Director of Quality Engineering - Only Locals to Chicago, IL

Job Title: Director of Quality Engineering

Location: Chicago, IL

Need Only Local Candidates - In Person interview required

***Only W2 Candidates***

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Quality Engineering to lead and drive the quality assurance and testing strategy across Gallagher s technology platforms. This role will be responsible for establishing and scaling quality engineering practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quality engineering, test automation, and leadership, with a passion for innovation and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
• Define and execute the overall quality engineering strategy, aligning with organizational goals and technology roadmaps.
• Establish and enforce quality standards, processes, and best practices across all technology teams.
• Drive a culture of quality and accountability throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Team Leadership & Development:
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of quality engineers, managers, and automation specialists.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.
• Identify skill gaps and provide training opportunities to ensure the team stays current with emerging technologies and methodologies.
• Quality Assurance & Automation:
• Oversee the design, development, and implementation of test automation frameworks and tools.
• Ensure comprehensive test coverage, including functional, performance, security, and regression testing.
• Drive the adoption of continuous testing practices within CI/CD pipelines to enable faster and more reliable software delivery.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
• Partner with product management, development, and operations teams to ensure quality is embedded in every phase of the SDLC.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure alignment with quality objectives.
• Act as a key advocate for quality engineering within the organization, influencing decision-making and driving change.
• Metrics & Reporting:
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of quality engineering efforts.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on quality metrics, risks, and improvement initiatives.
• Use data-driven insights to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement:
• Stay abreast of industry trends, tools, and technologies to ensure Gallagher remains at the forefront of quality engineering.
• Drive initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce defects, and enhance the overall customer experience.
• Champion the use of AI/ML and other advanced technologies to optimize testing processes.

Qualifications

• Education:
• Bachelor s or Master s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience:
• 10+ years of experience in quality engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale quality engineering initiatives in complex, enterprise environments.
• Experience with test automation tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Appium, TestNG, JUnit, Cypress).
• Technical Skills:
• Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and microservices architectures.
• Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner) and security testing practices.
• Soft Skills:
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on delivering results.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications in quality engineering or testing (e.g., ISTQB, Certified Software Quality Engineer).
• Experience with AI/ML-driven testing tools and methodologies.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance and standards (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001).