Sr. Manager, Test Engineering

Who are we looking for?

Choice Hotels has an exciting new opportunity as our Sr. Manager, Testing Engineering in the SkyTouch Technology division. SkyTouch Technology is an independently operated division of Choice Hotels that provides the most widely used cloud-based (SaaS) hotel property management system. As a key member of our SkyTouch Technology division, you lead a specialized, cross-functional team driving the strategy, execution, and continuous improvement of testing practices across multiple engineering domains.

In this role you will own the vision and direction of test enablement, serving as a key partner to DevOps, Product, Engineering leadership, and external vendors to promote scalable, reliable, and high-quality testing practices across the software development lifecycle. With a laser focus on building, evolving, and scaling Automation Test Frameworks (ATF), you’ll drive the automation strategies that fuel delivery velocity and system reliability.

This isn’t just about test coverage. It’s about engineering resilient, flexible, and efficient automation systems that accelerate feedback loops and reduce escaped defects. You’ll lead a high-performing team of Automated Test and Performance Engineers, guiding not only how we test, but how we think about test design, observability, and execution at scale.

Are you transformational testing leader who’s passionate about automation frameworks, skilled at mentoring others in modern test engineering practices, and excited to build the future of test enablement practices at scale? The #SkysTheLimit when you #MakeItYourChoice! We encourage you to apply today!

Your Responsibilities

Leadership & Vision

• Define and drive the strategic direction of the Test Enablement strategy aligned with quality and business goals.
• Build a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Promote curiosity, experimentation, and creative problem-solving.
• Lead adoption of modern tools and trends through pilots and thought leadership.

Team Management & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Sr. QAs, Automation Test Framework (ATF) SMEs, and Performance Test Engineers.
• Own hiring, onboarding, and performance management for the team.
• Foster a coaching culture that promotes growth, autonomy, and innovation.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Engineering Managers across domains to ensure alignment on testing practices and quality expectations.
• Work closely with DevOps, Product Management, and third-party vendors to integrate quality across the SDLC.
• Influence stakeholders to adopt best practices in performance, regression, chaos, and black-box testing.

Enablement & Standardization

• Standardize and scale cross-domain testing practices and frameworks across teams.
• Ensure continuous performance testing and proactive defect identification pre-release.
• Drive adoption of test automation within CI/CD pipelines to accelerate feedback loops.

Training & Best Practices

• Build and deliver effective training programs on test strategy, tools, and practices.
• Promote tool utilization, process adoption, and knowledge sharing across teams.

Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Track and improve KPIs such as test coverage, automation rates, escaped defects, and tool adoption.
• Analyze quality metrics to identify gaps, make data-driven decisions, and present recommendations to senior leadership.

Your Experience, Skills & Competencies                              

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.

Experience

• 8+ years of experience in software quality assurance or testing.
• 3+ years of experience leading QA or Test Enablement teams in a SaaS or enterprise environment.
• Proven success driving test automation, performance testing, and quality strategy at scale.

Technical Expertise

• Selenium: 5+ years - test automation frameworks, CI/CD integration.
• JMeter: 4+ years - performance and load testing at scale.
• Java: 5+ years - for automation and framework customization.
• AppDynamics/OpenSearch: 3+ years - monitoring and analyzing performance metrics.
• AWS: 3+ years - familiarity with cloud-native testing and infrastructure.
• qTest & Jira/Atlassian experience is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with a bias for action.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to influence and collaborate across functions.
• Ability to mentor technical staff and create a high-trust, high-performance environment.
• Familiarity with chaos engineering and testing for system resilience is a plus.
• AI experimentation is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word
• Demonstrates key competencies to include a strong drive for results, ensures accountability, and plan and align.

Your Team

This is a leadership role that will report to the Sr. Director of Solutions Delivery. You will have 7 direct reports and collaborate with cross functional departments on a regular basis.

Your Work Location

As our Sr. Manager of Test Engineering, you will be based in our beautiful, state-of-the-art technology hub in Scottsdale, Arizona. In October 2021, our SkyTouch associates moved to a newly constructed world class technology center.

Salary Range

The salary range for this position is $139,000 - $188,000 annually. In addition to the annual salary, this role is eligible for an annual bonus based on the terms of Choice's Management Incentive Plan (MIP).

The pay range listed is for this position and is what Choice Hotels reasonably expects to pay. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the pay range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs.

Choice prioritizes our associate wellbeing by offering a comprehensive benefits program that is both competitive and flexible to help you achieve your wellbeing goals - here are just a few:

• Competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Leave and paid time-off for holidays, vacation, personal, family, volunteer, sick, jury duty, bereavement, military, and religious observance
• Financial benefits for retirement and health savings
• Employee recognition programs
• Discounts at Choice hotels worldwide

About SkyTouch

SkyTouch Technology is an early innovator of cloud-based, mobile-enabled property management system (PMS) solutions for the hospitality industry. Over the last 10+ years, our PMS software, SkyTouch Hotel OS®, has been successfully implemented in over 6,500 properties worldwide. With our proven track record, we have both disrupted the industry and changed the face of hotel operations management, becoming the premiere cloud-based PMS solution for value, scalability, and mobility through industry-leading onboarding, training, and service. As a company that relies heavily on continuing innovation, we always need the help of highly qualified and motivated individuals who want to help move us to the next level.

At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, and technology center in Scottsdale, Arizona, and through our associates around the globe, we keep Choice hotels thriving by serving as a champion for our franchisees and providing cutting-edge technology.

About Choice

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing nearly 630,000 rooms, in 46 countries and territories, with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay, and economy segments. We’re the hotel company for those who choose to bet on themselves – the underdog, the dreamer, the entrepreneur – because that’s who we are, too.

At Choice, we are united by the simple belief that tomorrow will be even better than today – for associates, our company, and our franchisees. At our worldwide corporate headquarters in North Bethesda, MD and St. Louis Park, MN as well as our technology center in Scottsdale, AZ, and through our associates around the globe, every voice is heard, and every idea is listened to, no matter what area of the company they come from. We are united in supporting the entrepreneurial dreams of our more than 18,000 franchise owners, which propels us forward – giving our work at Choice a purpose larger than our business.

Ability to model Choice’s Cultural Values: Welcome and Respect Everyone, Be Bold, Be Quick, Listen, Be Curious and Show Integrity.