technologies, e-commerce. When domain matters, name it. When it does not, say "domain is teachable".

04

Non-core expectations belong in "Other"

Shift work, travel, on-call — surface these up front in their own section so they do not ambush anyone late in the funnel.

Overview

These two JDs are intentionally short. They were written as interview-training exercises — "here is the role, write the phone-screen questions" — and that brevity makes them useful reference points when you need to calibrate an open req quickly.

Use them as a sanity check: if your real JD for the same title is more than twice this long, look hard at what is in the extra weight.

01

Test Technician — Roles and Responsibilities

  • Participate in test case development and execution in a Windows/Web environment.
  • Assist the lead test engineer in gathering and formatting information for test results reporting.

02

Test Technician — Education

Degree or technical certification desirable but not required.

03

Test Technician — Experience

  • Previous experience in test engineering, developing and executing test cases, test tools, and test suites is a plus.
  • Windows test experience or knowledge of Windows technology required.
  • Familiarity with Internet technologies like HTML, streaming audio/video, browsers, etc., required.
  • Internet test experience highly desirable.
  • Experience with e-commerce highly desirable.

04

Test Technician — Expertise Required

Ideal position for new-career or second-career person looking to enter the software business. Be organized, responsible, able to take and follow directions, and eager to learn.

05

Test Technician — Other

  • Dress is business-casual.
  • Position may require some evening or graveyard test shift work.

06

Test Lead — Roles and Responsibilities

  • Lead test case development and execution by less-experienced test engineers and technicians in a Windows/Web environment.
  • Assist the test manager in reporting test results to management and technical staff.

07

Test Lead — Education

B.Sc. in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering, or two additional years experience, or tester certification.

08

Test Lead — Experience

  • Four+ years experience in test engineering, developing and executing test cases, test tools, and test suites, including lead roles.
  • Windows test experience and knowledge of Windows technology required.
  • Familiarity with Internet technologies like HTML, streaming audio/video, browsers, etc., required.
  • Internet test experience highly desirable.
  • Experience with e-commerce highly desirable.

09

Test Lead — Expertise Required

A demonstrated career commitment to testing and/or quality assurance is preferred. The candidate should show a familiarity with state-of-the-art testing theory and practice, and be able to discuss how she applied the ideas in her previous positions.

10

Test Lead — Other

Dress is business-casual and hours are flexible. Some weekends and evenings will be required. Lead may need to provide direction to evening or graveyard test shift.

Take it with you

Download the piece you just read.

We keep this library free. All we ask is that you tell us who you are, so we know who to follow up with if we release an updated version. One-time form, this browser remembers you after that.

Need a QA program to back this up in your organization?

If a checklist is not enough and you want help applying it to a live engagement, we can have a call this week.

Related reading

Articles, talks, guides, and case studies tagged for the same audience.