Director - Testing (QA)

Job Title: Director - Testing (QA)Location: Austin, TX or Tampa, FLJob Type: FTEJob Description:Primary (Must have skills)5+ years in QA Strategy & Leadership - Enterprise QA strategy, governance, stakeholder management, budgeting, and large team leadership.10+ years in Quality Engineering & Test Architecture - Test automation, Performance and scalability testing, CI/CD, API/UI, microservices, test data, and non-functional testing.3+ years in AI-led QA Transformation - AI-driven automation, GenAI tools, QA accelerators, and ROI-focused quality initiatives.10+ years in QA Processes & Retail Domain - Agile/SAFe delivery with strong retail business understanding.10+ years in People Leadership - Organization building, hiring, mentoring, competency development, and capability transformation.10+ years in QA Tools & Technology - Test management, CI/CD, API, performance, cloud, and observability platforms.7+ years in Executive Communication - Executive reporting, business-focused quality metrics, and senior stakeholder management.10+ years of experience in SDLC, Agile, and Shift-Left/Continuous Testing.Secondary Skills (Good to have)Hands on experience in developing utilities using AIKarate Framework for API testingMobile test AutomationRole SummaryWe are seeking a Director - Testing (QA) who is responsible for defining and leading the organization's quality assurance and testing strategy. This role oversees test planning, automation, quality processes, test environments, tools, and testing teams to ensure high quality software releases. The Director collaborates with engineering, product, operations, and business stakeholders to drive quality across the software development lifecycle.Why This Role MattersThis engagement represents a pivotal transformation in how quality assurance underpins enterprise delivery. Over the next 12 months, multiple strategic business initiatives will rely on a unified, automation-first QA function to ensure seamless execution. The Senior Test Manager will architect and lead scalable automation frameworks using Cypress, JavaScript, and TypeScript, embedding them into CI/CD pipelines across programs.What You'll DoLead and manage the end-to-end Quality Assurance function across multiple projects and programs.Define and implement enterprise-level test strategies, quality processes, and governance standards.Drive automation-first testing practices using Cypress, Selenium, JavaScript, and TypeScript.Establish scalable automation frameworks and ensure optimal test coverage across functional, regression, API, and integration testing.Collaborate with Product Owners, Business Stakeholders, Development Teams, and Program Managers to define quality objectives and release readiness criteria.Manage test planning, estimation, execution, reporting, and defect triage activities.Monitor quality metrics, identify risks, and implement mitigation plans to ensure successful project delivery.Mentor and lead QA engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and engineering excellence.Ensure seamless integration of automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.Drive production quality initiatives and contribute to reducing defect leakage through proactive quality engineering practices.Provide regular quality status updates and recommendations to leadership and key stakeholders.Soft skills/other skillsStrong leadership and team management capabilitiesExcellent stakeholder and client-facing communication skillsStrategic thinking with a quality-first mindsetStrong analytical and problem-solving skillsAbility to influence cross-functional teams and drive decisionsEffective conflict resolution and negotiation skillsStrong organizational and planning abilitiesAbility to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environmentMentoring and coaching skillsOwnership, accountability, and results-oriented approachWhat Success Looks Like (6-12 Months) - Expected OutcomeSuccess in this role over the first 6-12 months means establishing a unified, automation-first QA strategy that is consistently applied across programs, with Cypress frameworks fully integrated into CI/CD pipelines to deliver reliable regression, API, and integration coverage while reducing manual effort; quality metrics and dashboards drive leadership decisions with defect leakage reduction, cross-functional teams align on clear quality objectives embedded into sprint planning and release cycles, multiple strategic initiatives achieve on-time, defect-minimized releases, QA engineers are mentored into automation-first practitioners with elevated skills in Cypress, TypeScript, and API testing, and proactive risk identification and mitigation practices are embedded to ensure business programs progress without major quality-related disruptions and increase in AI adoption.Why Join UsJoining us means stepping into a pivotal leadership role where quality engineering is not just a support function but a strategic enabler of business transformation. You will have the opportunity to architect and scale automation-first frameworks using Cypress with JavaScript, and TypeScript, directly influencing the success of multiple high-impact programs. This role offers the chance to shape enterprise-level QA practices, embed quality into CI/CD pipelines, and mentor a team of engineers into automation-first practitioners. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders, driving decisions that reduce defect leakage, accelerate delivery, and safeguard customer trust. Most importantly, you'll be part of a dynamic environment where your leadership, strategic thinking, and technical expertise will directly determine the organization's ability to deliver with speed, confidence, and excellence at scale. #J-18808-Ljbffr FalconSmartIT