State of Maryland

An Information Technology (IT) Quality Assurance Specialist is the full performance level of work developing, implementing and monitoring quality assurance standards for information technology systems and services.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from an IT Quality Assurance Specialist Supervisor or other information technology administrator.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The IT Quality Assurance Specialist is differentiated from the IT Quality Assurance Specialist Supervisor in that the IT Quality Assurance Specialist performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the IT Quality Assurance Specialist Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for IT Quality Assurance Specialists.

Develops quality assurance standards for information technology systems and services so that users receive necessary services, errors are minimized and resources and funds are efficiently and economically used;

Develops quality assurance procedures and validates compliance of documented procedures;

Maintains quality assurance manuals;

Advises information technology personnel and system users on the implementation of quality assurance standards and procedures;

Reviews and approves application systems for adherence to quality assurance standards related to system design, development, testing, implementation and maintenance and maintains systems documentation libraries;

Examines computer programs developed in generally accepted computer programming languages for correctness, efficiency, reliability, ease of maintenance and integrity and approves programs for release to production;

Reviews information technology services including computer operations, technical services, systems and programming, data entry and related services for adherence to quality assurance standards, procedures and documentation requirements;

Monitors the adequacy of and adherence to information technology internal controls and emergency, disaster recovery and security procedures;

Develops and implements processes to measure adherence to quality assurance standards and prepares reports of the results;

Recommends changes to correct deficiencies and enhance the quality of information technology systems and services;

Coordinates responses to internal and external audit exceptions related to information technology systems and services and follows up on corrective action plans;

Reviews journals, catalogues and other technical literature and attends workshops, seminars and training classes to keep abreast of the latest developments in quality assurance theory and methods and related information technology;

May conduct formal audits of information technology systems and services;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of quality assurance for information technology systems and services;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of information technology application systems analysis and design;

Knowledge of generally accepted computer programming languages;

Knowledge of the functions and capabilities of computers and peripheral equipment;

Skill in developing, implementing and monitoring quality assurance standards for information technology systems and services;

Skill in examining application programs developed in generally accepted computer programming languages for correctness, efficiency, reliability, integrity and ease of maintenance;

Skill in applying inductive and deductive reasoning to reach logical solutions to quality assurance problems;

Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with system users, vendors, computer operations personnel, IT Programmer Analysts, Database Specialists and Technical Support Specialists.

Experience: Six years of experience, two years of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and thirty credit hours from an accredited college or university in Computer Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems or other information technology-related field with course work in systems analysis and programming, operating systems or information technology quality assurance for four years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate and one year of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages for four years of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute experience operating computer systems; or scheduling, controlling input and output to process data on computer systems; or evaluating, implementing and maintaining computer hardware and software; or converting data from project specifications by developing program code using generally accepted computer programming languages on a year-for-year basis for a high school education.

4. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Information Technology, Computer Science, Management Information Systems or other information technology-related field with course work in systems analysis and programming, operating systems or information technology quality assurance and two years of experience designing, developing, implementing and maintaining applications systems and programs using generally accepted computer programming languages for the required experience.

5. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer in Information Technology Management classifications or Information Technology Management specialty codes in the Information Technology field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies.  Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit G, Engineering, Scientific and Administrative Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.