Lead Quality Assurance Engineer

Role Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute functional testing activities for complex software applications and business workflows.
• Define test approaches, test scenarios, and detailed test cases based on functional and business requirements.
• Perform comprehensive regression testing to ensure that application changes do not impact existing functionality.
• Review requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, and design specifications to identify test scenarios and potential gaps.
• Develop and maintain reusable manual and automated test cases, test suites, test data, and traceability between requirements and tests.
• Design, develop, and maintain automated GUI tests using Squish GUI Tester for desktop applications, including robust object identification, synchronization, reusable components, and data-driven execution.
• Design, develop, and maintain end-to-end browser automation using Playwright with Python and Pytest for web application workflows.
• Build and evolve maintainable Pytest-based automation frameworks using fixtures, parametrization, markers, reusable utilities, page-object/component patterns, and clear test reporting.
• Integrate automated regression suites into CI/CD pipelines, support headless and parallel execution where appropriate, and analyze failures, flaky tests, and environment-related issues.
• Execute manual and automated tests, analyze results, and document test evidence and failures appropriately.
• Identify, document, prioritize, and track software defects throughout the defect lifecycle.
• Perform detailed defect analysis and work closely with development teams to facilitate timely resolution.
• Conduct defect triage meetings and support prioritization based on severity, business impact, and release requirements.
• Verify defect fixes and perform appropriate regression testing before closure.
• Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) by preparing test scenarios, coordinating testing activities, and assisting business users.
• Analyze UAT findings and coordinate with product and development teams for issue resolution.
• Validate end-to-end workflows and integrations across multiple application components and systems.
• Participate in release planning and provide recommendations regarding application quality and release readiness.
• Monitor testing progress, defect trends, coverage, and overall quality metrics.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Mentor QA team members and promote consistent testing standards and quality practices.

Required Skills

• 12–15 years of overall experience in software testing and quality assurance .
• Strong hands-on experience in functional testing of enterprise software applications .
• Extensive experience in regression testing and end-to-end system validation .
• Strong hands-on experience with Squish GUI Tester for desktop GUI automation, including object recognition, synchronization, reusable scripts/components, and maintenance of stable regression suites.
• Strong hands-on experience with Playwright for browser-based UI and end-to-end test automation, preferably using Python.
• Strong hands-on experience with Pytest , including fixtures, parametrization, markers, test organization, reusable utilities, and test reporting.
• Strong Python scripting skills for test automation, framework development, troubleshooting, and test-data utilities.
• Experience designing and maintaining scalable test automation frameworks with reusable abstractions, page-object/component patterns, configuration management, logging, and reporting.
• Experience integrating automated tests with CI/CD pipelines and version-control workflows, with the ability to diagnose automation, application, data, and environment failures.
• Strong expertise in designing effective test scenarios, test cases, and test data .
• Ability to analyze business requirements, functional specifications, and acceptance criteria from a testing perspective.
• Strong experience with defect identification, reporting, prioritization, tracking, and closure .
• Experience with defect and test management tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira, ALM, or equivalent tools .
• Strong understanding of the complete Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) .
• Good understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) .
• Experience supporting and coordinating User Acceptance Testing (UAT) .
• Experience validating complex business workflows and application integrations.
• Ability to perform root cause analysis and distinguish application defects from configuration, data, environment, and integration issues.
• Strong understanding of test coverage, requirements traceability, and risk-based testing.
• Experience working within Agile/Scrum software development environments.
• Ability to communicate testing status, quality risks, and release concerns clearly to stakeholders.

Testing & Quality Leadership Expectations

Preferred Skills

• Experience testing large-scale enterprise, scientific, healthcare, engineering, or data-intensive applications .
• Experience testing complex web and desktop applications.
• Experience validating REST APIs and backend integrations .
• Familiarity with database validation and basic SQL queries.
• Experience with API testing tools such as Postman or equivalent solutions.
• Experience with API automation, automation reporting, test-result dashboards, parallel execution, and strategies for reducing flaky tests.
• Hands-on familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and continuous testing practices for executing Squish and Playwright/Pytest regression suites.
• Experience testing applications involving complex workflows, dashboards, configuration, or data visualization.
• Understanding of usability, accessibility, performance, and security testing concepts.
• Experience with requirements and test traceability in regulated or quality-driven environments.
• Experience collaborating with globally distributed development and business teams.

Behavioral Competencies

Education