Associate Director, Quality Engineering

We are seeking an Associate Director, QA to lead and shape the automation testing strategy for our software applications, systems, and databases. This leadership role requires a strong technical background in software testing, SQL for database validation, and systems testing. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing and mentoring high-performing AQA teams, establishing quality assurance best practices, and driving end-to-end automation initiatives across complex software applications.

This role combines both strategic leadership and hands‑on technical expertise, focusing on ensuring that the quality of our products meets the highest standards.

• Leadership & Team Management:
  Lead and manage the AQA team, including hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers. Foster a high‑performing team culture focused on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Automation Strategy:
  Define and implement the strategic vision for test automation across software applications, systems, and databases. Drive the adoption of automation best practices, methodologies, and frameworks across the organization.
• SQL Database Testing:
  Oversee the development and execution of SQL‑based automated tests for database validation, ensuring data integrity, performance, and security across multiple databases.
• Integration of AI and Machine Learning:
  Leverage Azure Machine Learning (ML) to develop predictive models for automated testing, improving test coverage, and identifying potential software issues before they arise.
• Software Testing Leadership:
  Guide the automation of testing for various types of software applications (desktop, APIs) and systems, ensuring full test coverage and system reliability.
• Continuous Improvement:
  Drive the improvement of automation frameworks, testing processes, and toolsets to increase efficiency, scalability, and maintainability of test automation efforts.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with product management, development, and Dev Ops teams to ensure that testing efforts align with business objectives and product delivery timelines.
• Test Planning and Execution:
  Establish and enforce standards for test planning, execution, and reporting. Ensure comprehensive test coverage across all layers of the application stack, from UI to backend systems and databases.
  CI/CD Pipeline Integration:
  Oversee the integration of test automation into the CI/CD pipelines, ensuring automated tests run seamlessly as part of the build and deployment processes.
• Performance & Load Testing:
  Manage performance testing efforts for both applications and databases to ensure that systems can scale and perform efficiently under load.
• Quality Assurance Metrics:
  Define, measure, and report on key quality metrics, including defect density, test coverage, and test execution status. Use these metrics to continuously refine and improve testing strategies.
• Risk & Issue Management:
  Proactively identify potential risks to product quality and take appropriate action to mitigate risks, resolve issues, and communicate findings to key stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
  Regularly update senior management and cross‑functional teams on test results, challenges, and improvements, ensuring transparency and alignment with business goals.

• At least 10+ years of experience in AQA or software testing, with 5+ years in a leadership or management position. Proven experience overseeing test automation across software applications, systems, and databases.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL, with extensive experience in writing complex queries, validating database integrity, and performing data migration and ETL testing.
• Strong experience with Azure Purview, Power Automate, Azure Dev Ops, and Azure Machine Learning.
• In‑depth experience with test automation tools and frameworks such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, Cypress, Appium, or similar tools. Strong background in developing and maintaining scalable test automation frameworks.
• Experience testing a broad range of software applications (web, desktop, mobile) and systems (APIs, databases) with a strong focus on ensuring both functional and data…