Quality Assurance LeadLocationScottsdale, AZ
Role OverviewA QA Lead manages the day-to-day activities of the quality assurance function. They plan and assign tests, review reports, monitor progress, and ensure product releases meet required standards for functionality, reliability, and usability. The role blends technical QA expertise with team and process leadership - acting as a bridge between engineering, product, and delivery teams. The QA Lead is also looked upon to assist QA Specialists and help organize testing efforts, even when functioning without direct reports.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy & Planning- Develop and own comprehensive end-to-end test plans and strategies to ensure software quality
- Define testing methodologies that align with the company's SDLC and objectives
- Implement and champion shift-left and shift-right testing approaches
- Define quality metrics and KPIs (e.g., Defect Escape Rate, Test Automation Coverage, Mean Time to Resolution) and report to stakeholders
- Communicate and track quality risks, gaps, or issues; lead triage meetings
- Verify and review software and business requirements, use cases, and acceptance criteria in collaboration with Product
- Contribute to product roadmap discussions by providing insights on quality-related risks and technical debt considerations
- Continually improve testing infrastructure, tools, and processes; stay current with industry standards and integrate new testing tools and techniques
Team Leadership & Knowledge Management- Lead and assist QA Specialists and engineers, helping to organize and coordinate testing efforts across initiatives
- Mentor junior and mid-level QA team members and support their professional growth
- Delegate tasks effectively and advocate for the team's career growth opportunities
- Define and maintain a QA knowledge base - documenting testing processes (including test data creation), standards, and procedures to ensure consistency and knowledge sharing across the team
Manual & Automated Testing- Conduct thorough manual testing of software applications
- Design, write, and execute comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test scripts
- Develop and maintain automated test scripts to improve testing efficiency
- Architect scalable and maintainable test automation frameworks
- Select and manage testing tools and technologies (e.g., Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, performance and load testing tools)
- Set coding standards and best practices for automation scripts
- Build and integrate automation frameworks with CI/CD pipelines
Defect Management & Quality- Identify, document, and track software defects using defect management tools (e.g., JIRA, ADO)
- Perform root cause analysis on defects and collaborate with developers to ensure they are effectively addressed, reducing recurrence in future releases
- Track and report QA metrics such as defect density, open defect count, and test coverage
- Conduct QA audits to identify areas for improvement and apply corrective measures
- Ensure all products meet the organization's quality expectations
- Recommend and implement best practices for quality assurance processes
Cross-Functional Collaboration- Develop and manage test strategies covering test data, regression testing, and automation methodologies
- Promote QA standards and best practices across Agile teams
- Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives
- Collaborate with developers, product managers, and stakeholders on integration, unit, and acceptance testing strategies
RequirementsExperience- 5+ years of experience in software quality assurance, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead role
- Deep knowledge of both manual and automated testing processes
- Proven experience leading or organizing QA teams or testing efforts
Technical Skills- Proficiency in manual testing and experience developing and executing automated test scripts
- Strong understanding of test automation frameworks and tooling
- Ability to define and manage regression, smoke, UAT, and end-to-end test plans
- Experience with test management and defect tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, Azure DevOps, or equivalent)
- Familiarity with Agile software development methodologies
- Experience with performance and load testing is a plus
- Knowledge of CI/CD pipeline integration for automated testing
AI & Emerging Technology- Awareness of AI/ML integration in testing processes
- Ability to balance manual testing for usability with automation for speed and scale
Education & Certifications- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Certifications such as ISTQB or CSTE are an advantage
Soft Skills- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail, with the ability to identify and document software defects effectively
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional team
- Ability to translate technical issues into business terms for non-technical stakeholders
- Self-starter comfortable navigating ambiguity and taking initiative in fast-paced environments
