Business Analyst III / QA Analyst

Location: Austin, TX (Onsite)
Client: Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
Duration: 06/01/2026 08/31/2026 (Possible Extension)
Position Type: Contract

Job Description

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is seeking an experienced Business Analyst III with strong Quality Assurance (QA) expertise to support enterprise-level licensing system initiatives and application development projects. The ideal candidate will be responsible for gathering, analyzing, documenting, and validating business and system requirements while ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions that meet business objectives and compliance standards.

The candidate will work closely with business users, technical teams, vendors, and project stakeholders to analyze current business processes, identify automation opportunities, create user stories, define acceptance criteria, and perform QA validation activities. This role requires extensive experience in Agile environments, business process analysis, manual testing, and licensing systems, preferably within Texas state agencies.

The selected candidate will also assist with project documentation, training development, test planning, troubleshooting application issues, and supporting system implementation and deployment activities. Strong communication, analytical thinking, and stakeholder management skills are essential for success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Gather, analyze, and document business, functional, and system requirements
• Translate business requirements into Agile user stories and acceptance criteria
• Perform QA validation of user stories and ensure all functional and non-functional requirements are met
• Analyze policies, procedures, and workflows to determine impacts on automated systems
• Conduct manual testing, create and review test cases, and support UAT activities
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and automation
• Troubleshoot application issues and recommend appropriate solutions
• Assist with project documentation including project charters, test plans, risk assessments, and design documents
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, business users, and technical teams
• Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for end users
• Support scope management, deployment activities, and change request processes
• Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, stand-ups, and retrospectives
• Maintain compliance with TDA standards, policies, and procedures

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years of experience providing QA consultation and oversight for complex projects
• 3+ years of senior-level Business Analysis experience
• 3+ years of Agile methodology experience including user story creation and Agile ceremonies
• Experience using Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar tools
• Experience reviewing project deliverables, test plans, and risk assessment documentation
• Experience coordinating with vendors and external stakeholders
• Strong experience in business process analysis and system troubleshooting
• Experience developing training materials and conducting user training sessions
• Strong understanding of SDLC and QA methodologies
• Excellent communication, analytical, and documentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) systems
• Experience supporting licensing systems and license lifecycle management
• Experience working with Texas state agencies or government environments

Work Location & Schedule

• Onsite role in Austin, Texas
• Monday Friday, 8:00 AM 5:00 PM CST
• Occasional after-hours or weekend support may be required based on project needs

Additional Information

• Candidates may be subject to background checks as required by Texas law
• All travel and related expenses are the responsibility of the candidate/vendor unless pre-approved by TDA
• • Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills are required for this client-facing role