Lead QA

Job description

Job Description:

The Quality Assurance Lead is responsible for leading and executing testing activities across web-based software projects.

This role combines leadership and hands-on testing, ensuring that high-quality solutions are delivered on time.

The Lead will manage a small QA team, work with leadership to establish testing best practices, and work closely with stakeholders to drive continuous quality improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of testing activities across assigned projects.
  
  
• Collaborate with product, engineering, and project management stakeholders to define test strategies, scope, and estimates.
  
  
• Perform manual testing and identify opportunities to incorporate automation where beneficial.
  
  
• Guide the adoption of automation tools and frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Cypress, Selenium) as appropriate.
  
  
• Maintain a clear and prioritized defect management process.
  
  
• Review, refine, and maintain test documentation, including test plans, cases, and reports.
  
  
• Analyze data, identify discrepancies, and recommend corrective actions.
  
  
• Provide reviews of test deliverables to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to standards.
  
  
• Assign tasks, balance workloads, and oversee deliverables for a QA team of 5–7 engineers.
  
  
• Mentor, coach, and develop team members to build a high-performing QA team
• Facilitate knowledge-transfer sessions and promote continuous learning within the team.
  
  
• Represent QA in discussions on requirements, scope, timelines, and release readiness.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in software testing, including at least 2 years in a lead or senior QA role.
  
  
• Strong understanding of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) and testing methodologies (functional, regression, integration, exploratory, UAT).
  
  
• Hands-on experience with at least one platform type: Ecommerce (e.g., Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Shopify, Magento), Content Management Systems (CMS) (e.g., Adobe AEM, Contentful, Sitecore), or Order Management Systems (OMS) (e.g., Manhattan, IBM Sterling, Oracle OMS).
  
  
• Experience with Atlassian tools, including Jira (defect tracking) and Confluence (documentation).
  
  
• Exposure to test automation tools (Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, or similar); hands-on experience preferred but not required.
  
  
• Strong SQL and data validation skills.
  
  
• Experience preparing dashboards and communicating status reports to stakeholders.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of QA deliverables across the full software delivery cycle.
  
  
• Proven ability to mentor and manage a small team while contributing as an individual tester.
  
  
• Strong communication and negotiation skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in Agile or hybrid delivery environments.
  
  
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and integrating QA processes into release workflows.
  
  
• Exposure to performance, load, or accessibility testing practices.
  
  
• Experience working in a consulting role

Personal Characteristics

• Hands-on leader who balances management responsibilities with active contribution.
  
  
• Self-motivated, with a strong focus on quality and continuous improvement.
  
  
• Thrives in collaborative, fast-paced environments.
  
  
• Strong written and verbal communicator.
  
  
• Adaptable and able to prioritize effectively in dynamic settings.
  
  
• Builds strong, trust-based relationships across teams and functions.
  
  

The anticipated salary range for this position is ($78,000-$126,500).

Actual salary will be based on a variety of factors including relevant experience, knowledge, skills and other factors permitted by law.

A range of medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, paid time off, and/or other benefits also are available.

For more information regarding dentsu benefits, please visit

LI-AW1 #LI-HYBRID #LI-REMOTE

Location:

Columbia - Columbia Gateway Dr

Brand:

Merkle

Time Type:

Full time

Contract Type:

Permanent

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Required Skill Profession

Other General