Manual Tester/QA Analyst - US Citizenship Required

Ignite•Ashburn, VA

About The Position

Ready to ignite your career and work alongside innovative IT professionals supporting critical federal mission systems? Join our team supporting U.S. Customs and Border Protection and help ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of enterprise applications used in support of national security operations. As a Manual Tester / QA Analyst, you will support quality assurance efforts throughout the software development lifecycle by executing manual testing activities, validating system functionality, performing API and database testing, and supporting recurring environment validation and regression test activities within Agile development teams. This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate closely with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders to identify, document, and resolve software defects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a DHS Public Trust clearance
4+ years of experience performing manual software testing in enterprise or government environments
Experience with functional, regression, integration, and user acceptance testing methodologies
Experience performing API testing using Postman or similar tools
Experience writing and executing SQL queries for backend data validation and database testing
Familiarity with Git, GitLab, or similar version control platforms
Experience documenting defects, test results, and validation activities
Knowledge of QA methodologies, test plans, test cycles, and software release processes
Experience working in Agile/Scrum development environments
Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting DHS, CBP, or other federal government programs
Familiarity with automated testing concepts and recurring regression test suites
Experience with Jira, Confluence, or similar Agile management tools
Understanding of REST APIs, JSON, and XML
Familiarity with CI/CD concepts and release validation processes
Exposure to Section 508 accessibility standards and testing practices
Basic windows command-line knowledge or scripting experience is a plus

Responsibilities

Execute manual functional, integration, regression, and user acceptance testing for enterprise web applications and services
Develop and maintain test cases, test scenarios, and test documentation based on business requirements and user stories
Conduct exploratory and ad hoc testing to identify application defects, usability concerns, and edge-case issues
Support recurring automated regression and environment validation test runs by reviewing results, documenting issues, and coordinating with development teams
Perform API testing using Postman, including request/response validation and test data generation
Validate backend system functionality and application data using SQL queries and database testing techniques
Assist in developing and implementing quality control methodologies to ensure compliance with QA standards, guidelines, and procedures
Participate in formal and informal reviews throughout the software development lifecycle
Support basic Section 508 accessibility testing activities and document accessibility-related findings
Track, document, and retest defects using Agile lifecycle and defect management tools
Collaborate with Scrum teams during sprint planning, backlog refinement, standups, and release activities
Support version control and configuration management activities using Git and GitLab
Assist with test evidence collection and documentation required for audits, compliance reviews, and release approvals
Communicate testing status, risks, and defect trends to project stakeholders and team leadership