Lead Manual QA Engineer

Ciklum is looking for a Lead Manual QA Engineer to join our team full-time in the US or located in a time zone that supports a working schedule of 11 am to 8 pm ET.

We are a custom product engineering company that supports both multinational organizations and scaling startups to solve their most complex business challenges. With a global team of over 4,000 highly skilled developers, consultants, analysts and product owners, we engineer technology that redefines industries and shapes the way people live.

About the role:

As a Lead Manual QA Engineer, you'll join the QA leadership team within a 300+ member SAFe program and partner closely with the QA Head in driving QA strategy and execution. This role serves as the primary US-based QA leader and acts as backup for the QA Head.

This role requires working 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET, regardless of location.

The Lead Quality Assurance works closely with cross-functional and globally distributed teams to ensure consistent quality practices, enable continuous improvement, and support high-quality delivery across technical platforms. While this role does not include direct management of QA resources, it requires strong leadership presence, independent decision-making, and the ability to effectively engage with partner teams and senior leaders.

In urgent after-hours situations, the Lead Quality Assurance may be required to step in as a hands-on tester to ensure delivery continuity and protect platform quality.

Responsibilities:

Software Testing:

• Proven background in designing and developing test strategies using best practices and patterns
• Experience with setting up test plan for small, big, multi-stream commercial projects
• High proficiency in testing documentation creation and any testing type execution

Technologies and Tools:

• Experience in most of the testing standard tools for testing (API, Proxy, Mobile, Automation, Bug Tracking, Test Management, Queues, etc.) and database administration (SQL, NoSQL)

SDLC:

• Master proficiency in Agile Methodologies, able to drive and improve any activity according to selected methodology (such as daily meetings, planning, estimation, retrospective, etc.)
• Experience in any Agile artifact implementation (e.g. SCRUM board, Burndown Chart, etc.)
• In-depth proficiency in the estimation of activities related to testing

Requirements:

• Support the QA Head in defining, refining, and enforcing QA strategies, standards, and best practices across the SAFe program
• Ensure consistent application of quality processes across Scrum teams, including functional, regression, automation, performance, and integration testing
• Identify quality risks early and drive effective mitigation strategies
• Collaborate with RTEs, Product Managers, Product Owners, and Scrum Masters to integrate quality into PI planning and team ceremonies
• Track and communicate testing progress, risks, dependencies, and quality metrics to stakeholders
• Assist in resource planning and workload distribution across QA teams
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and process optimization within the SAFe environment
• Develop and maintain dashboards and KPIs to measure product health, defect trends, and testing effectiveness
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to improve product quality and delivery predictability
• Collaborate with QA Leads to understand team development needs and support the ongoing reinforcement of a quality-first mindset
• Coordinate defect triage activities and facilitate cross-functional discussions
• Support release readiness assessments and ensure quality gates are met before deployment
• Establishes process of Requirements Analysis and Requirements Traceability Matrix creation
• Administrates Test Management and Bug Tracking tools

Desirable:

Software Testing:

• Experience in using CI/CD tools (Git commands) and debugging proxy tools (Fiddler, CharlesProxy, etc)
• Mobile projects: Master proficiency in Mobile Testing best practices, Mobile Testing Types, Mobile App Distribution Tools, and Mobile Test Strategy development
• Automation projects: Master proficiency in Introduction of Automation test approach, Test cases for Automation creation, Automation Test Reports analysis, Automation metrics gathering
• Cloud projects: Master proficiency in test data migration and Queues testing process establishment

What`s in it for you?

• Strong community: Work alongside top professionals in a friendly, open-door environment
• Growth focus: Take on large-scale projects with a global impact and expand your expertise
• Tailored learning: Boost your skills with internal events (meetups, conferences, workshops), Udemy access, language courses, and company-paid certifications
• Endless opportunities: Explore diverse domains through internal mobility, finding the best fit to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies
• Care: Healthcare, Basic Life Insurance, Short and Long-term disability insurance according to the Company’s Benefit Plans

About us:

At Ciklum, we are always exploring innovations, empowering each other to achieve more, and engineering solutions that matter. With us, you’ll work with cutting-edge technologies, contribute to impactful projects, and be part of a One Team culture that values collaboration and progress. In the US, Ciklum is growing fast—inviting experienced professionals to lead digital transformation alongside Fortune 500 clients. Be part of a company where innovation and impact go hand in hand.

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Explore, empower, engineer with Ciklum!

Interested already? We would love to get to know you! Submit your application. We can’t wait to see you at Ciklum.