Senior QA Analyst

Job Purpose

A leading independent academic publishing company is seeking a Sr. QA Analyst to ensure the quality and reliability of its business systems. The ideal candidate will meticulously test and analyse our software applications to maintain the highest standards of performance and functionality.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The job functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Own test strategy for features and cross-system initiatives, defining scope, approach, coverage, dependencies, and test requirements.

· Apply risk-based testing to identify critical scenarios, regression scope, and integration risks, and determine what should be tested, deferred, or excluded based on requirements and business impact.

· Understand end-to-end system flows and integrations, including upstream/downstream impacts, APIs, data flows, and system dependencies.

· Define and review high-level test scenarios for complex features and integrated products, ensuring coverage of key functional, negative, boundary, and business-risk scenarios.

· Work closely with Product Owners and Engineers from the requirements stage to understand business and technical requirements, identify gaps, risks, and testability concerns, and provide QA input early in the lifecycle.

· Test complex features, integrations, and bug fixes using appropriate manual and technical testing techniques, including API and database testing, and investigate defects to identify root causes.

· Drive test automation by identifying suitable automation opportunities and independently developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting automation scripts in collaboration with automation engineers.

· Assess test results and quality risks, provide input on release readiness, and proactively communicate issues that may impact quality, timelines, or business outcomes.

· Mentor and guide QA team members on requirements, test strategy, scenario design, integrations, and troubleshooting, and review their test coverage where needed.

· Represent the QA team in cross-functional discussions, clearly communicating testing status, risks, dependencies, and priorities, while maintaining strong relationships with Product, Engineering, and other QA teams.

· Coordinate integration testing for integrated products, working across teams to manage dependencies, test data, environments, and testing timelines.

· Contribute to improving automation coverage, QA practices, and test processes, including CI/CD integration where applicable.

· Contribute to hiring, onboarding, knowledge sharing, and QA process improvements, and actively participate in Agile ceremonies and team activities.

· Demonstrate ownership, curiosity, and sound judgment by proactively exploring system behaviour and business flows, raising risks early, and making informed testing decisions with minimal supervision.

Skills, Qualifications & Experience

Technical Skills

· Manual & Regression Testing: Strong experience testing complex features and integrated systems, with a focus on regression coverage and system dependencies.

· Automation: Hands-on experience developing, maintaining, and troubleshooting automation scripts using Python, PyTest, and Playwright, with an eagerness to quickly learn new programming languages, tools, and technologies. Experience identifying automation opportunities and improving automation coverage.

· Test Strategy & Risk-Based Testing: Ability to develop test strategies, define test scope, identify critical scenarios, and make risk-based decisions on test coverage.

· Integration & System Knowledge: Strong understanding of end-to-end business flows, system integrations, APIs, data flows, and upstream/downstream dependencies.

· Requirements & Testability Analysis: Ability to analyse business and technical requirements, identify gaps, dependencies, risks, and testability concerns, and provide QA input early in the development lifecycle.

· Technical Troubleshooting & Root Cause Analysis: Ability to troubleshoot complex issues across applications, APIs, databases, and integrated systems, using logs, data, and system behaviour to identify root causes.

· Test Management & Defect Tracking: Experienced in test case/scenario design, execution, defect investigation, tracking, and resolution.

· API & Database Testing: Hands-on experience with API testing (e.g., Postman/SoapUI) and SQL/database validation; basic understanding of performance testing.

· Agile: Experience working in Agile teams and actively participating in planning, refinement, reviews, retrospectives, and other relevant ceremonies.

· QA Process Improvement: Contributes to QA standards, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives.

· GenAI: Experience using GenAI tools to improve QA efficiency, test design, analysis, and productivity.

Soft Skills

· Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Works effectively with Product Owners, Engineers, QA teams, and other stakeholders to understand requirements, dependencies, and risks.

· Communication: Clearly communicates technical information, testing status, risks, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Confidently communicates QA perspectives, challenges assumptions constructively, and influences technical and business decisions based on quality, risk, and customer impact.

· Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Proactively explores systems, integrations, business processes, and new technologies to deepen understanding and identify potential risks.

· Mentorship: Guides QA team members on requirements, test scenarios, integrations, testing approaches, and troubleshooting.

· Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Uses critical thinking, technical analysis, and risk assessment to identify issues and make sound testing decisions.

· Ownership & Accountability: Dependable in delivering commitments, proactively raises risks and blockers, and follows through on responsibilities with minimal supervision.

· Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing requirements, priorities, and business needs.

· Team Representation: Represents the QA team effectively in cross-functional discussions and ensures QA perspectives, risks, and priorities are clearly communicated.

· Professional Maturity: Demonstrates sound judgment, emotional intelligence, composure, and the ability to balance technical, business, and team priorities.

Work Requirements

• Availability: Willing and available to work UK business hours.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Sage we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that is representative of all sections of society and to sustaining a culture that celebrates difference, encourages authenticity, and creates a deep sense of belonging. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, disability, sex or gender identity, sexual orientation, color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief as creating value through diversity is what makes us strong.