QA Lead

Note: Client Interview Mode: Interview is in-person, so it makes sense to have local candidates or someone able to get in person in a few hours if they are open to relocating on their own expense.Job Duties and Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:Serve as the Program QA Lead for multiple large-scale, enterprise-wide initiatives within the client's organization.Develop and implement comprehensive QA strategies, standards, and test frameworks across projects.Provide hands-on leadership for testing efforts, including test plan creation, test case development, and defect management.Direct and mentor multiple QA Analysts while managing individual workstreams and contributing to active testing.Oversee and validate vendor-led testing activities, ensuring alignment with program standards and integration requirements.Develop and manage QA schedules, testing dependencies, and risk mitigation strategies across concurrent projects.Execute manual test scenarios and perform regression, functional, and integration testing across diverse solutions.Support configuration management and release control, maintaining traceability and documentation throughout the QA lifecycle.Define and track QA performance metrics such as defect density, coverage, and exit criteria for release readiness.Collaborate with program management, business analysts, developers, and vendors to prioritize defect resolution and testing scope.Provide QA governance and oversight throughout all project phases, ensuring adherence to enterprise standards and methodologies.Mentor business analysts and project team members in QA best practices to promote consistent quality across program initiatives.Minimum Qualifications – must meet ALL:Ten (10) years' experience in software quality assurance or software testing roles.Five (5) years' of QA leadership experience managing or directing QA efforts on programs.One (1) year of experience with cloud-based SaaS implementationsTwo (2) years' experience leading QA activities in multi-vendor or multi-system integration environments.Two (2) years' experience performing manual and automation testing.Two (2) years' experience (cumulative) developing QA strategies, test plans, test cases, and metrics to measure quality and readiness.One (1) year of experience using either Azure DevOps, JIRA, or Client ALMTwo (2) years of experience applying QA processes within Agile, Iterative, and Waterfall development methodologies.Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related disciplineAble to work onsite in St. Paul, MN at least one day per week and more frequently as business needs dictateDesired QualificationsExperience working within government or regulated industries implementing mission-critical systems.Experience with mass transit technology solutions, including fare collection, asset management, or operational analytics systems.Prior experience in public sector, utilities, or transportationFamiliarity with test data management, performance testing, and vendor validation processes.Working knowledge of automation frameworks or tools (even if not fully deployed).Advanced degree or professional certification in Quality Assurance, Project Management (PMP), or Agile (CSM, SAFe).Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional QA teams and foster a culture of accountability and collaboration.Exceptional communication skills, capable of translating technical QA concepts for business and executive audiences.Strong analytical skills with attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement.Effective conflict resolution and stakeholder management skills in multi-stakeholder environments.Ability to balance leadership responsibilities with hands-on testing execution when required.