Description

This position ensures that technology solutions are meeting the needs of internal customers through testing, mapping requirements, and identifying risks and issues. This individual leads a small team in defining tools, standards, and a unified testing strategy that addresses timelines and documenting of performance and security problems. The ideal candidate will thrive with ambiguity and work well with diverse teams to clarify customer needs in an effort to determine whether tech solutions are operating within their design. If you are a strategic, outside-the-box thinker who communicates well with customers, developers, and business analysts alike, this may be the position for you!

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1 , state employees must be fully vaccinated. Your vaccine status will be verified upon acceptance of a contingent job offer. Please note, medical or religious accommodation may be available once an offer of employment is made.

About the division:
The Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) division develops and provides all Information Technology services and business solutions throughout the HCA and externally with partner agencies (DSHS, DOH, and Health Benefits Exchange, L&I, DOC). HCA has 114 solutions, applications and, databases in its IT Portfolio.

About the position:
This position serves as the highest technical expert within the Software Quality Assurance Unit and leads and mentors a team of testers in ensuring that agency applications are stable, well designed, and aligned with industry standards and best practices. The team tests and supports custom or Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) applications that have multiple dependency and function points, spanning different platforms across the agency and inter-agency. Develops test plans and test cases to verify and confirm systems meet the business and technical requirements. The incumbent identifies system bugs as part of the execution of test cases and tracks issues until they are resolved and meeting the requirements.

Duties

Some of what you will do:
Analyze requirements and develop test cases to perform Quality Assurance testing on business-critical technical solutions

• 
  Implement quality assurance testing for defect corrections and system enhancement code releases.
• Create test cases to perform system tests.
• Independently document test cases and expected results.
• Document system characteristics for future review of system performance and enhancements.
• Develop test cases based on discovered system defects.
• Verify within the system design documents that any proposed code changes continue to meet requirements.
• Identify and prepare different sets of test data.
• Perform backend testing.
• Execute test cases during test cycle, document, and validate test results.
• Identify, document, and track defects uncovered during testing.
• Prepare Test Summary Report to document the status and readiness for promoting the code changes to production.

Supervise, lead, coach, and mentor quality assurance testers.

• Set expectations for testing staff, creation/updates of position descriptions, recruitment, and annual reviews.
• Support testing staff in resolving complex challenges through coaching and mentorship.
• Meet regularly with testing staff to monitor progress, celebrate successes, and provide support in staff’s career growth.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Qualified candidates will meet all of these requirements:

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, or related. (Note: professional IT experience can be substituted year for year of education)
• Seven years of experience in performing application/software testing including developing and executing test cases, logging, and tracking defects.
• Four years of experience writing SQL queries.
• Two years of supervisory experience.

Note: The experience listed above may be gained concurrently.

Required competencies:

• Well-developed skills in Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Office/Professional products.
• Knowledge or experience with Agile and Waterfall concepts.
• Knowledge of Microsoft technologies used for application development (Microsoft SQL Server, .NET, Visual Studio).
• Understanding of information technology management and analysis, including the software development life cycle (SDLC), systems analysis, requirements analysis and translating business requirements into user requirements and functional requirements, data modeling, security implementations, testing strategies and user test scripts within an Information Technology group.
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven team player and team builder as well as a self-starter and self-motivated.

Preferred qualifications:

• Three years of experience working with Microsoft Team Foundation Server.
• Two years agile methodology experience.
• Three years of experience with health care data.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Supplemental Information

About HCA:
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, and the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

What we have to offer:

• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• Tuition reimbursement
• And free parking!

Notes:
This position is covered by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). Once the listed position(s) is(are) filled, this recruitment announcement may also be used to fill additional position(s) for up to sixty (60) days.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

HCA is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact Jake Nelko at 360.725.0945 or jake.nelko@hca.wa.gov.