Technology
QA / Test Engineer
Find problems in software before customers do, often by writing automated tests.
Save this career to see your personalized pathway in My Senda.
- Typical pay
- €30k–€58k
- Usual education
- School leaver friendly
- Outlook
- Steady, and one of the more accessible ways into tech.
A day in the life
Write tests for a new checkout flow, reproduce a reported bug, review release risk with the team, and improve the test suite's speed.
Ways in
- Tech apprenticeship
- Bootcamp
- Support role then internal move
- Any degree
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Ciencias y Tecnología
Portugal
Ciências e Tecnologias
France
Bac général — spécialités
Germany
Oberstufe — Leistungskurse
Italy
Liceo scientifico
Netherlands
Profiel Natuur & Techniek
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
Degree
BSc Computer Science
Programming, algorithms, systems and theory — the widest door into tech.
Understanding code makes you a far better tester.
Helpful school subjects: Maths, Computer science, Physics