Senior QA Analyst | Automated Fare Collection Systems

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Work Model: Hybrid, 2 to 3 days onsite per week
Contract Duration: 44 weeks, with a potential 4-week extension
Start Date: January 4, 2027
Experience Level: Senior / Expert

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior QA Analyst to support the testing, validation and ongoing enhancement of a large-scale Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) used across public transit networks.

The successful candidate will be responsible for validating software releases, testing payment processing and fare collection devices, reviewing vendor deliverables, and ensuring system performance, reliability and compliance.

The role also involves data analysis, regression testing, system integration testing, production incident analysis and field testing of fare collection equipment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute QA strategies, test plans, test scenarios and acceptance criteria for enterprise fare collection applications.

• Perform functional, nonfunctional, integration and regression testing across software, hardware and backend systems.

• Validate fare payment transactions, reconciliation processes and open payment functionality.

• Review business requirements, system designs, requirements traceability matrices and vendor test documentation.

• Analyze system logs, transaction data, defects and production incidents to identify root causes.

• Support testing of fare validators, faregates, vending machines, payment terminals and other fare collection devices.

• Develop device availability reports, SLA monitoring processes and performance analytics.

• Coordinate testing activities, vendor validation, defect tracking and release readiness.

• Support field testing of fare collection equipment on public transit vehicles.

Top 5 Must-Have Qualifications

1. Automated Fare Collection and PRESTO Experience: Minimum 3 years of experience with PRESTO system architecture and automated fare collection applications, including fare validators and backend processing.

2. Enterprise QA and Validation: Minimum 5 years of experience performing verification and validation on large enterprise projects, including nonfunctional requirements testing, legacy data migration, requirements traceability, gap analysis and risk management.

3. Public Transit Application Testing: Minimum 5 years of experience developing and executing test scenarios and test cases for public transit applications, including system integration, regression testing and release validation.

4. Data Analysis and Payment Processing: Minimum 5 years of experience analyzing complex, multilayer systems, with experience testing financial transactions, credit and debit card processing, open payments, fare reconciliation and ISO 14443 standards.

5. Requirements Analysis and Supporting Tools: Extensive experience reviewing business and system requirements, test coverage and traceability matrices, with a minimum of 3 years using Microsoft SharePoint and familiarity with AODA requirements.

Additional Qualifications

• Proficiency with SQL Server, Oracle or MS Access for data analysis and complex queries.

• Experience reviewing vendor test plans, system designs and technical documentation.

• Knowledge of network communication protocols and system integration.

• Experience with Perl or Shell scripting for automated data validation.

• Familiarity with Agile, Waterfall and V-model testing methodologies.

• Knowledge of CMMI or ISO quality assurance standards.

• Experience developing service availability, performance and failure prediction reports.

• Degree or diploma in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering or an equivalent discipline.

• CSTE or CSQA certification is an asset.

Working Requirements

Candidates must be available to work onsite in downtown Toronto 2 to 3 days per week. Occasional early morning field testing, potentially between 4 AM and 6 AM, may be required. Candidates must be able to travel to testing locations when public transit is unavailable and perform testing aboard moving transit vehicles for extended periods.