QA Manual Testing Specialist - HRIS

About the Role

We are looking for a Senior Manual Testing Specialist to lead and conduct thorough manual testing efforts related to intricate Payroll and HRIS system updates within a mainframe environment. This critical role ensures payroll correctness, system reliability, data consistency, and compliance with regulations during system upgrade and modernization projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement detailed test plans, test cases, and regression test suites specifically for payroll system enhancements.
• Carry out impact analysis and establish entry and exit criteria for system integration testing (SIT), user acceptance testing (UAT), and parallel payroll testing phases.
• Maintain traceability showing links between requirements and testing documentation.
• Perform end-to-end payroll testing covering earnings, deductions, taxes, garnishments, retroactive adjustments, and accruals.
• Verify integrations with ancillary systems such as timekeeping, benefits, and finance platforms.
• Conduct regression testing and system integration checks to ensure system stability after updates.
• Validate mainframe payroll applications programmed in COBOL and analyze batch job executions controlled via JCL.
• Review batch processing logs, job outputs, and data file transmissions for accuracy.
• Perform data validation and reconciliation within DB2 and VSAM databases comparing legacy and upgraded systems.
• Confirm federal and state tax calculations and execute year-end processing tests including W-2 and 1099 forms.
• Conduct payroll parallel testing and reconcile results before production rollout.
• Ensure adherence to audit requirements and protect personally identifiable information (PII) securely.
• Report, track, and manage defects using tools like JIRA, ALM, or Azure DevOps.
• Provide regular status updates and work collaboratively with development teams for defect resolution.
• Support readiness activities for go-live and carry out post-production validation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or the equivalent in experience.
• 8 to 10+ years of quality assurance experience.
• At least 5 years dedicated to mainframe testing with exposure to COBOL, JCL, DB2, and VSAM.
• 5+ years focused on Payroll and HRIS system testing.
• Demonstrated involvement in payroll system upgrades or migrations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of payroll lifecycle and regulatory compliance.
• Hands-on experience with parallel payroll testing and data reconciliation techniques.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with enterprise payroll platforms such as PeopleSoft, SAP, or custom mainframe solutions.
• Background working in public sector or heavily regulated industries.
• Experience with Agile or hybrid software development life cycle methodologies.

Core Skills and Attributes

• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting capabilities.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to manage workload and meet deadlines aligned with payroll cycles.
• Effective communication skills for collaboration with technical and business stakeholders.