Finding the Right QA Balance: When to Hire Manual QA, Developer QA, and Invest in Automation

Achieving the right balance in QA is crucial for delivering quality software. The question often arises: should you hire a manual QA, developer QA, or focus on automation first?

Start with a manual QA. They bring a human perspective, identifying usability issues and edge cases that automated tests might miss. A manual QA is invaluable in the early stages when user experience and feedback are critical. They also handle regression testing, ensuring that new changes don’t reintroduce old bugs and maintaining the stability of the software.

Next, bring in a developer QA. These professionals write automated tests and integrate them into your CI/CD pipeline, enhancing overall code quality and efficiency. They double down on regression testing with lessons learned from manual QA, automating repetitive tests and focusing on more complex scenarios. This ensures that code changes don't break existing functionality and improves test coverage.

Automation should follow as your product matures. Automated tests, especially regression tests, save time and resources by repeatedly executing pre-defined checks. They ensure that new code changes don’t introduce new bugs and are essential for scalable and reliable software delivery.

The triggers for each hire are based on your development stage and team size. Begin with a manual QA to establish a strong testing foundation, add a developer QA as your codebase grows, and finally, invest in automation to streamline and scale your QA process.

This phased approach ensures a balanced and effective QA strategy, enhancing both product quality and team productivity.