Quality Assurance Test Lead (Contract)

Job Title: Quality Assurance Test Lead

Location: Columbus, OH (Local Candidates only - Hybrid - 3 days onsite per week)

Duration: 6-Month Contract (Possible Extensions)

Rate: $50 - 60/hr (W2)

Benefits: 401(k) with 4% company match

Work Authorization:

Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employment-based visa sponsorship. No sponsorship available for H-1B, H-1B1, F-1, OPT, CPT, TN, L-1, O-1, E-3, J-1, or any other visa status.

Position Overview

The Quality Assurance Test Lead is responsible for leading testing activities across enterprise applications within a defined functional or technical domain. This role serves as a key contributor on project and program teams operating in both Agile and Waterfall environments. The Test Lead provides strategic oversight of QA practices while remaining hands-on with test planning, execution, reporting, and continuous improvement.

This position requires deep expertise across the SDLC, including manual and automated testing, test management tools, defect governance, and stakeholder coordination within large, cross-functional organizations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or equivalent experience
• 5-7+ years of progressive experience in Quality Assurance, testing leadership, or test program delivery
• Strong experience leading QA efforts on complex projects with distributed teams
• Extensive experience with test and requirements management tools (Tricentis qTest, JIRA)
• Demonstrated ability to lead QA strategy while executing tactical testing activities
• Proven experience acting as a change agent within large, cross-functional environments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced, matrixed environments
• Deep understanding of QA best practices across the SDLC
• Awareness of current QA tools, trends, and industry best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Performance testing experience (OpenText LoadRunner / Performance Center)
• Automation testing experience (Tricentis Tosca, Gherkin, Jenkins, Postman)
• SQL querying or data validation experience
• Experience supporting Agile delivery teams and CI/CD pipelines

Key Responsibilities

QA Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and govern testing activities in alignment with PMO and QA frameworks
• Define and enforce testing best practices, standards, and methodologies
• Act as escalation point for all testing-related risks, issues, and defects
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive adoption

Test Planning & Execution

• Facilitate creation of test strategies, approaches, and plans
• Define scope of testing for releases, phases, and cycles
• Develop, review, and maintain manual and automated test scripts
• Ensure full traceability between requirements and test cases
• Define entrance and exit criteria and track completion

Metrics, Reporting & Governance

• Provide daily and weekly testing status, metrics, and dashboards
• Track test execution progress, defect aging, and SLA compliance
• Run audit reports to ensure QA compliance and readiness
• Partner with PMO, Deployment, and Release teams to ensure delivery readiness

Defect & Risk Management

• Establish defect standards, severity, and prioritization
• Facilitate daily defect triage meetings
• Monitor defect resolution and enforce SLAs
• Support mitigation and remediation planning

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Conduct daily tester standups and weekly status meetings
• Determine testing resource needs and staffing plans
• Train testers on tools, processes, and defect management
• Coach and mentor junior QA team members
• Collaborate with OCM, training, deployment, and business leads