QA Engineer (Product)

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10)

About the Work
The QA Engineer is responsible for the quality of products at Planning Center. The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in Quality Assurance and Software Testing, with relevant coursework or certification. They should have a keen interest in test automation methodologies and tools, a good grasp of software development and testing methodologies, and advanced knowledge in manual testing. Familiarity with programming or scripting languages like Python and JavaScript is preferred.
 
This role is a vital part of the product team, with the charge to speak into and raise the level of quality. Responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to:
Developing comprehensive test plans covering different testing types
Identifying potential risks and challenges of the work in the test planning phase
Executing predefined manual test cases
Contributing to the improvement of testing strategies across the QA team
Gaining familiarity with Cypress and other tools used for writing automated tests
GitHub Workflow: Understanding version control using GitHub, including committing and pulling code
Writing Test Scripts: Ability to create basic automated test scripts under supervision
Debugging Skills: Debugging automated tests
Leading the coordination of BETA testing efforts for entire products or major updates
Developing and implementing rollout strategies for web software and mobile apps, considering different user segments
Documenting observations and feedback from BETA testing
Identifying and reporting straightforward bugs or issues
Documenting Bugs – accurately recording simple bugs in the tracking system under supervision
Assisting in Researching Bugs – assisting in reproducing reported bugs using detailed steps provided by others
Testing Bug Fixes – verifying the fixes of simple bugs in a controlled environment following a testing plan
Reviewing Product Pitches – evaluating product pitches from a quality perspective
Attending meetings with Product Managers (PM) and Engineering Managers (EM) to understand the SDLC and the best ways to support the team
Communicating effectively with team members
 
Who We Look For
We offer a culture that emphasizes continuous learning, work-life balance, and a meaningful impact on our customer community. Our Core Values shape our work: 
Engage with Humility – We actively participate with openness and receptiveness. We are ready to listen, learn, and speak thoughtfully and kindly—regardless of skill level, expertise, or place on the org chart.
Invest in our team – We give our time and energy to our team’s success—improving collaboration with effective communication, making space for diverse perspectives, sharing knowledge, and asking questions.
Do Our Best Work – We aspire to do our best possible work—continually looking for ways to improve the quality of our individual output and contribute to our team’s overall success and growth.
Focus on Customer Impact – We advocate for our customer’s best interests in our decision-making—we can trace the goal of every project back to creating positive value for our customers.
Think Holistically, Work Iteratively – We focus on taking practical steps towards our goals with an awareness of the broader context—thinking big, working small.
We believe the strongest teams comprise people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to cultivating that diversity here at Planning Center. We’re building an inclusive, supportive place for you to do your best work. You’ll join a company where your contributions are valued and your well-being matters. 
The Hiring Process
During the hiring process, you’ll have a chance to interact with several team members. We strongly encourage you to bring any questions to anybody you interact with. You’re interviewing us as much as we’re interviewing you. 
Applications will be accepted until 9AM PST on March 11th. We will evaluate and respond to submissions between March 11th and 15th, and Zoom interviews will take place between March 18th and 26th, with a final decision being made no later than April 2nd.
Below is an outline of our hiring process. 
Step one: Apply with a resume and cover letter. Your cover letter should speak directly to your interest in this position. We want to know what got you into QA, how your experience has set you up for success in this role, and why you want to join our team.
Step two: Complete the “Written Testing Plan” exercise we send, so we can get a rough understanding of your experience and skills. 
Step three: Blind Zoom Screen (no camera) so we can connect and get to know you better. 
Step four: Exercise interview with a few people from the QA and Product department (We’ll discuss your testing plan and ask deeper questions about your work history and approach to QA). 
Step five: Team Interview with a few people from the QA and Product departments, including the QA Manager, Engineering Manager, and a QA Tester, recruiter, or director of another department. 
Step six: Pending all goes well, an offer will be extended, and you get to consider if we’re a good fit for you.
 
* Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet ~60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups in tech tend to apply only when they check every box. If you’re unsure if your experience qualifies strong competency, we’d still love to hear from you! 
Written Testing Plan
As part of the application process for our Quality Assurance (QA) positions, we are requesting all applicants to submit a written testing plan. The focus of this plan should be on the Groups Messaging feature, a critical component of our product suite that operates across multiple platforms, including mobile and web environments. 
If you aren’t already familiar with our products, find out more about Planning Center Groups.
You can find out more about Groups Messaging here.
We also offer a free 30-day trial of our software should you choose to open an account to explore the feature for yourself.
Your submission will be evaluated based on the thoroughness of the testing coverage, the practicality and creativity of your approaches, the clarity of your documentation, and your attention to the unique challenges presented by the Groups Messaging feature. 
We look forward to your innovative solutions and your perspective on ensuring the quality and reliability of this essential communication tool. Good luck! 
Requirements
For Employment
Full-time resident in the United States
Eligible to work in the United States
 
For the Work
Relevant coursework or certification in Quality Assurance and Software Testing
Prior experience as a manual QA tester
Experience in developing comprehensive test plans and executing manual test cases
Experience in collaborating with product managers and development teams
Advanced knowledge in manual testing
Good understanding of software development and testing methodologies
Some understanding of programming or scripting languages, especially JavaScript
Basic skills in writing automated test scripts and debugging automated tests, preferably with tools like Cypress
Basic understanding of version control using GitHub
Keen interest in test automation methodologies and tools
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Effective communication skills for collaborating with various teams
Ability to learn and adapt to new tools and technologies related to QA and test automation
Willingness to continuously improve testing strategies and QA processes