Quality Assurance Engineer

About The Company Octave is a leading provider of innovative public safety software solutions dedicated to enhancing emergency response and situational awareness. Our mission is to deliver reliable, mission-critical applications that support call-taking, dispatch, records management, mobile operations, and analytics for public safety agencies worldwide. With a strong focus on technological excellence and customer-centric solutions, Octave strives to empower first responders and public safety professionals with tools that ensure safety, efficiency, and effective communication. Our team comprises passionate professionals committed to advancing public safety technology and making a meaningful impact in communities globally. About The Role We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Quality Assurance Engineer to join our dynamic Agile delivery team. This role involves working closely within a Scrum or SAFe framework to ensure the delivery of high-quality, mission-critical public safety software, including the HxGN OnCall application suite. The Senior QA Engineer will serve as an embedded partner, owning quality outcomes for assigned features and components throughout the development lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in testing web-based applications, preferably within the public safety domain, and possess a strong understanding of Agile methodologies and automation practices. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to essential public safety solutions that support emergency response operations globally, ensuring that our software meets the highest standards of reliability, performance, and security. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience. Minimum of 5 years of experience as a QA Engineer or Software Test Engineer within Agile teams. Strong understanding of Agile and SAFe frameworks and QA's role in iterative delivery processes. Solid knowledge of QA methodologies, test design techniques, and defect lifecycle management. Experience with Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) principles. Proficiency in writing clear, concise, and maintainable test cases and documentation. Hands-on experience balancing manual testing with automation, including expanding automated test coverage. Familiarity with automation tools such as Playwright or similar frameworks is a strong plus. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. Self-motivated, accountable, and adaptable to fast-paced, collaborative environments. Willingness to learn new technologies and continuously improve testing practices. Responsibilities Serve as an embedded QA partner within an Agile/SAFe delivery team, owning quality outcomes for specific features and components. Collaborate proactively with Product Owners and Developers to refine user stories, acceptance criteria, and test scenarios early in the development process. Apply shift-left quality practices, including TDD and BDD, to promote early defect detection and prevention. Design, execute, and maintain manual and automated tests at the story, feature, and regression levels. Contribute to expanding automated test coverage, with experience in Playwright being highly advantageous. Perform functional, integration, regression, and exploratory testing throughout the sprint lifecycle to ensure software quality. Identify, document, and triage defects with detailed reproduction steps, severity, and impact assessment. Participate actively in Agile ceremonies such as backlog refinement, sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives. Analyze logs and system behavior to support defect investigation and root cause analysis efforts. Collaborate with other QA engineers to improve testing standards, tooling, and best practices across the team. Utilize Azure DevOps for test management, defect tracking, and traceability to ensure comprehensive documentation and reporting. Operate effectively within a Windows 11 environment, leveraging Microsoft Office tools for documentation, analysis, and reporting purposes. Benefits Competitive salary and comprehensive health benefits package. Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning. Collaborative and innovative work environment. Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options based on qualifications. Participation in cutting-edge projects supporting public safety and emergency response systems. Access to modern tools and technologies to facilitate efficient work processes. Equal Opportunity Octave is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any such factors. We believe in fostering a workplace where every individual can thrive and contribute to our shared mission of enhancing public safety through innovative technology.