Quality Assurance Analyst Project Lead - QAAPL

Job Title: Quality Assurance Analyst - Project LeadDuration: 12 Months Location: Columbia, SC 29210 (Hybrid: 4 days onsite, 1 day remote)Project Overview:This role is part of a dynamic IT team supporting a major state agency focused on healthcare and human services. The Quality Assurance Analyst - Project Lead will contribute to complex, mission-critical projects involving healthcare system improvements. This is a great opportunity for professionals experienced in structured testing environments and healthcare operations (preferably Medicaid).Daily Responsibilities:Execute tests on technical solutions to identify and resolve issuesDesign and document test plans, QA processes, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) casesEnsure traceability between test cases, requirements, and system designConduct user interface and regression testing for software applicationsValidate application reliability, performance, and usability through structured QA processesDevelop and execute automated testing scripts, supporting deployment validationLog, track, and support resolution of defects; participate in defect triage sessionsMaintain thorough QA documentation, reports, and communication artifactsFollow existing testing governance, policies, and best practices; contribute suggestions for improvementsParticipate in peer reviews, inspections, and walkthroughs of testing artifactsRequired Skills (Ranked by Importance):5+ years of experience translating business or policy requirements into test scenarios5+ years of building and executing test cases in QA or UAT environments3+ years of healthcare domain experience (Medicaid preferred)3+ years of strong communication skills, including publishing QA status reports and collaborating with developers3+ years of hands-on experience with formal test design toolsPreferred Skills:5+ years in large enterprise or e-business environments3+ years using QA tools like Azure DevOps, JIRA, or ConfluenceExperience in Agile and Waterfall (SDLC) environmentsEducation Requirements:Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, Healthcare, or a related field. Relevant experience may substitute for formal education.Certifications (Preferred but Not Required):QA, Agile, or Project Management certifications (e.g., ISTQB, PMP, CSM)