My Story as a QA Lead: What I Do Every Day in the World of Software Quality 🚀
Tags: testing, leadership
Published: 2024-01-08 09:16:28

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Hey folks!

When I first started as a QA lead, it became pretty a wild experience, permit me to let you know.

Managing a team of 6 to 7 people felt like looking to balance more than one spinning plate - interesting yet difficult. As I appear back on my adventure, I need to proportion my reviews from over ten years within the software program trying out international and shed a few mild on what it virtually means to be a QA lead.

> **<mark>LIFE OF A QA LEAD 😜</mark>**

![LIFE OF A QA LEAD](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ark6cn0yt7w7g8hmclvj.jpg)

So, what's my predominant gig as a QA lead? Well, it is all approximately ensuring that the software we supply is top-notch. It's now not just about ticking off checkboxes; it's about making sure the entirety works flawlessly. Sounds simple and sufficient, right? But fact be instructed, it's extra like solving a complex puzzle. We collect as a group, make plans, determine timelines, and make certain that every one of the portions fits collectively flawlessly. 🧩

But here's the exciting part - collaboration is the name of the game sauce. It's no longer pretty much communicating with developers and architects; it is approximately making sure that everybody is on the same page. Imagine this state of affairs: we are on the verge of launching a product, however, a few group participants are blind to all of the wonderful capabilities we've built. That's where I step in - ensuring all of us are in the loop to keep away from any final-minute surprises. 🤝

However, being a QA lead isn't always totally targeted on responsibilities. It additionally involves being the team's largest cheerleader. I usually motivate and encourage them to do their exceptional while also pushing them to examine new things like automation strategies or testing hints. We're all on this collectively - constantly studying and celebrating our victories as a group. 🏆

Amidst all of the chaos, there's one unsung hero - file-maintaining. We meticulously file each step we take, each plan we make, and every detail about our checking-out procedures. These statistics aren't always just for nowadays; they allow us in destiny via providing insights into what labored nicely and what did not. And bet what? We're always striving to do better, continuously looking for ways to improve our approach. 📝

Looking again, I can not help however evaluate being a QA lead to nurturing a "child" software product. It's approximately looking after it and making sure that it grows up sturdy and wonderful.

So, being a QA lead is a whole lot greater than simply running checks. It's a rollercoaster trip of making plans, teamwork, helping one another, and delivering top-notch consequences. This process continues me on my feet, however witnessing the group prevail together makes all of it profitable. 🌟

![My Story as a QA Lead](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/cug10nbw4x3epcjk4xux.jpeg)


To sum up the story in professional terminology:

**Responsibilities of a QA Lead:**

* 🔍 Oversees the entire test process to ensure the delivered software meets quality standards.
    
* 📝 Planning activities is crucial—creating test plans, and strategies, and managing time and efforts efficiently.
    
* 🤝 Collaborating with cross-functional teams—developers, designers—to align on what's going live and ensure proper testing.
    
* 👩‍💼 Effective team management, mentoring, and pushing team boundaries to enhance productivity.
    
* 📊 Monitoring testing progress, providing feedback, instructing, and training team members, especially on automation and testing techniques.
    

![Challenge a QA Tester Faces Everyday](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/voxo6nx7h868rjkqo9ds.png)

**Key Points Emphasized:**

* 🚀 Proactiveness is vital—being ahead in planning and foreseeing potential issues.
    
* 📑 Document everything—be it test plans, strategies, or automation code—for future reference and onboarding.
    
* 👶 Analogizing the QA lead's role to caring for a baby—owning and nurturing the software product through its lifecycle.
    

![How to use PowerPoint AND engage your audience](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/lqbpyy0k4tb1nadev5fx.png)


**Differentiated Roles:**

* 🏢 MNC-based QA leads focus more on mentorship and strategic delivery than hands-on ground-level work.
    
* 🛠️ In product-based companies, QA leads often engage in ground-level testing, including UAT and beta testing to ensure comprehensive coverage.
    

![What Are the Duties of Senior QA Engineer](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/03x7epaj522e76a4z3sf.jpg)

**Continuous Improvement:**

* 🔄 Continuous process improvement is essential, emphasizing the need for QA leads to consistently enhance testing methodologies and documentation practices.
    

![The Complete Guide to Continuous Improvement](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/od6bpzkhvamre35btky5.png)

**Closing Thoughts:**

* Encouragement for viewer engagement, inviting thoughts on the roles and responsibilities outlined based on 10 years of experience in software testing and development. 📊
    

![Final Thoughts](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4noeydvl7lfv4ultzlm0.jpg)

tags: #qalead #qa #tester #testing #AutomationTester #QualityEngineer #manager #QualityAssurance, #SoftwareTesting, #SoftwareQuality, #QALead