CV Template
QA Engineer CV Template & Examples (ATS-Optimized)
A QA Engineer CV must prove you can break software methodically and ship quality at speed. Recruiters and ATS scan for test automation frameworks, defect-tracking tools and concrete quality metrics, not vague claims of being detail-oriented. This template shows you exactly which keywords, sections and numbers turn a screening rejection into an interview.
Written & reviewed by the CVWon Editorial Team · Updated July 2026
Build Your CV NowTo write a strong QA Engineer CV, lead with Professional Summary, Test Automation & Tooling and Quality Metrics & Impact — each backed by specific, quantified results rather than generic duties. A strong QA Engineer CV quantifies quality, not effort: it states defect-escape rates, automated-coverage percentages and how many manual hours were cut by a framework you built.
ATS Optimisation
ATS Keywords
Include these keywords in your CV to pass applicant tracking systems.
A strong QA Engineer CV quantifies quality, not effort: it states defect-escape rates, automated-coverage percentages and how many manual hours were cut by a framework you built. It names the actual stack (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Postman) rather than listing 'automation tools' generically, and it distinguishes manual exploratory work from automated regression suites so recruiters know your real depth. Weak CVs read like a tester's daily routine; strong ones read like a quality strategy with measurable outcomes such as 'reduced production defects 38% in two release cycles'. It also signals where you sit in the pipeline by referencing CI/CD gates, test environments and collaboration with developers on shift-left testing. Finally, it carries an ISTQB or equivalent credential near the top, because many ATS filters and recruiters use it as a fast competence proxy.
Structure
What Sections Should a QA Engineer CV Include?
Professional Summary
Recruiters decide in seconds whether you are a manual tester or an automation engineer, so the summary must position your test discipline and stack immediately.
Example
QA Engineer with 6 years automating regression suites in Selenium and Cypress, cutting release testing time from 3 days to 4 hours across 12 microservices.
Test Automation & Tooling
This is the section ATS keyword-matches hardest for QA roles; missing the exact framework names gets you filtered before a human reads anything.
Example
Built a Playwright + TypeScript framework with 480 automated cases, raising regression coverage from 45% to 82%.
Quality Metrics & Impact
Quality is only credible with numbers; defect rates and coverage percentages separate doers from describers.
Example
Lowered defect-escape rate to production by 38% by introducing risk-based test prioritisation and CI smoke gates.
Technical Skills Matrix
Recruiters scan for the breadth of the stack you can test against, including API, performance and database layers.
Example
API: Postman, REST Assured; Performance: JMeter; DB: SQL validation; CI: Jenkins, GitHub Actions.
Certifications
ISTQB and equivalent certs are frequent hard filters and reassure recruiters of formal testing knowledge.
Example
ISTQB Certified Tester – Advanced Level (Test Automation Engineer), 2024.
Avoid These
What Are Common QA Engineer CV Mistakes?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
One page for under five years of experience, two pages beyond that. Reserve the space for your automation stack and quantified quality metrics rather than long manual-testing task lists.
It is not always mandatory, but ISTQB Foundation passes many ATS and recruiter filters quickly. For automation-focused roles, the Advanced Test Automation Engineer level carries more weight than experience claims alone.
Yes. Recruiters need to know your real automation depth, so dedicate a clear section to frameworks and coverage figures, and keep exploratory or manual work distinct so it is not mistaken for your core skill.
Framework names (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright), defect tools (JIRA, TestRail), API testing (Postman, REST Assured) and CI tools (Jenkins) are the highest-value greps. Mirror the exact wording in the job description.
Quantify defect detection, test-cycle coverage and bugs caught before release, then show one initiative where you reduced manual effort or improved a process, which signals growth toward automation.
Salary
Salary by Experience Level
Typical salary ranges by seniority (EUR, gross).
| Level | Experience | Salary range |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 0–2 years | €35K – €55K |
| Mid Level | 3–5 years | €55K – €85K |
| Senior Level | 6–10 years | €85K – €130K |
| Lead / Manager | 10+ years | €120K – €170K |
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