NRG Energy

Product Quality Lead, Panel

NRG Energy$108K — $130K *
Lehi, UT 84043In-Person
Consumer Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years in Quality Assurance, with 2+ years in leadership roles overseeing product/platform verticals.
  • Hands-on experience in creating quality strategies for complex, cross-functional platforms, including mobile and web.
  • Strong understanding of software test planning, automation, and release management.
  • Deep knowledge of agile methodologies, DevOps pipelines, and CI/CD best practices.
  • Experienced in using Atlassian tools like Jira and Confluence, as well as test management tools.

Responsibilities

  • Own and evolve the quality strategy for the Smart Hub Panel, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
  • Serve as the sole quality point of contact within your vertical for enterprise-level discussions.
  • Lead and mentor QA engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Act as the primary liaison between various cross-functional teams to ensure quality KPIs and test plans align.
  • Define and implement QA processes, integrating both manual and automated testing in the SDLC.
  • Manage risk identification and resolution to support quality release timelines and deliverables.
  • Utilize metrics tools to track quality insights and document testing activities and outcomes.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
  • Collaborative work culture focused on innovation and quality excellence.
  • Participation in industry-leading projects within the smart home ecosystem.
  • Flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.
Full Job Description
SUMMARY

The Manager, Vertical Quality Lead (VQL), serves as a key leader responsible for shaping and executing the overall quality strategy by directing a team of Principal Quality Engineers-each accountable for end-to-end quality within their respective product verticals. In addition to overseeing the entire Smart Hub Panel feature set, this role provides hands-on leadership and mentorship to QA teams, driving close collaboration across development, product, release, and program management. As the chief quality advocate for your vertical and the Principals across the Org, you will champion best practices, foster continuous improvement, and promote automation-first and shift-left testing approaches, ensuring robust risk mitigation in agile and DevOps-driven environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Vertical Quality Leadership:
    • Own and evolve the end-to-end quality strategy across Foundations & Smart Hub Panel, ensuring alignment with business goals and product requirements.
    • Serve as the single point of contact for quality within your vertical, representing Foundations & Smart Hub Panel in enterprise-level quality discussions, strategic planning, and go/no-go decisions.


Team Management & Coaching:
    • Lead, mentor, and grow QA engineers; foster technical excellence, ownership, and a continuous improvement mindset.
    • Manage QA resource planning, team utilization, and career development for direct reports.


Cross-Functional Advocacy:
    • Act as primary liaison between Development, Product/Program Management, Quality, and Release teams.
    • Drive cross-functional alignment on quality KPIs, release criteria, and test plans across all Smart Hub Panel features and foundational services.
    • Influence and enable product and engineering leaders to prioritize quality throughout planning and execution.


Strategic Quality Practices:
    • Define and implement robust QA processes, integrating manual and automated testing throughout the full SDLC.
    • Champion automation-first and shift-left testing approaches to optimize CI/CD pipelines and ensure product reliability.
    • Lead the creation of comprehensive test plans (including unit, functional, automation, and compliance testing such as 508).
    • Own the creation and continual maintenance of Quality Requirements Documents (QRDs) and verification processes.


Risk & Release Management:
    • Proactively identify, manage, and escalate risks impacting quality or release schedules.
    • Collaborate with Program and Release Management to define and monitor timelines, testing deliverables, and quality gates.
    • Drive active participation in backlog refinement, bug reviews, release readiness assessments, and production support as needed.


Quality Metrics & Data-Driven Insights:
    • Utilize tools like Jira, Confluence, and dashboards to track quality metrics, visibility, and trends for Foundations & Smart Hub Panel products.
    • Ensure rigorous documentation of test activities, outcomes, and decisions.
    • Promote best practices in reporting, documentation, and test planning.


Continuous Improvement & Technical Stewardship:
    • Foster a culture of transparency, ownership, and innovation in quality engineering practices.
    • Continuously enhance QA tools, frameworks, and processes to optimize coverage, efficiency, and reliability.
    • Maintain deep product and technical knowledge to anticipate and address current and future quality risks.


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:
    • 8+ years in Quality Assurance, with 2+ years in a leadership/management role overseeing product/platform verticals or core app features.
    • Significant hands-on experience in developing and executing quality strategies for complex, cross-functional platforms, ideally including mobile, web, device, and foundational services.
    • Strong understanding of software test planning, automation, release management, and risk identification/mitigation.
    • Deep knowledge of agile methodologies, DevOps pipelines, and CI/CD best practices.
    • Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing QA teams and oversee resource planning.
    • Experience with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence, GitLab), test management tools, and requirements documentation.


