Quality Assurance Lead

Realtime Recruitment Limited; Dublin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Realtime Recruitment Limited is seeking an experienced QA Lead to coordinate and elevate quality assurance across multiple software projects. You will work closely with Engineering, Product, Development and Business teams to embed quality throughout the lifecycle.

You will drive continuous improvement in testing processes, tools and ways of working while supporting and developing the QA team. A key part is guiding teams through change, adopting new approaches, and delivering meaningful

Qualifications

• 10+ years' experience in software testing and quality assurance.
• 5+ years in a QA Lead, Test Lead, Test Manager or similar leadership role.
• Proven track record of implementing change within a QA or software delivery environment.
• Experience with large, complex technology environments, including legacy and business-critical systems.
• Strong knowledge of software testing principles, test automation, test management and quality governance.
• Familiarity with automation tools such as Playwright and Xray is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA activities across multiple projects, including legacy and monolithic systems.
• Drive changes to QA processes, tools, testing strategies and ways of working.
• Challenge established approaches and identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, coverage and quality.
• Explore and introduce modern testing approaches, including AI-assisted testing and enhanced automation.
• Support the automation strategy, with exposure to Playwright and test management tools such as Xray.
• Define and implement testing strategies, quality frameworks and risk-based testing practices.
• Promote Shift Left testing, continuous testing and quality engineering across the software delivery lifecycle.
• Work closely with stakeholders to build support for change and ensure successful adoption.
• Lead, mentor and develop QA team members, fostering capability development and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Oversee test planning, execution, defect management, risk and quality governance across projects.

Skills

QA leadership

Software testing

Test automation

CI/CD

Stakeholder management

QA strategy

Change management

Agile / Waterfall

Quality governance

AI in testing

Tools

Playwright

Xray

Cypress

RFT

QTP

TestComplete

Job description

As QA Lead, you will lead and coordinate quality assurance activities across multiple projects, working closely with Engineering, Product, Development and Business teams to embed quality throughout the software development lifecycle.

You will be responsible for driving continuous improvement across testing processes, tools and ways of working, while supporting and developing the QA team. A key part of the role will be bringing stakeholders and teams on the change journey, ensuring new approaches are adopted effectively and deliver meaningful improvements.

The organisation currently uses Playwright and Xray, and is looking for someone who is comfortable working with existing tools while remaining open to new technologies, automation approaches and the practical application of AI in testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead QA activities across multiple projects, including complex, business-critical legacy and monolithic systems.
• Drive and personally implement changes to QA processes, tools, testing strategies and ways of working.
• Challenge established approaches and identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, coverage and quality.
• Explore and introduce modern testing approaches, including AI-assisted testing and enhanced automation.
• Support the ongoing development of the automation strategy, with exposure to Playwright and test management tools such as Xray.
• Define and implement testing strategies, quality frameworks and risk-based testing practices.
• Promote Shift Left testing, continuous testing and quality engineering principles across the software delivery lifecycle.
• Work closely with technical and business stakeholders to build support for change and ensure successful adoption.
• Lead, mentor and develop QA team members, supporting capability development and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Oversee test planning, execution, defect management, risk and quality governance across projects.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years' experience in software testing and quality assurance.
• 5+ years' experience in a QA Lead, Test Lead, Test Manager or similar leadership role.
• Demonstrable experience of personally implementing change within a QA or software delivery environment.
• A track record of introducing new processes, tools or testing approaches and driving their adoption.
• Experience working with large, complex technology environments, including legacy and business-critical systems.
• Strong knowledge of software testing principles, test automation, test management and quality governance.
• Experience with automation tools such as Playwright, Cypress, RFT, QTP, TestComplete or similar technologies.
• Familiarity with test management tools such as Xray.
• An open and adaptable mindset, with an interest in AI-assisted testing and emerging technologies.
• Understanding of Agile and Waterfall delivery, Shift Left testing, continuous testing and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing QA teams.

What Will Set You Apart?

You'll be someone who doesn't simply maintain the status quo. You will have examples of change you have personally driven, from identifying opportunities for improvement to implementing new approaches and bringing people along with you.

You are comfortable working within legacy environments but understand the importance of evolving testing practices. You're curious about what AI and new technologies can offer, willing to challenge established thinking and focused on turning ideas into practical improvements.