It is very important to have QA people the engineers respect. What makes a QA person respectable? Strong understanding of the business logic. Clear communication skills. Strong awareness that they cannot build the system, but a strong understanding of how systems operate. They work as hard testing as engineers work building, and deliver their findings efficiently. They can accurately evaluate the magnitude of an issue. The analogy I think of is like an offensive line to a quarterback. The engineers get the headlines, but without a solid QA team that doesn't happen. If QA is doing a good job, make sure everybody knows it.