Test Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Test Lead
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Duration: 6 Month Contract
Rate: $55/hr

Role Summary
The Test Lead is responsible for defining and driving the testing strategy for one or more product teams. This person leads a team of test engineers, owns the quality of releases, and partners with product, development, and operations to ensure software is delivered on time, meets requirements, and is reliable in production. The role combines hands-on technical expertise with people leadership and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities
Test Strategy and Planning
Define test strategy, test plans, and quality metrics aligned with project goals and release schedules
Assess risk and prioritize testing efforts across functional, regression, integration, performance, and security testing
Estimate testing effort and contribute to sprint and release planning

Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and coach a team of QA/test engineers; assign work and manage workload
Conduct performance reviews, support career development, and participate in hiring
Foster a culture of quality ownership across the engineering organization

Test Execution and Automation
Oversee design and execution of manual and automated test cases
Drive test automation strategy, framework selection, and CI/CD integration
Review test coverage and continuously improve the efficiency and reliability of test suites

Collaboration
Work closely with product owners, developers, DevOps, and business analysts to clarify requirements and acceptance criteria
Communicate status, risks, and blockers to project managers and senior leadership
Coordinate with vendors or offshore teams where applicable

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or equivalent experience
6 years of experience in software testing/QA, including 2 years in a lead or senior rol
Strong knowledge of SDLC, STLC, and Agile/Scrum methodologies
Experience with test management and defect tracking tools (e.g., Jira)
Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to influence stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications
ISTQB Advanced Level (Test Manager) or equivalent certification
Experience testing cloud-based applications (AWS, Azure, Eligible to workP) and microservices

Key Competencies
Leadership and mentoring
Analytical and risk-based thinking
Attention to detail and a quality mindset
Strong organization and prioritization
Problem-solving and adaptability
Stakeholder management

Success Measures
Reduction in escaped defects and production incidents
Increased automation coverage and faster regression cycle
On-time, high-quality releases
Team engagement, growth, and retentio