Systems Tester

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Systems Testing Technicians (2283) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Systems Testing Technicians (C183) 
• 2011 NOC: Information systems testing technicians (2283) 
• 2016 NOC: Information systems testing technicians (2283) 

When companies develop and introduce software apps, information systems, and telecommunication systems, they use system testers to look for bugs (errors or faults). When a bug is found, the app is reprogrammed to fix the bug. Systems testers then retest to make sure the new programming works and has not introduced new bugs.

They do different types of testing at different stages. For instance, they may first test a system to see how it works on its own. They may then test it to see how it works in a network environment. Complex apps require several testing cycles.

Duties vary but, in general, systems testers:

• review and study development documents
• develop test plans, test scenarios, and testing schedules
• prepare test cases, test scripts, and test data
• run tests and do some exploratory testing
• co-ordinate testing teams
• make sure software specifications (specs) are met
• make sure software doesn’t crash (stop working) even when it is used in ways developers may not intend (such as if users click on inappropriate areas of the screen)
• keep detailed records of what they did that resulted in an error message (so programmers can replicate the problem and figure out what caused it).

They may also:

• prepare for testing by installing computer hardware and software (including operating system software)
• do audits to ensure specs are accurate
• look for bugs in any automated testing tools they use.

Systems testers usually work closely with other computer specialists. This includes system developers (see the Computer Programmer occupational profile) and quality assurance analysts (see the Information Systems Quality Assurance Analyst occupational profile).

Systems testers work standard office hours in an office setting. They may work evenings or weekends to meet project deadlines.

Systems testers work wherever software apps, information systems, and telecommunication systems are developed and implemented.

With time on the job, testers may become quality assurance analysts or supervisors.

Systems testers are part of a larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2283: Systems testing technicians. In Alberta, 76% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services [pdf]
• Information, Culture and Recreation [pdf]
• Finance, Insurance, Real Estate and Leasing [pdf]
• Wholesale Trade [pdf].

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events that affect overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities that come up when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities that come up when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the 2283: Information systems testing technicians occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 0 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the 0 new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) Alberta website: www.cipsalberta.ca

Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) website: www.ictc-ctic.ca

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