Project Manager, IT QA Tester ​/ Automation

Payrate: $65.00 - $70.00/hr summary:
We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of a robotics system validation and test operations program. This role collaborates closely with Software, Firmware, Hardware Test, Robotics, Systems Engineering, Science, and Quality teams to ensure system-level testing activities are effectively planned, executed, tracked, and supported by measurable validation evidence. The ideal candidate will possess strong experience managing engineering projects using Jira, coordinating complex cross-functional teams, and leading or supporting manual system-level testing activities.

This position requires a practical understanding of software, hardware, embedded systems, robotics, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, defect management, test execution, and release readiness processes. Responsibilities:
Own project planning, execution, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and status reporting for robotics system validation and test operations. Develop and maintain project plans, work breakdown structures, resource plans, dependencies, and critical-path activities within Jira. Coordinate activities across Automation & CI/CD, Systems Verification and Validation (V&V), HIL and Test Automation, Data Quality, and Test Infrastructure teams. Facilitate daily stand-ups, sprint planning sessions, backlog refinement activities, project reviews, and cross-functional status meetings.

Track project progress, identify schedule risks, resolve dependencies, and drive timely completion of deliverables. Partner with engineering leads and stakeholders to establish priorities, manage scope, and communicate project status. Configure and manage Jira projects, including epics, initiatives, stories, tasks, bugs, dependencies, and workflows. Maintain accurate project backlogs, sprint plans, release milestones, ownership assignments, and delivery status. Develop Jira dashboards and reporting solutions covering test execution, automation progress, defect trends, HIL bench readiness, requirements coverage, and release readiness.

Establish workflow standards, ownership expectations, status definitions, and escalation processes. Coordinate Jira integrations and reporting with test and requirements management tools such as Test Rail and Jama. Automate project reporting processes where practical to reduce manual tracking efforts. Collaborate with engineering teams to plan, coordinate, and execute end-to-end manual testing of robotic systems. Review system requirements, test plans, test cases, acceptance criteria, and validation procedures.

Support manual testing across robotic perception, motion, manipulation, controls, sensors, actuators, firmware, software, safety interfaces, and physical environments. Coordinate test execution across simulation, emulation, HIL environments, and physical robotic systems. Ensure test results, logs, observations, screenshots, and validation evidence are properly documented and maintained. Track test failures, assist with issue reproduction, and coordinate defect triage activities with engineering teams. Monitor test coverage, execution status, blocked tests, failed tests, and outstanding validation activities.

Support simulation-to-real-world validation efforts and system readiness reviews. Serve as the primary point of coordination between engineering teams, stakeholders, and program leadership. Organize technical reviews, test readiness reviews, defect triage meetings, and release readiness discussions. Track action items, decisions, risks, assumptions, and dependencies through closure. Communicate project health, delivery risks, resource constraints, and escalation items to stakeholders. Ensure project activities align with program goals, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.

Establish project-level quality and readiness metrics for validation and testing activities. Maintain risk registers, issue logs, mitigation plans, and escalation paths. Monitor test infrastructure, HIL readiness, automation status, data quality, and environment readiness. Coordinate collection and organization of validation evidence required for releases and milestone approvals. Support release readiness assessments by consolidating test results, defect status, risks, blockers, and acceptance criteria.

Drive continuous improvement in testing processes, project execution, reporting, and operational efficiency. Requirements

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree…