Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
Develop and execute software test plans in order to identify software problems and their causes.
How AI Impacts Each Task
28 tasks analyzed
Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures.
Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers.
Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content.
Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability.
Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards.
Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates.
Test system modifications to prepare for implementation.
Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments.
Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes.
Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks.
Update automated test scripts to ensure currency.
Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality.
Create or maintain databases of known test defects.
Install, maintain, or use software testing programs.
Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance.
Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations.
Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance.
Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness.
Design or develop automated testing tools.
Investigate customer problems referred by technical support.
Conduct historical analyses of test results.
Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source.
Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking.
Coordinate user or third-party testing.
Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions.
Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance.
Provide technical support during software installation or configuration.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design test plans, scenarios, scripts, or procedures. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 8% | |
| Document software defects, using a bug tracking system, and report defects to software developers. | 49.7Observed | 69.1% | 6% | |
| Identify, analyze, and document problems with program function, output, online screen, or content. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 7% | |
| Develop testing programs that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 7% | |
| Participate in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Document test procedures to ensure replicability and compliance with standards. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 4% | |
| Plan test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 4% | |
| Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. | 50.85Observed | 69.5% | 5% | |
| Conduct software compatibility tests with programs, hardware, operating systems, or network environments. | 85Estimated | 83.2% | 4% | |
| Monitor bug resolution efforts and track successes. | 39.65Observed | 65.1% | 3% | |
| Review software documentation to ensure technical accuracy, compliance, or completeness, or to mitigate risks. | 38.18Observed | 64.5% | 3% | |
| Update automated test scripts to ensure currency. | 56.5Observed | 71.8% | 4% | |
| Provide feedback and recommendations to developers on software usability and functionality. | 52.48Observed | 36.0% | 3% | |
| Create or maintain databases of known test defects. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 2% | |
| Install, maintain, or use software testing programs. | 80Estimated | 81.2% | 3% | |
| Install and configure recreations of software production environments to allow testing of software performance. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Monitor program performance to ensure efficient and problem-free operations. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Identify program deviance from standards, and suggest modifications to ensure compliance. | 80Estimated | 59.0% | 3% | |
| Develop or specify standards, methods, or procedures to determine product quality or release readiness. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 3% | |
| Design or develop automated testing tools. | 59.08Observed | 50.6% | 4% | |
| Investigate customer problems referred by technical support. | 44.85Observed | 44.9% | 3% | |
| Conduct historical analyses of test results. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 2% | |
| Perform initial debugging procedures by reviewing configuration files, logs, or code pieces to determine breakdown source. | 49.3Observed | 46.7% | 3% | |
| Evaluate or recommend software for testing or bug tracking. | 56.5Observed | 49.6% | 2% | |
| Coordinate user or third-party testing. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 2% | |
| Collaborate with field staff or customers to evaluate or diagnose problems and recommend possible solutions. | 35Estimated | 29.0% | 2% | |
| Visit beta testing sites to evaluate software performance. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 2% | |
| Provide technical support during software installation or configuration. | 42.05Observed | 31.8% | 2% |
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Programming is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
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Score History
Risk score over 3 scoring runs
overall change
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
Related News
Recent articles about AI affecting this occupation
AI Coding Speed Forces Developers to Redesign Testing Pipelines
Developers are generating code so rapidly using AI assistants that traditional continuous integration pipelines are breaking under the load. Engineering teams must now re-architect their testing infrastructure to keep pace.
Alibaba releases open-source AI tool to automate software code reviews
The newly released OpenCodeReview CLI combines deterministic pipelines with LLMs to evaluate code quality automatically. This open-source release lowers the barrier for companies to replace manual peer reviews with AI.
AI evaluator: The most important AI job in history? How developers might fill the proposed new job
A new career path is emerging for software developers to transition into AI evaluation, focusing on auditing models for accuracy and safety. This creates a lucrative off-ramp for coders whose traditional programming tasks are being automated.
Your AI coding spend bought 25% more output. Duplication rose 81%.
Developers using AI tools are generating a quarter more code, but it comes at the cost of massive code duplication. This suggests engineering teams will need to shift focus from raw output to rigorous code review and maintenance.
Anthropic Sets Higher Bar for AI-Generated Production Code Than Human Code
Anthropic is implementing strict guardrails, including extensive lint rules and tests, to scrutinize code written by its own AI model. The company requires AI-generated code to meet stricter quality standards than human-written software.
Last scored March 14, 2026 · Based on BLS employment data and O*NET task analysis