Azure AppDev QA Engineer

Azure AppDev QA Engineer This is a fully remote position PURPOSE    The Azure AppDev QA Engineer is responsible for establishing, enforcing, and continuously improving quality assurance practices across the client Modernization Program. This role ensures that modernization and operational development efforts maintain production stability, reduce regression risk, and meet defined reliability and resiliency standards.  The QA Engineer drives implementation of automated testing frameworks, integrates testing into CI/CD pipelines, and ensures release readiness criteria are consistently applied. This position plays a critical role in protecting business continuity during large-scale modernization efforts by validating functionality, performance, and recovery capabilities.  This role operates as the quality authority within the application delivery team, partnering closely with engineering and Azure systems resources to improve release confidence and operational stability across all workstreams.  RESPONSIBILITIES    Define and execute test strategies across legacy and modernized applications (functional, regression, integration).  Build and maintain automated testing suites and ensure they are executed consistently in CI/CD pipelines.  Implement quality gates and release readiness criteria (test coverage, regression pass rates, defect thresholds).  Perform exploratory testing and coordinate defect triage with engineering teams.  Support performance and reliability testing where needed; validate key user journeys and critical flows.  Validate resiliency and DR readiness from an application behavior perspective (failover, recovery validation support).  Produce quality reporting (defect trends, root cause patterns, release quality metrics).  Maintain test documentation aligned to enterprise delivery standards..  Develop or contribute to the technical backlog, epics and user stories in conjunction with the architect.   Other responsibilities as assigned by management.  MINIMUM SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE    Experience: 8+ years QA experience supporting enterprise web applications.  Experience creating and executing test plans and documenting results clearly.  Experience with automated testing frameworks and test design patterns.  Familiarity integrating tests into CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps preferred).  Strong defect management skills (repro steps, severity classification, verification).  Strong communication skills and ability to partner effectively with engineering teams   PREFERRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE  Experience testing .NET applications and Azure-hosted services.  Experience with performance/load testing approaches and tools.  Experience with security testing concepts (OWASP awareness, auth testing, vulnerability validation support).  Experience with Playwright/Selenium/Cypress and API testing tools (Postman/Newman, similar).  Experience validating observability signals (logs/metrics/traces) and supporting production readiness checklists.   Starting Compensation Range: $105,000 per year The salary for this position is commensurate with experience, skills, and qualifications. The range is intended to reflect our commitment to attracting top talent, and the final offer will be based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's previous experience, expertise in the field, relevant certifications, and the specific requirements of the role. In addition, internal equity, market trends, and geographic location may also influence the final salary.   Along with a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, flexible time off (FTO), and professional development opportunities. We are open to discussing compensation and benefits further during the interview process to ensure alignment with the candidate’s expectations and experience. At Ascend Technologies we firmly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only fundamental values but also powerful drivers of innovation, growth, and success. We are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered. At Ascend Technologies we firmly believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are not only fundamental values but also powerful drivers of innovation, growth, and success. We are committed to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered.   CORE VALUES   We are seeking highly motivated individuals who have the willingness and ability to demonstrate Ascend core values:     Committed to Client Success: Our actions and our words always align with the best interest of the client.   One Team: We work collaboratively to overcome challenges with humility and respect and do what it takes to find innovative solutions.   Integrity: We are unquestionably committed to doing the right thing even when it is hard.   Accountability: We hold ourselves and each other accountable for keeping our commitments to our clients, our communities, and one another.   Transparency: We create open lines of communication with each other and our clients, fostering relationships founded on candor and trust.   PHYSICAL DEMANDS:    Must be able to sit, stand, and bend for the duration of shift. The position is mainly sitting, with occasional lifting up to 50 lbs, such as laptop, server equipment, and, driving to the work site to meet with client(s). Apply To This Job