Lead IT QA Analyst

The Lead IT QA Analyst is responsible for developing or assisting in the development of functional requirements, testing applications, developing test plans, editing, and/or writing test cases and test scripts, and evaluating test results to determine compliance with test plans and established business processes. The individual will interact with business development, system developers, end users, and all other groups involved in project development, testing, or test planning. The ideal candidate has strong leadership skills, experience automated and manual testing, and a keen eye for detail. This is a remote opportunity.

QA Activities

• Actively participate in elaboration sessions to understand requirements.

• Design and develop comprehensive test strategies and approaches for user stories and defects.

• Create detailed test scenarios and test cases aligned with acceptance criteria.

• Write SQL queries for test data setup and validations of test results.

• Collaborate with Product Owners and Business Analysts to clarify acceptance criteria and obtain sign-off on test cases.

• Execute test cases, manage defects, and ensure timely resolution through re-testing and regression.

• Conduct feature demonstrations and walkthroughs.

• Perform non-functional testing including security, performance, load, stress, multitenancy, and disaster recovery.

• Document defects clearly with reproducible steps and expected outcomes.

• Coordinate with the automation team to identify test cases for automation and contribute to script development.

• Execute end-to-end testing across integrated systems and domains.

• Collaborate with offshore QA teams for task hand-offs, including participation in off-hours calls when necessary.

• Support various testing phases such as regression, integration, smoke, and platform testing.

Lead Activities

• Provide leadership across the QA lifecycle, including test planning, execution, defect tracking, and reporting.

• Guide and oversee the design, implementation, and execution of test cases.

• Assess team capabilities and allocate tasks to leverage individual strengths.

• Coordinate onshore and offshore QA efforts, including off-hours collaboration as needed.

• Adapt to shifting priorities and support agile delivery timelines.

• Collaborate with Scrum Masters to track sprint progress using key QA metrics.

• Promote early quality practices by integrating QA into the initial stages of development.

• Define strategies for non-functional testing and ensure their execution.

• Advocate for and implement test automation to enhance regression coverage and reduce risk.

• Work with release management to track code deployments and test environment readiness.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within QA processes and practices.

• Participate in performance reviews and provide feedback for QA team members.

• Ensure effective integration testing across domains by collaborating with other QA leads.

• Communicate progress, risks, and blockers during daily stand-ups.

• Actively contributes to sprint retrospectives to improve team performance and QA processes.

• Maintain traceability across all QA activities.

• Participate in sprint planning, estimation, and commitment of QA tasks.

• Architect and enhance automated test frameworks and lead automation initiatives.

• Estimate and manage test efforts across test cycles.

• Collaborate with developers, product managers, and stakeholders to align quality goals with business needs.

• Research and implement tools to improve test efficiency and effectiveness.

• Document and communicate test results, issues, and activities clearly.

• Integrate automation hooks into the development codebase for seamless testing.

• Architect, design, and enhance the automated test framework.

• Estimate test tasks and lead test cycle.

• Lead test automation initiatives.

• Lead and mentor QA Analysts and testers

• Collaborate with developers, product managers, and business stakeholders to ensure quality objectives align with business needs.

• Suggest and implement QA process improvements.

• Develop and execute automated tests.

• Work closely with development staff to design automation hooks into main code base.

• Research, suggest, and implement tools to enhance test efficiency and effectiveness.

Business/User Requirements

• Analyze requirements/user stories for testability and completeness.

• Interpret user requirements/user stories and extend them into test cases.

• Communicate technical concepts in everyday language.

• Understand the needs of the user community.

What are the requirements needed for this position?

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science is desired

• 6+ years of experience of application quality assurance testing, with at least 3 years leading teams

• 3+ years of automation testing experience using automation tools. JMeter and LoadRunner preferred.

• 4+ years of experience writing SQL queries in SSMS

• Comfortable in using DB and Infrastructural monitoring tools (Solarwinds, Datadog, Dynatrace, Fortify, Graylog)

• Experience testing Data Migration, Data Quality, and ETL

• Experience testing sites built using design patterns such as MVC and architectural patterns such as Domain Driven Design

• Experience testing WCF and REST services within a Service Oriented Architecture

• Experience with ADO, Team Foundation Server, or Microsoft Test Manager

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Experience mentoring and developing junior QA team members

• Familiarity with the insurance industry is desired

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Pay Range:

Any posted pay range considers a wide range of compensation factors, including candidate background, experience and work location, while also allowing for salary growth within the position.

Expected application deadline is

If date is blank then this is a pipeline requisition, and we will continue to collect applications on an ongoing basis.

Helping People Thrive in a Connected World
Connect with us. Bring us your best work and your brightest ideas. And we’ll bring you a place where you can thrive. Learn more at jobs.assurant.com.

For U.S. benefit information, visit myassurantbenefits.com. For benefit information outside the U.S., please speak with your recruiter.

What’s the culture like at Assurant?
Our unique culture is a big reason why talented people choose Assurant. Named a Best/Great Place to Work in 13 countries and awarded the Fortune America’s Most Innovative Companies recognition in 2023, we bring together top talent around the world. Although we have a wide variety of skills and experiences, we share common characteristics that are uniquely Assurant. A passion for service. An ability to innovate in practical ways. And a willingness to take chances. We call our culture The Assurant Way.

Company Overview
Assurant is a leading global business services company that supports, protects, and connects major consumer purchases. A Fortune 500 company with a presence in 21 countries, Assurant supports the advancement of the connected world by partnering with the world’s leading brands to develop innovative solutions and deliver an enhanced customer experience through mobile device solutions, extended service contracts, vehicle protection services, renters insurance, lender-placed insurance products, and other specialty products.

Equal Opportunity Statement
Assurant is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not use or consider race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law in employment decisions.

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