GIS Test Lead / Lead QA

W2 profiles only

Location: Remote (Colombus, OH)
Client: Utilities

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced GIS Test Lead / Senior GIS QA Engineer to oversee end-to-end quality assurance and testing strategies for large-scale enterprise GIS utility and management applications. In this role, you will bridge the gap between requirement analysis and quality assurance, working closely with cross-functional teams to validate complex mapping systems, field collection tools, and cloud data architectures. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in the Esri ecosystem, thrives in an Agile environment, and possesses strong leadership capabilities to manage on-site/offshore testing models.

Key Responsibilities

• Test Strategy & Execution: Define, develop, and implement comprehensive test strategies, test gates, and entry/exit criteria for large enterprise GIS projects.
• End-to-End Testing: Lead and execute multiple testing phases, including Smoke Testing, System Integration Testing (SIT), Regression Testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) coordination.
• Field & Web Application Validation: Validate geospatial application components, specifically focusing on mobile data collection tools like ArcGIS Field Maps and Survey123, ensuring data type integrity, functional precision, and correct map rendering.
• Agile Collaboration: Translate high-level business requirements into actionable epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria within Jira; participate actively in sprint planning.
• Data & API Validation: Verify backend functionality, including REST endpoints, database integrity (e.g., Palantir), and cloud storage mechanisms (e.g., AWS S3 buckets).
• Integration Testing: Test GIS integrations with major enterprise platforms such as Asset/Work Management Systems (SAP, Maximo), Outage Management Systems (OMS), SCADA, and third-party mobile applications.
• Onsite-Offshore Coordination: Act as a central point of contact, leading and guiding offshore testing teams to ensure uniform execution of test cases and alignment with project benchmarks.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• GIS Testing Expertise: Proven track record as a QA Engineer or Test Lead explicitly focused on GIS utility networks and enterprise geospatial solutions.
• Esri Product Ecosystem: Hands-on experience testing and validating ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and applications consuming ArcGIS Enterprise data.
• Agile Methodology: Strong familiarity with Agile frameworks; Agile certification is highly desirable. Experience acting as a liaison between business analysis and core QA functions.
• Test Tools: Advanced proficiency with Jira for tracking stories, epics, test execution, and defect lifecycle management.
• System Validation: Strong understanding of the distinction between system verification (component inventory) and system validation (functional performance metrics, map rendering, response times).
• Communication: Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to demonstrate system prototypes to clients and stakeholders.

Preferred Tech Stack & Project Experience

• Cloud & Database Environments: Exposure to AWS (S3 buckets) and modern data platforms like Palantir.
• Utility & Environmental Domain: Prior experience testing utility-centric solutions (e.g., wildfire mitigation, grid undergrounding, or vegetation management projects).
• System Upgrades: Experience participating in data validation for enterprise application migrations or server upgrades.