Lead QA Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled Lead QA Engineer to oversee and drive our quality assurance efforts. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and executing comprehensive test plans, managing defect tracking, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in modern automated testing frameworks, specifically Cypress, and proven experience testing applications deployed within Amazon Web Services (AWS) using Azure DevOps for CI/CD and project tracking. This position is 100% remote. Role and Responsibilities: Test Strategy & Execution: Create, maintain, and execute detailed test plans and test cases encompassing functional, performance, and security testing. Test Automation (Cypress): Design, develop, and maintain robust automated end-to-end test suites using Cypress to ensure consistent software quality and reduce manual testing overhead. Cloud Environment Testing (AWS): Conduct comprehensive testing of distributed applications and microservices hosted within AWS cloud environments, ensuring scalability and reliability. CI/CD Integration (Azure DevOps): Integrate automated test scripts into Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous testing and seamless deployments. Defect Management: Identify, document, and track software defects using Azure DevOps (or similar tools like JIRA), working closely with development teams to ensure timely resolution. Leadership & Mentorship: Lead QA initiatives, provide technical guidance to junior team members, and advocate for quality engineering best practices across the development lifecycle. Minimum Qualifications,CertificationsandEducationRequirements: MA / MS in related field with 10+ years experience or in lieu: BA/BS in related field with 15+ years' experience Excellent written and verbal communications Must be a US Citizen Possess a SECRET clearance or have the ability to obtain one. Must have at least an interim SECRET to begin work on the contract Experience: 5+ years of experience in Software Quality Assurance, with at least 2 years in a Senior or Lead capacity. Automation Frameworks: Strong, hands-on proficiency with Cypress for end-to-end web testing. (Experience with Selenium or Appium is considered a strong plus). Cloud Platforms: Proven experience testing and validating applications deployed in AWS environments. DevOps & Tooling: Deep understanding of and experience with Azure DevOps for test management, pipeline integration, and agile project tracking. Testing Methodologies: Demonstrated expertise in functional, regression, performance, and security testing methodologies. Communication: Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and cross-functional communication skills. Preferred Skills Certified Scrum Master (CSM), ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), Software Engineer Master Certification (SEMC), Certified Manger of Software testing (CMST), Certified Software Tester (CSTE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Planning Engineer (CPE). North South Consulting Group, LLC