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QA engineers ensure software quality through testing strategies that span unit tests, integration tests, end-to-end automation, and performance testing. The role has evolved far beyond manual testing — modern QA engineers write code, build test frameworks, and integrate quality checks into CI/CD pipelines. Shift-left testing and quality engineering are the current paradigm.
Germany's tech scene centers on Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Frankfurt. The country offers strong worker protections, typically 25-30 vacation days, and competitive salaries especially in fintech, automotive tech, and enterprise software. English-speaking roles are common in Berlin startups, while corporate positions often require German proficiency.
Work authorization: Germany offers a Job Seeker Visa (up to 6 months) and the EU Blue Card for qualified professionals. Tech roles with recognized degrees typically qualify for streamlined visa processing. The Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) introduced in 2024 uses a points system for skilled workers without a job offer.
Junior QA → QA Engineer → Senior QA → QA Lead/SDET → QA Architect → Director of Quality Engineering. Senior QA engineers increasingly take on "quality engineering" or "SDET" (Software Development Engineer in Test) titles that reflect the programming-heavy nature of modern testing.
Automation skills are non-negotiable for mid-level and above. Show frameworks you've built, not just tests you've written. Understanding of testing pyramids, shift-left strategies, and CI/CD integration demonstrates strategic thinking. A GitHub repo with a well-structured test suite is worth more than certifications.
QA engineers write and maintain automated tests, review test results from CI pipelines, investigate test failures, perform exploratory testing for new features, update test plans, collaborate with developers on testability, and track quality metrics. They advocate for quality practices across the engineering organization.