Test Lead

About the Job
This role provides expert guidance and consultation to support key business initiatives and ensure successful adoption of technology solutions. The Test Lead is accountable for overall results, quality outcomes, and sustained adoption across assigned initiatives.
You will partner closely with business and technology teams to define work structures, allocate resources, manage dependencies, and ensure high-quality delivery. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will help stakeholders understand how initiatives fit into the broader strategy, address challenges early, and drive organizational change. This role blends test leadership, consulting, and change management to deliver meaningful business impact.
What You'll Do

• Partner with business stakeholders and advisors to understand operational needs and client engagement, ensuring testing strategies support adoption and user experience.

• Provide consultation on testing strategy, quality standards, and end-to-end validation approaches for priority initiatives.

• Lead testing efforts by defining scope, test plans, dependencies, and execution strategies across cross-functional teams.

• Drive change management and adoption practices by applying structured methodologies to improve consistency and effectiveness across initiatives.

• Analyze feedback from the field and stakeholders to identify quality risks and incorporate insights into testing and automation strategies.

• Collaborate with technology partners to assess the impact of proposed solutions and ensure testing coverage aligns with business outcomes.

• Evaluate industry trends and best practices to inform testing approaches, quality improvements, and future-state experiences.

• Serve as an advocate for clients and business partners, ensuring solutions are well-tested, reliable, and aligned to strategic goals.

What You'll Bring to the Role

• Advanced degree in Business, Finance, Technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in a consulting, quality, testing, or technology leadership role, ideally within financial services or a complex distribution environment.

• Experience aligning testing and delivery efforts to enterprise strategy and large-scale initiatives.

• Strong leadership and influence skills, with the ability to guide teams and stakeholders without direct authority.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strong analytical skills with experience using data and metrics to drive quality and adoption decisions.

• Proven experience working cross-functionally with business, technology, and operations partners.

Skills You Have

• Holds self and others accountable for high-quality, timely, and cost-effective delivery. Sets priorities, delegates effectively, and takes ownership of outcomes.

• Translates complex technical and testing concepts into clear, actionable messages for diverse audiences, bridging business and technology teams.

• Designs and leads test strategies, plans, and methodologies to validate functional, integration, and performance requirements across systems.

• Defines and guides test automation frameworks and approaches, partnering with teams to improve efficiency, coverage, and reliability.

• Collaborates across functions to align testing efforts with shared goals, timelines, and dependencies.

• Builds credibility and influences decisions by understanding organizational needs, client impact, and the broader business context.

• Continuously learns, evaluates emerging practices, and applies critical thinking to improve testing processes and outcomes.

Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$118,960.00
Pay Range - End:
$178,440.00
Geographic Specific Pay Structure:
Structure 110:
Structure 115:
We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more.
Job Posting End Date:
The timeline for this job posting may be shortened or extended based on organizational needs.
Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now!
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.
Skills
Customer Centricity (NM) - Advanced, Strategic Thinking (NM) - Advanced, Cross Functional Partnering & Planning (NM) - Advanced, CI/CD Processes (NM) - Advanced, Talent Development & Planning (NM) - Intermediate, Accountability (NM) - Advanced, Agile Methodology (NM) - Advanced, Business Influence (NM) - Intermediate, Software Test Engineering (NM) - Expert, Analytical Thinking (NM) - Expert, Application Domain (NM) - Advanced, Strategic Vision & Planning (NM) - Intermediate, Automation Strategy & Implementation (NM) - Expert, Adaptive Communication (NM) - Expert, Learning Agility & Critical Thinking (NM) - Advanced, Programming Languages (NM) - Advanced
FIND YOUR FUTURE
We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups