The alarm blares, signaling the start of another day as a QA engineer at Xennial Innovations. We have a fantastic QA team at Xennial; I'm proud to be involved in the ongoing work that brings our clients into the future of tech and AI.  My day starts with a scan of yesterday's ticket queue. As a QA engineer, I am the vigilant guardian of quality in our PBM systems. I'm the last line of defense before our product reaches our clients, and I take that responsibility seriously. If I accomplish my goals effectively, our clients will have a smooth experience with their finished product. 

Just as your team has a morning meeting to set intentions for the day, QA's at Xennial have what we call a "Morning Stand-up." This is a place where the QA's from around the company can get together to talk about daily tasks and share insights into the past day's issues. Our morning stand-up is a rapid-fire exchange of updates. "Yesterday, I finished testing the new claims processing module and found a minor UI bug," I might share. Or "I'm blocked from accessing the staging environment for the formulary management tests." These quick check-ins keep everyone informed and help us identify potential roadblocks. 

The day is jam-packed, so I move right along to my next task. After the stand-up, I dive into the world of test plans. Today, I'm focusing on the eligibility verification module. It's crucial that we have robust test cases to cover everything from real-time eligibility checks to batch processing. A solid test plan is the foundation for a successful testing cycle. 

Collaboration is key in my role. I spend a good chunk of my morning working closely with developers. I'm closely knit with our talented developers (I think every QA Engineer should be!). We work hand-in-hand to create the end product our client expects from us. It's a relationship that requires a lot of balance for the good of the company and projects! During these conversations, I'll provide feedback on code, ensuring it's testable and identifying potential edge cases. It's a constant back-and-forth, but it's essential to catch issues early in the development process. 

After lunch, it's time to roll up my sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty of testing. While the scripts handle the bulk of the testing, there's always a need for manual exploration. I find a few discrepancies between expected and actual results and log defects for the development team. 

Compliance is a big part of what makes a QA engineer. I spend some time reviewing the latest NCPDP guidelines to ensure our system is up to par. It's a constant balancing act between meeting regulatory requirements and delivering a product that meets our client's needs. This often involves meticulously dissecting complex documents and translating the technical jargon into actionable steps for our development team. It's like being a detective, uncovering potential pitfalls and roadblocks before they become major issues. The challenge lies in ensuring that our adherence to these guidelines doesn't hinder our ability to innovate and provide a top-tier product. 

Beyond testing, I'm also involved in mentoring junior QA engineers. Today, I'm paired with a new hire, explaining the intricacies of our test management tool. Explaining concepts like test case design, execution, and defect tracking can be challenging, but it's rewarding to share my knowledge and help others grow in their careers. We all start somewhere. I remember the beginning of my QA journey, and there was so much to learn! Being shadowed is a reminder to revisit why the foundations for processes were set and why they work so well.  

As the day winds down, I compile a detailed test report, highlighting the progress made, defects found, and any blockers encountered. This information is crucial for the team to understand the project's health and make informed decisions. After an entire day of research and problem-solving, you'd assume the tech work is done, right? Wrong! Technology is constantly evolving, so I make it a point to allocate time for learning. I'm exercising a different part of my brain and staying ahead of the curve. Xennial has a helpful LinkedIn learning program that we can use to continually stay updated with new QA trends.  

Being a QA engineer is more than just finding bugs. It's about ensuring that our product is functional but also reliable, secure, and compliant. It's a challenging but rewarding role that requires a unique blend of technical skills, analytical thinking, and a passion for quality. If you're interested in becoming a QA yourself, check out free courses or online videos about what goes into being a QA engineer. Be sure to also follow Xennial Innovations on socials so you always know when we have an opening for new QA positions!