QA Practice Lead (Handson, Domain Specialist)

We are seeking an experienced and innovative QA Practice Lead. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in enhancing our testing capabilities by designing reusable accelerators, supporting delivery teams, and forging strategic partnerships with tool and service providers. In addition to technical leadership, this role requires strong business acumen to engage with clients and prospects, identify new opportunities, and create customized proposals showcasing business value. A solid understanding of engagement models, pricing models, and experience working in a CoE environment is highly desirable.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

1. Testing Accelerator Development and Frameworks

• Design and build reusable testing accelerators and frameworks to improve testing efficiency and reduce time-to-market.
• Introduce and integrate cutting-edge testing tools, methodologies, and technologies, including AI/ML, into TCoE practices.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying gaps in existing testing processes and recommending scalable solutions.

2. Delivery Team Support

• Collaborate with delivery teams to address complex testing challenges in functional, automation, performance, and security testing domains.
• Provide expert guidance on tool selection, testing approaches, and problem resolution for critical projects.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to enable delivery teams to adopt advanced testing strategies.

3. Strategic Partnerships

• Establish and maintain partnerships with tool vendors, technology providers, and service organizations to strengthen the company s testing offerings.
• Evaluate and integrate new tools and platforms to stay ahead in the competitive landscape.

4. Client Engagement and Business Development

• Capability Presentation:

  Present TCoE capabilities to clients and prospects, highlighting innovative testing solutions and their business impact.

• Opportunity Identification:

  Collaborate with account teams to uncover new opportunities for testing services within existing and prospective clients.

• Proposal Creation:

• Create customized responses to RFI/RFPs, including solution designs, value propositions, and competitive pricing models.
• Develop compelling pitch decks and proposals that demonstrate the ROI and strategic benefits of testing services.

• Consultative Selling:

  Partner with sales teams to engage with stakeholders and position the company as a leader in testing services.

5. Understanding Engagement and Pricing Models

• Provide expertise on various engagement models (e.g., managed services, time and material, outcome-based models) and recommend suitable options based on client needs.
• Design pricing models that align with business objectives and ensure competitiveness in the market.

6. Leadership and Reporting

• Serve as a thought leader within the TCoE, influencing the direction of the organization s testing strategy.
• Have good understanding of new trends in Testing.
• Define KPIs and success metrics to measure the performance and adoption of testing accelerators and initiatives.
• Regularly report progress, key achievements, and areas for improvement to senior management.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Experience:

• 12+ years of experience in software testing, with at least 5 years in test automation, test strategy, or test architecture roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in [specific domain, e.g., banking, finance, or retail], with a deep understanding of industry-specific challenges, regulations, and best practices.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver scalable and domain-aligned solutions that drive business value.
• Ability to leverage domain knowledge to develop strategic roadmaps, optimize processes, and implement innovative frameworks within the CoE.
• Prior experience working in a Testing Centre of Excellence or a similar organizational structure is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of delivering customized testing solutions and driving innovation.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in test automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Cypress) and performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps, and modern testing approaches (e.g., Agile, Shift-Left Testing).
• Familiarity with AI/ML-based testing solutions and testing in cloud environments.

Business Skills:

• Strong understanding of engagement models (e.g., T&M, fixed price, managed services) and pricing strategies for testing services.
• Expertise in responding to RFPs/RFIs and creating compelling business value proposals.
• Ability to engage with senior client stakeholders and articulate complex solutions in a simplified manner.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and client engagement skills.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across teams