Quality Assurance Engineer
Technology & Computing · Engineering
QA Engineers design test plans, write automated test scripts and ensure software meets requirements using Selenium, Cypress, Postman and JMeter. ISTQB certification is an industry benchmark.
Salary (Nigeria)
₦900,000 – ₦7,000,000 / year
Salary (International)
$9,000 – $70,000 / year
Exam requirements
Career pathway
Complete Secondary School Education
6 years
Build a strong foundation in Computer Studies/ICT, Mathematics, English Language, Data Processing, and other relevant subjects.
Earn a Relevant Bachelor's Degree
3-5 years
Study Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or a related field. A degree is beneficial but not always mandatory.
Learn Software Development Fundamentals
2-4 months
Understand programming concepts, databases, APIs, web applications, operating systems, and the software development lifecycle.
Learn Manual Software Testing
1-2 months
Learn how to create test cases, execute functional tests, identify defects, perform regression testing, and verify software requirements.
Learn Test Planning & Documentation
1-2 months
Develop skills in preparing test plans, test scenarios, test cases, test reports, and detailed bug reports.
Learn Automation Testing
2-4 months
Learn an automation framework such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or Appium and use it to automate repetitive tests.
Learn API & Database Testing
1-2 months
Learn tools such as Postman for API testing and SQL for verifying data stored and processed by applications.
Learn QA Tools & Methodologies
1-2 months
Gain experience with tools such as Jira, TestRail, Git, and CI/CD while learning Agile and Scrum testing practices.
Build a QA Portfolio & Gain Experience
3-6 months
Test real or practice applications, document bugs, create automated test scripts, and showcase your testing projects on GitHub or a portfolio.
Earn Certifications & Apply for QA Roles
2-6 months+
Consider certifications such as ISTQB Foundation Level, gain internship or freelance experience, and progress from QA Tester or Junior QA Engineer to QA Engineer.
Common challenges
Learning Test Automation
DifficultAutomation requires programming knowledge, testing frameworks, and an understanding of how applications work.
How to handle: Learn programming fundamentals first, then start with one framework such as Selenium, Playwright, or Cypress and build simple automated tests.
Understanding Complex Software Systems
DifficultModern applications may involve databases, APIs, cloud services, mobile applications, and multiple interconnected components.
How to handle: Learn software architecture fundamentals and gradually practice testing different layers of an application.
Writing Effective Test Cases
ModerateBeginners may struggle to identify all the scenarios and edge cases that could cause a software failure.
How to handle: Study testing techniques such as boundary-value analysis and equivalence partitioning, then practice writing test cases for real applications.
Keeping Up with Testing Tools
ModerateQA tools, automation frameworks, development practices, and technologies change frequently.
How to handle: Master core testing principles first and gradually learn new tools through official documentation and practical projects.
Reproducing Difficult Bugs
ManageableSome defects occur only under specific conditions, devices, browsers, or sequences of actions.
How to handle: Record detailed reproduction steps, test different conditions systematically, and document screenshots, logs, or other useful evidence.
Communicating with Developers
ManageableDevelopers and testers may interpret defects or requirements differently, sometimes leading to misunderstandings.
How to handle: Write clear bug reports, provide evidence, communicate respectfully, and focus discussions on reproducing and resolving the issue.
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Key skills
Resources
Minimum qualification
B.Sc. Computer Science or related field