Quality Assurance Contractor

We are seeking an experienced Quality Assurance (QA) Contractor to lead and execute end-to-end verification and validation (V&V) activities for medium-to-large, complex initiatives. This role is responsible for ensuring software solutions meet business, functional, technical, and quality requirements while supporting organizational SDLC governance and quality standards.

The ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in requirements analysis, risk-based test planning, test design and execution, defect management, traceability, and release quality assessment, and will work closely with business and technical teams to ensure quality is built into the delivery process.

Key Responsibilities

* Lead and execute end-to-end software verification and validation (V&V) activities.

* Perform requirements analysis to ensure clarity, completeness, testability, and traceability.

* Define and execute risk-based test strategies, plans, and test cases.

* Perform functional, integration, system, regression, and non-functional testing.

* Manage the defects lifecycle, including documentation, triage, verification, and closure.

* Maintain end-to-end traceability between requirements, test cases, and defects.

* Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) planning and execution with business stakeholders.

* Use QA and test management tools to ensure consistent and auditable testing practices.

* Track, analyze, and report quality metrics and provide input to release readiness decisions.

* Contribute to QA process improvement and standardization efforts.

* Provide mentoring and quality leadership to other QA team members as needed.

* Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Requirements & Qualifications

* 5-10+ years of progressive experience in software testing and quality assurance, supporting medium to large-scale and complex systems or initiatives.

* Strong working knowledge of software quality assurance principles, verification and validation (V&V) concepts, risk-based testing methodologies, and industry best practices.

* Demonstrated ability to independently plan and execute QA activities across the SDLC, including support of complex or high-impact initiatives.

* Proven experience in requirements analysis and traceability, test strategy and planning, test design, test execution, and defect lifecycle management.

* Solid understanding of IT and quality governance disciplines, including project management and SDLC governance, change and release management, quality risk identification and mitigation, validation of service level objectives (SLOs) and acceptance criteria

* Hands-on experience using test management, defect tracking, and QA lifecycle tools (e.g., ALM/Quality Center, Jira, or similar).

* Strong SQL and data analysis skills for data validation, reconciliation, and defect root cause analysis.

* Experience with test automation tools and frameworks, and the ability to incorporate automation into overall testing strategies (hands-on or strategic, depending on seniority).

* Experience working in structured, controlled, or enterprise environments with formal SDLC and quality governance processes.

Skills and abilities

* Ability to mentor other QA staff, review test artifacts, and provide guidance on testing techniques, approaches, and quality standards.

* Experience contributing to or leading QA process improvement, standardization, and testing maturity initiatives.

* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and systems-thinking skills

* Excellent documentation, communication, and stakeholder collaboration skills

* Ability to work independently and across multiple initiatives

* Strong attention to detail with a risk-based and business-focused mindset