Role overview
A QA engineer ensures software works correctly and reliably before it reaches users by designing test cases, running manual and automated tests, and reporting defects. In India they typically write test plans, automate regression suites with tools like Selenium or Cypress, verify features against requirements, and partner with developers to catch bugs early and keep release quality high.
A qa engineer usually has around 0–7 yrs of experience and earns typically ₹3L–₹16L/yr in India. The day-to-day blends Manual testing, Selenium, Cypress / Playwright and more — this page gives you a ready-to-use qa engineer job description template you can copy, plus the exact skills and salary employers expect.
Key responsibilities
A qa engineer is typically responsible for:
- Write detailed test cases and test plans from product requirements
- Execute manual functional, regression and exploratory testing
- Build and maintain automated test suites (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright)
- Log, prioritise and track defects to closure with developers
- Perform API, integration and cross-browser/device testing
- Set up and run tests within CI/CD pipelines
- Verify bug fixes and sign off on releases against acceptance criteria
- Contribute to test strategy and quality metrics for the team
Requirements & qualifications
To succeed as a qa engineer, candidates usually need:
- Understanding of the software testing life cycle and test-case design
- Hands-on experience with at least one automation framework
- Familiarity with bug-tracking and test-management tools (Jira, TestRail)
- Basic SQL and API-testing skills (Postman)
- Sharp attention to detail and clear defect-reporting ability
QA Engineer skills
The most in-demand qa engineer skills on listings today:
Not sure which of these you're missing? A free OnJob profile runs your CV against every live qa engineer job and shows the exact skill gaps standing between you and a 100% match.
Typical salary & experience
Typical salary (India)
typically ₹3L–₹16L/yr
Experience range
0–7 yrs
These are typical ranges and vary by city, company and skills. For live, role-specific pay data, see the OnJob salary guide.
QA Engineer job description — FAQs
What does a QA engineer do?
A QA engineer makes sure software works correctly before release by designing and running tests, both manual and automated, and reporting any defects they find. They verify features against requirements and help the team ship reliable releases.
What is the difference between manual and automation testing?
Manual testing means a person runs through the application by hand to find issues, useful for exploratory and usability checks. Automation testing uses scripts and tools like Selenium or Cypress to run repeatable tests fast, ideal for regression suites.
What is an SDET?
SDET stands for Software Development Engineer in Test — a QA professional who writes code to build automated test frameworks and tooling. SDET roles require stronger programming skills than traditional manual QA and are in growing demand in India.
How much does a QA engineer earn in India?
Manual QA freshers typically earn ₹3L–₹5L per year, automation QA engineers ₹6L–₹12L, and senior QA/SDET roles ₹14L+. See our salary guide for current ranges.