PNSQC

10/07/2026

What can you see at PNSQC 2026 for $0? Quite a lot.

Can't make it to Portland? Join PNSQC online with our FREE track.

Featured sessions include:

Florian Rohde — Inside Tesla: The Birth of the Software-Defined Vehicle and Quality in the Age of Autonomy
Jonathon Wright — The AI Assurance Imperative: Quality Engineering for the Agentic Era
Maaret Pyhäjärvi — Better Together: Humans, AI, and the Next Quality Benchmark
Paul Grizzaffi — With Great Judgement Comes Great Responsibility
Anna Sharpe — A Year Living With AI — Lessons Learned
Kristine O'Connor — Signal Before the Storm: How Quality Intelligence Can Stop Harm Before it Becomes Irreversible
Millan Kaul — More Code. Less Certainty. Now What?
Plus panels and virtual presentations exploring AI, testing, software quality, leadership, and the future of our profession.

October 12–13 | Online | $0

Register for FREE: https://pnsqc.org/register/

Know someone in testing, software development, quality engineering, AI, or engineering leadership who would enjoy this?

Please share it with them.

Register for PNSQC 2026 and join the Pacific Northwest software quality community in Portland, Oregon.

09/23/2026

PNSQC 2026 is 20 days away. October 12-14 in Portland.

If you've been thinking about it, now is the time. The program is set and it's strong.
- Thirty-nine peer-reviewed sessions across four tracks
- Three panels
- an AI test bench lab
- Fireside chats.
- Sessions earned a place through a blind peer review process.

We've worked hard to put together the best content for our community.

In-person: $1,610. Virtual: $499 -- full live stream plus on-demand recordings. Groups of 3 or more: 15% off, email [email protected] for a code.

09/22/2026

Between roles doesn’t mean out of the PNSQC community. Apply for your $99 Community Pass now.

A lot of experienced software professionals are in between roles right now. The cost of a conference can be a real barrier when you’re not collecting a paycheck. PNSQC believes the people who need this community most should not be priced out of it. That’s why we’re offering a limited number of Community Passes at $99 for practitioners currently in transition.

What You Get

$99 registration — 2-day in-person (in Portland) or virtual access, October 12–13. Workshops not included.
200+ practitioners — QA engineers, SDETs, developers, and engineering leaders from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Direct access to hiring managers — Many attendees are in a position to hire, refer, or connect you to someone who can.
Application Instructions:

Fill out this simple form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6g62fpFkHTxCTaazyIUN12VWwL76GUMRT7EY7CwCMDOBhfA/viewform
Confirm with your name to state, “I am currently between roles in software quality or engineering.”
That’s it. We will notify you as soon as possible if you are awarded the Community Pass.* Then, register and join the PNSQC channel on LinkedIn or Substack.
* PNSQC will email a discount code to those who complete the Google Form before September 30, in the order received. The number of these passes is capped. So, please act quickly.

PNSQC offers a limited number of Community Passes to members of our community in between jobs. PNSQC will email a discount code to those who complete this Google Form before September 30, in the order received. Instruction: Complete this form and "sign" statement by typing your full name. Completed....

09/21/2026

This post is sponsored by Smartesting, a PNSQC 2026 Community Partner.

Release week always uncovers the same operational dilemma: dozens of functional test cases, a UI that’s still changing, limited tester bandwidth, and a hard deadline.

Traditionally, QA teams choose between two paths: manual ex*****on or writing scripted automation. But computer-use AI is introducing a third option: Agentic Test Ex*****on.

In his recent article for PNSQC Newsletter & Blog, Bruno Legeard breaks down how testing agents can read natural language tests (like Gherkin), observe UI state, and execute steps adaptively without generating fragile test scripts.

Key takeaways:
- Output vs. Artifact: Agentic ex*****on produces step-by-step evidence and verdicts, not code that requires ongoing framework maintenance.
- Portfolio Strategy: Manual testing remains essential for exploration and judgment; scripts handle high-frequency, stable CI/CD pipelines; agents bridge the gap for evolving UI workflows.
- Supervision is Key: Keeping human QA in the loop ensures decisions remain under direct professional control.

Check out the full article here: Agentic Test Ex*****on: A Third Way to Run Functional UI Tests:

Where it fits alongside manual testing and AI-assisted scripted automation

09/11/2026

Attending the PNSQC conference in Portland this October?

Consider arriving a day early and beginning your PNSQC experience at Innovation Day on Sunday, October 11.

Innovation Day brings students, families, educators, and technology professionals together to explore robotics, AI, cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, sensors, exoskeletons, and other emerging technologies.

Conference attendees will have an opportunity to see these technologies in action, meet the students and professionals working with them, and participate in practical conversations about AI literacy, safety, and responsible use.

The PNSQC conference is built around sharing knowledge and improving how we work with technology. Innovation Day extends that conversation to students and families while giving professionals a chance to connect with the next generation of innovators.

Make Innovation Day part of your PNSQC week.
https://pnsqc.org/innovation-day/

See RSVP link in the comments!

Sunday, October 11th, 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM University Place Hotel, Portland

PNSQC Innovation Day brings students, educators, parents, and community members together to explore emerging technologies through student projects, robotics demonstrations, and educational seminars.

09/10/2026

These pens are waiting for you to take notes at PNSQC! 🖊️ What’s the biggest takeaway or topic you're jotting down this week?

09/09/2026

Last Chance: Save Up to $160 on PNSQC 2026 Early Bird Rates!
See registration link in the comments.

09/09/2026

Our Platinum Sponsors for PNSQC 2026!

A huge thank you to Cambrionix, PLUS QA, and Tricentis for supporting the Pacific Northwest Software Quality Conference and advancing quality engineering in our community.

We can’t wait to see everyone in Portland! 🌲✨

09/06/2026