Skills:
    • Exceptional communication and collaboration skills; adept at influencing technical and non-technical stakeholders.
    • Technical expertise in test frameworks, automation tools, QA methodologies, and bug management.
    • Proven problem-solving, analytical, and strategic thinking abilities.
    • Strong project management skills-able to manage schedules, balance priorities, and drive results across multiple teams.


DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS/NICE TO HAVE
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering or equivalent experience.
  • Industry certifications such as CSQA, ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager, CSM, SAFe Agilist, Lean Six Sigma, or PMP/PMI-ACP.
  • Passion for smart devices, IoT, cloud platforms, and the smart home ecosystem.
  • Experience with API contract testing, cloud and performance/load testing.
  • Familiarity with microservices architecture, networking, and mobile development IDEs (e.g., Xcode).

About NRG Energy

NRG is at the forefront of changing how people think about and use energy. Whether as the largest solar power developer in the country or by giving customers the latest tools to better manage their energy use, NRG is a pioneer in developing smarter energy choices. Our diverse power generating facilities have a capacity of about 52,000 megawatts, capable of supporting almost 42 million homes. Our retail electricity providers — Reliant and Energy Plus — and thermal energy division serve nearly 3 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers. A Fortune 250 company, NRG supports clean energy resources and technologies critical to our transition to a sustainable, low carbon society. We built the nation's first privately-funded electric vehicle charging infrastructure and continue to create new, clean energy solutions for our customers. In addition to our environmental efforts, we actively contribute to the local communities where NRG employees live and work. Since 2004, our Global Giving program has provided millions of dollars to organizations and charities that have a direct impact on the lives of the people in our communities, including food banks and those that foster self-sufficiency, improve housing and provide supplemental education to people in need. NRG has also organized special responses for victims of extreme catastrophe, such as the Haitian earthquake and the Japanese tsunami in 2010. Employee donations were tripled to maximize the contributions. NRG has won numerous awards for industry leadership and many of its nationwide econrg initiatives, which are targeted toward meeting the challenges of climate change, clean air and natural resources protection.

NRG Energy Careers

Join the vibrant team at NRG Energy, a leader in the power and energy sector, and contribute to a sustainable future while advancing your career. At NRG Energy, we are committed to innovation, leadership, and diversity, ensuring a dynamic workplace where growth and opportunity are at the forefront.

Work You’ll Do

At NRG Energy, you’ll engage in meaningful work that powers communities and fosters environmental stewardship. Our team of professionals is dedicated to leading the energy sector through cutting-edge innovation and sustainable practices. By joining us, you help shape the future of energy, leveraging your skills to make a significant impact.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, NRG Energy offers a range of job opportunities and internships that will harness your potential and polish your skills. Our positions span from technical roles in energy management to leadership tracks in corporate functions. Each role is crucial in driving our mission of a sustainable energy future.

Career Development and Benefits

NRG Energy is deeply invested in the professional growth of its employees. We offer robust career development programs, including leadership training, professional networking opportunities, and diversity training. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being and financial security of our team members and their families, promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Culture of Innovation and Diversity

Our company culture celebrates diversity, encourages innovation, and fosters a collaborative environment. At NRG Energy, you’ll work alongside a diverse team of experts, each bringing unique perspectives that drive our success. We believe that inclusive teamwork and innovative thinking are the keys to our continued growth and leadership in the energy sector.

Join Our Team

Embark on a rewarding career path at NRG Energy by exploring our current hiring opportunities. Tailor your job search to match your career aspirations and skills. Prepare your resume, ace the interview, and join a team that’s committed to making a difference.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from NRG Energy: - **Career Insights**: Gain industry-leading insights and read about the latest trends in the energy sector on our careers blog. - **Job Alert Emails**: Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider tips that align with your career preferences. At NRG Energy, your career is more than a job—it’s a journey of growth, learning, and leadership. Join us in powering the world’s energy future while building a promising career for yourself. Explore opportunities, embrace our culture, and be part of our mission to lead the energy transition.

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Learn more about NRG Energy
Size
6,635 employees
Market Cap
$7.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$510 million
Founded
1989
5 Year Trend
+24.8%
Revenue
$9 billion
NASDAQ

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