Quality Assurance Manager

QA STRATEGY & FRAMEWORK DESIGN

• Manages and implements a comprehensive Quality Assurance strategy, incorporating automation, performance, security, and scalability testing.
• Leads and manages a team of QA engineers, ensuring alignment with business and technical objectives.
• Defines and implements quality assurance strategies, processes, and best practices that ensure the highest levels of product quality.
• Develops testing plans, test strategies, and test cases for both functional and non-functional requirements.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by driving automation and process enhancements.
• Collaborates with DevOps to integrate QA tools into CI/CD pipelines and establish continuous testing practices.

HANDS-ON TEST AUTOMATION & EXECUTION

• Actively participates in the design, development, and execution of automated test scripts for front-end, back-end, API, and database testing.
• Implements, maintains, and scales test automation frameworks using tools such as Selenium, Appium, TestNG, or Cucumber.
• Executes performance, load, and stress testing using tools such as JMeter or LoadRunner, and provides insights for performance optimization.
• Ensures test automation integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, Bamboo) for continuous testing.

PERFORMANCE, LOAD, AND SECURITY TESTING

• Manages and implements performance and load testing strategies to ensure that applications meet scalability and availability requirements.
• Collaborates with the security team to ensure integration of security testing practices, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, into the QA process.
• Analyzes performance test results, identifies bottlenecks, and recommends optimizations for performance and scalability.

TECHNICAL COLLABORATION WITH CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS

• Works closely with software architects, developers, and operations teams to understand technical requirements, system design, and performance goals.
• Collaborates closely with development, DevOps, and product teams to integrate QA processes into the overall software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Partners with the DevOps team to ensure automated test coverage as part of continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Works with the architecture team to understand technical designs, scalability concerns, and non-functional requirements, ensuring thorough test coverage.
• Participates in code reviews, sprint planning, and technical discussions to ensure quality is embedded from the earliest stages of development.

TEST STRATEGY & COVERAGE

• Leads the creation and execution of test plans and test cases that ensure comprehensive test coverage for complex IT systems.
• Develops end-to-end testing strategies that include unit, integration, system, regression, and acceptance testing.
• Designs and implements automated regression testing strategies to ensure product stability across releases.
• Identifies, documents, and mitigates risks by proactively addressing quality concerns during all phases of development.

QUALITY METRICS & REPORTING

• Defines, monitors, and reports on key quality metrics, such as test coverage, defect density, test execution progress, and release readiness.
• Establishes automated dashboards to provide real-time visibility into quality status, defect trends, and testing progress.
• Conducts root cause analysis on defects and failures, working with engineering teams to ensure corrective actions and prevention strategies.
• Establishes and monitors quality metrics, including defect density, test coverage, and mean time to detect/fix defects.
• Generates detailed quality reports, providing insights into system stability, performance, and quality risks.
• Creates dashboards and automated reporting systems for real-time visibility into test execution, results, and defect trends.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT & MENTORSHIP

• Leads, mentors, and coaches QA engineers to build strong technical and testing competencies.
• Drives training initiatives for the QA team, ensuring up-to-date knowledge of automation tools, testing methodologies, and best practices.
• Ensures the team is well-versed in test automation, performance testing, security testing, and manual testing where needed.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT & INNOVATION

• Stays informed about emerging QA tools, technologies, and methodologies, implementing improvements that enhance testing effectiveness.
• Advocates for a shift-left testing approach, embedding quality practices early in the SDLC to catch defects early and reduce overall testing cycles.
• Drives the adoption of modern testing techniques, such as behavior-driven development (BDD), test-driven development (TDD), and exploratory testing.

ON-PREMISES, HYBRID AND CLOUD ENVIRONMENTS

• Works with business applications across various environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud systems.
• Works with the infrastructure and cloud teams to ensure that application environments are stable, secure, and meet business performance expectations.
• Supports the transition of applications from on-premises environments to cloud or hybrid architectures, working closely with senior IT leadership on cloud migration strategies.
• Ensures proper governance and performance monitoring for applications in all environments, proactively identifying areas for optimization.

RISK AND COMPLIANCE

• Ensures that all business applications comply with industry regulations and internal security standards, including SOX, PCI-DSS, and other financial sector regulations.
• Works with the cyber security team to ensure applications are secured against potential threats and vulnerabilities.
• Develops and implements procedures for regular audits, risk assessments, and disaster recovery plans for critical applications.
• Ensures that QA processes adhere to relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO, GDPR, HIPPA).
• Develops and maintains test documentation, including test plans, test cases, test scripts, and test data management.
• Implements processes to ensure traceability of test cases to requirements and automated defect tracking/reporting.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• EDUCATION: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field required. Master's degree a plus.
• CERTIFICATIONS: Highly Preferred: ISTQB Advanced Test Manager, Certified Agile Tester, or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM).
• EXPERIENCE: Required: Minimum of 10 years of experience in software quality assurance, with a minimum of 3 years in a QA management role. Proven hands-on experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber). Solid experience in integrating test automation into C!/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, or Bamboo. Experience in performance and load testing using JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar tools. Preferred: Experience working in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and familiarity with testing cloud-native applications. Experience with performance monitoring tools like Grafana, Prometheus, or New Relic.

TECHNICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE

• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies.
• Expertise in API testing using tools like Postman, SoapUI, or REST-assured.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, or similar for test automation.
• Familiarity with containerized testing environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication and and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and lead technical discussions.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Work-Life Balance
• Work From Home Program (up to 2 days per week upon eligibility)
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Modern Office Setting
• Free On-Site Fitness Facility
• Free downtown shuttle route
• Two-minute walk from Walnut Creek BART Station
• Three-minute car ride from CA-24 and I-680
• Free On-Site Garage Parking

BENEFITS

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Retirements Savings Match
• Group Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible Savings Accounts
• Paid Community Volunteer Day
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program