Lead Quality Engineer

RBC; Toronto; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total rewards program

Professional development

Job summary

RBC in Toronto seeks a Lead Quality Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on testing across cloud platforms, Python, SQL Server, Snowflake, and ETL pipelines. You will mentor QE teammates, define testing strategies, and drive automation and CI/CD adoption across multi‑platform applications.

You will collaborate with developers, product owners, and architects to establish quality gates, perform data validation, and advance AI/ML testing within a banking context.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of QA/QE with progressive responsibility and leadership experience.
• 3+ years of leading quality engineering teams or mentoring others.
• Expert Python for test automation, ETL data validation, and data pipelines.
• Advanced SQL Server skills for complex queries and testing.
• Experience designing scalable test automation architectures for enterprise apps.
• Strong RESTful API and microservices testing know-how.
• Experience testing AI/ML-powered applications, including prompt/response validation.

Responsibilities

• Mentor a team of Quality Engineers and drive QE strategy.
• Architect scalable test frameworks and CI/CD pipelines.
• Lead automation development for Web, API, Backend, and ETL tests.
• Define testing standards, gates, and acceptance criteria with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with developers, product owners, and architects to improve quality across platforms.
• Execute and oversee automated test execution, analyze results, and report metrics.

Skills

Python automation

SQL testing

ETL testing

Data validation

CI/CD

QA leadership

REST/microservices testing

AI/ML testing

Tools

GitHub Actions

qTest

Confluence

JIRA

Helios pipeline

Robotics Framework/Robot Framework

Job description

What is the opportunity?

The RBC Team is hiring for a Lead Quality Engineer role within the HR & CLAO IT/CRE Team. As a Lead Quality Engineer, you will be a technical leader and hands-on contributor responsible for driving quality excellence across complex applications and data platforms. You will lead quality engineering initiatives while remaining deeply involved in the technical execution of testing strategies across our technology stack, which spans Cloud platforms, Python, SQL Server, Snowflake, and ETL pipelines.

Job Description

In this role, you will provide technical leadership, mentor team members, and establish best practices for quality engineering and automation. You will be responsible for architecting scalable test frameworks, defining testing strategies, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions for cross-functional, multi-platform application systems. This position requires a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on technical expertise.

Leadership & Strategy

• Mentor a team of Quality Engineers, providing technical guidance and coaching
• Define and drive the overall QE strategy, testing standards, and best practices for the CRE portfolio; participate in capacity planning, resource allocation, and sprint planning activities
• Collaborate with development leads, product owners, and architects to establish quality gates and acceptance criteria
• Lead the evaluation, adoption, and implementation of AI/ML technologies in testing
• Drive adoption of new testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies to improve team efficiency

Hands-on Technical Execution

• Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade automation test frameworks for Web, Backend, API services, and ETL pipelines (Robot Framework, Python-based frameworks integrated with qTest and Helios pipeline)
• Architect and implement CI/CD pipelines with comprehensive test automation integration using Helios pipeline and GitHub Actions
• Write complex SQL queries and stored procedures for test data validation, data setup, and ETL testing across MS SQL Server and Snowflake environments
• Perform hands-on automation development for critical and complex test scenarios
• Lead technical troubleshooting of complex defects and testing blockers
• Validate data quality, integrity, and accuracy across multiple data sources and platforms
• Develop automated data validation frameworks for large-scale data movement and transformation processes

Collaboration & Innovation

• Leverage AI-powered tools such as GitHub Copilot and Helios Assist to accelerate automation development and enhance team productivity
• Partner with cross-functional teams including developers, business analysts, and DevOps engineers from project initiation through delivery
• Document and track defects using JIRA and Confluence, ensuring effective communication and timely resolution with stakeholders
• Execute and oversee automated test execution, analyze results, and provide quality metrics and insights to leadership
• Build strong relationships with business partners and stakeholders through effective communication and stakeholder management

What do you need to succeed?

Must Have

• 8+ years of experience in QA/QE with progressive responsibility and demonstrated leadership capabilities
• 3+ years of proven experience leading, mentoring, or managing quality engineering teams
• Expert-level proficiency in Python for test automation, ETL testing, and data validation scripting; hands-on knowledge of ETL processes, data pipelines, and data validation strategies (SSIS experience highly valued)
• Advanced SQL Server skills including complex queries, stored procedures, query optimization, and database testing
• Proven experience designing and implementing scalable test automation architectures for enterprise applications
• Strong understanding of RESTful API testing, microservices testing, and backend service validation
• Extensive experience with CI/CD and DevOps practices using GitHub, GitHub Actions, Helios, UCD, or similar tools
• Expert knowledge of QE processes, Testing Life Cycle, SDLC, and Agile methodologies
• Strong understanding of test management tools (qTest, JIRA, Confluence, Azure DevOps)
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with ability to influence and drive change
• Proven problem-solving abilities with strategic thinking and innovative approach to complex testing challenges
• Hands-on experience testing AI/ML-powered applications or GenAI/LLM-based features, including prompt/response validation, model output quality assessment, bias/hallucination detection, and non-deterministic behavior testing

Nice To Have

• Previous banking or financial services experience
• Snowflake testing and administration experience
• Experience with JCL and mainframe testing
• Knowledge of data warehousing concepts and dimensional modeling
• Experience with performance and load testing tools (JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar)
• Familiarity with AI/ML testing approaches
• Certifications in quality engineering or relevant technologies (ISTQB, AWS, Azure, etc.)
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Knowledge of security testing and compliance requirements

What's in it for you?

• A comprehensive Total Rewards Program including bonuses and flexible benefits, competitive compensation where applicable
• Leaders who support your development through coaching and managing opportunities
• Ability to make a difference and lasting impact
• Work in a dynamic, collaborative, progressive, and high-performing team
• A world-class training program in financial services
• Opportunities to do challenging work and solve complex problems
• Opportunities to take on progressively greater accountabilities and leadership roles
• Access to a variety of job opportunities across business and geographies
• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities

Job Skills

Agile Methodology, Agile Methodology, Application Testing, Automated Testing, Automation, Automation Development, Automation Integration, Database Structures, Database Testing, Decision Making, Detail-Oriented, ETL (Extract Transform Load) Testing, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Group Problem Solving, IT Quality Assurance, Long Term Planning, Microsoft SQL Server, Predictive Analytics, Programming Languages, Python (Programming Language), Regression Testing, Software Product Testing, Structured Query Language (SQL), Technical Knowledge {+ 2 more}

Additional Job Details

Address: RBC CENTRE, 155 WELLINGTON ST W:TORONTO

City: Toronto

Country: Canada

Work hours/week: 37.5

Employment Type: Full time

Platform: TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS

Job Type: Regular

Pay Type: Salaried

Our Employment Opportunities

At RBC, we are guided by living shared values of Client First, Integrity, Collaboration, Respect and Excellence and winning together as One RBC. We believe an inclusive workplace that has diverse perspectives is core to our continued growth as one of the largest and most successful banks in the world. Maintaining a workplace where our employees feel supported to perform at their best, effectively collaborate, drive innovation, and grow professionally helps to bring our Purpose to life and create value for our clients and communities. RBC strives to deliver this through policies and programs intended to foster a workplace based on respect, belonging and opportunity for all.