QA Release & Lead - QARL 26-04316

Job Title: QA Release & Lead

Location: USA / Canada (Remote)
Duration: 6+ Months
Type: Contract
Experience: 11 12 Years

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced QA Release & Lead to drive end-to-end quality engineering and release governance for insurance platform implementations. This role requires strong domain expertise in insurance, hands-on QA leadership, and the ability to manage complex, multi-system releases in a client-facing environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. QA Strategy & Leadership

• Define and implement end-to-end QA strategy aligned with business and technology goals
• Establish quality standards, governance frameworks, and best practices
• Lead, mentor, and manage distributed QA teams across onshore and offshore locations

2. Functional & Integration Testing

• Oversee testing across core insurance modules such as Policy, Billing, and Claims
• Ensure comprehensive test coverage for business workflows, integrations, and data flows
• Validate complex cross-system scenarios and third-party integrations

3. Release Management & Governance

• Own release planning, coordination, and execution across multiple teams
• Drive Go/No-Go decisions based on quality metrics and risk assessment
• Manage release schedules, dependencies, and stakeholder communication

4. Risk-Based Testing & Quality Assurance

• Identify and assess risks early in the lifecycle
• Develop and execute risk-based testing strategies
• Participate in design reviews to ensure quality and testability

5. Defect & Quality Management

• Govern defect lifecycle including triage, RCA, and resolution
• Lead war-room discussions for critical issues
• Track and report quality metrics, defect trends, and leakage

6. Test Automation & Innovation

• Collaborate with teams to enhance UI, API, and integration test automation
• Promote CI/CD integration and shift-left practices
• Drive adoption of modern QA tools and AI-driven testing approaches

7. Environment & Data Management

• Ensure readiness and stability of test environments
• Define and manage test data strategies using masked production-like datasets
• Handle dependencies across upstream and downstream systems

8. Production Readiness & Monitoring

• Support production deployments and hypercare
• Monitor production quality metrics and user feedback
• Drive continuous improvements based on production insights

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of QA experience with strong leadership exposure
• Hands-on experience with insurance platforms (Policy, Billing, Claims)
• Strong knowledge of P&C or Life Insurance domain
• Expertise in end-to-end testing across integrated systems
• Proven experience in release management and governance
• Experience with test automation (UI/API), Agile, and DevOps practices
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in onshore-offshore delivery models
• Exposure to data migration, cloud environments, and microservices architecture
• Familiarity with AI-driven testing tools
• ISTQB or equivalent QA certification