So you've landed your first QA job, what's next?

As you explore the field, you'll encounter roles like Test Analysts, QA Leads, and Test Architects, with higher pay than your current role, obviously! But you might wonder, what do they do, and how can I level up to that skill level?

Say no more. This article explores five key roles in quality assurance, from QA Engineer to QA Manager, discussing what they do and what their responsibilities would be on a hypothetical e-commerce project.

Let’s dive in.

QA Engineer

The job of the QA engineer is to execute tasks created by the QA lead.

QA Engineers write and maintain automated test suites that verify feature functionalities in the software development lifecycle. In an e-commerce project, they would focus mainly on two testing strategies, automation and exploratory testing. For automation, they write end-to-end tests that verify user workflows like:

• Adding items to the cart and completing checkout
• Applying discount codes and verifying price calculations
• Validating inventory updates after successful purchases
• Testing session management during long checkout processes

For exploratory testing, their goal is to uncover edge cases that they might have missed in their automated tests. So, during exploratory tests, they might uncover that an issue occurs when multiple users try to purchase the last item in stock simultaneously. They’d file a bug report and communicate with relevant team members.

Test Analyst

Now that we understand how QA Engineers handle automated testing, let's look at who determines what to test in the first place.

Test Analysts design and execute test cases based on software requirements and potential user behaviours. In our e-commerce project, they analyze user and business requirements to identify what needs testing and determine the most effective testing approaches. A Test Analyst would create detailed functional, regression, usability, and performance test scenarios.

• Functional testing: verifying checkout flows and payment processing
• Regression testing: ensuring new features don't break existing functionality
• Usability testing: validating that the shopping experience remains intuitive
• Performance testing: checking site responsiveness during high traffic periods

When they find defects, they document and track them using project management or bug-tracking tools like Jira, prepare reports, and summarize test results for stakeholders.

Their responsibility is to provide clear insight into a product’s quality.

QA Team Lead

A QA Team Lead translates quality standards usually created by the QA manager into actionable testing tasks for the QA team. You could say in essence that they bridge the gap between strategy and execution.

Still using our e-commerce case study, a QA Lead would coordinate daily testing activities across features like payment processing, inventory management, and user authentication, breaking down test requirements into specific tasks. For example, when integrating a payment method into the system, a QA Team Lead will break down testing requirements into tasks like:

• Validating payment flows
• Verify graceful error handling
• Verify data integrity of transaction records.

QA Leads tend to be the first point of contact for product managers and developers when quality issues arise. Their hands-on leadership ensures that quality standards translate into practical testing outcomes.

Test Architect

After looking at all these QA roles, you might wonder who designs the testing infrastructure that makes their work possible.

Test Architects design and implement the testing frameworks that support the entire QA process. In our e-commerce platform, they make critical decisions about testing tools, automation frameworks, and testing approaches that align with business goals. They focus on building scalable testing infrastructure that includes:

• Setting up continuous integration pipelines for automated testing
• Designing framework architecture that supports different types of tests
• Implementing security and performance testing strategies
• Creating custom testing tools for platform-specific needs

They also guide teams on best practices for test implementation and mentor them on using the testing infrastructure effectively. Their architectural decisions shape how effectively the entire QA team can perform their testing duties.

QA Manager

A QA manager is responsible for the flow of quality through every aspect of a software development life cycle.

In our E-commerce platform, a QA manager establishes testing frameworks, sets quality benchmarks, and coordinates with development teams to minimize the number of bugs that slip into production. They tend to focus on risk management. For instance, a QA manager could set a quality benchmark of zero defects in the checkout flow, refund processing within 24 hours for payment, and account lockout after five failed attempts for authentication.

The QA Manager's role extends beyond technical. They build and mentor testing teams and communicate with upper management, translating technical quality metrics into business impact for stakeholders.

Think of them as the bridge between technical quality and business success.

Who Startups Hire

Most QA professionals begin their journey as QA Engineers. Understanding these different roles will help you make strategic career decisions, focusing on developing the right skills at the right time to progress to your next role.

Whether you're aiming to become a Test Analyst, QA Lead, or even a Test Architect, you now have a clearer picture of the path ahead and the skills you'll need to develop along the way.