Sqa Manager

Datacolor; Italy; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Datacolor is seeking a Software Quality Manager to lead our QA Engineering team through a strategic transformation. The role focuses on minimizing manual testing by building an intelligent, AI‑driven automation ecosystem and integrating AI into QA workflows.

You will drive QA strategy for both legacy and greenfield applications, build an automation framework for web/API/backend testing, and ensure testability is embedded from day one. Hybrid role based in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in Software Quality Assurance with at least 3+ years in a people management or technical lead role.
• Hands-on automation framework experience from scratch (using Selenium or Playwright).
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language (Python, C#, or TypeScript) and ability to do code reviews.
• AI/ML in QA: applying AI to QA, e.g., test case generation or AI testing tools.
• CI/CD integration: expert level with GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of QA Engineers (Manual and Automation).
• Define the Quality Strategy for Legacy Systems and Greenfield Applications.
• Architect and implement a robust automation framework for web, API, and backend testing.
• Champion AI integration to create self-healing test scripts, automate test data generation, and visual regression testing.
• Build Intelligent Pipelines in CI/CD with Test Impact Analysis.
• Collaborate with Product Owners to translate requirements into testable acceptance criteria.
• Translate customer feedback into actionable test scenarios and ensure UAT reflects real-world usage.

Skills

QA Leadership

Automation Frameworks

Python

C#

TypeScript

AI in QA

CI/CD Integration

Selenium

Playwright

Tools

GitHub Actions

Azure DevOps

Job description

Datacolor, a global leader in color management solutions, provides software, instruments and services to improve the precision, performance and efficiency of your color workflow. We understand that details matter, and precise, consistent replication is essential. For more information, visit www.datacolor.com Looking for a forward-thinking Software Quality Manager to lead our QA Engineering team through a pivotal transformation.

Position Summary:

We manage a complex ecosystem comprising critical legacy applications and cutting-edge new products. We need a leader who can respect the stability of the past while aggressively architecting the future. You are not just a manager; you are a technical architect of quality. Your primary mandate is to minimize manual intervention by designing an intelligent, automated testing ecosystem. You will spearhead the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our SQA workflows to generate test cases, optimize pipelines, and predict failures before they reach production.

Strategic Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of QA Engineers (Manual and Automation) working across diverse tech stacks.
• Define the Quality Strategy for both Legacy Systems (maintenance, regression, stability) and Greenfield Applications (speed, agility, scalability).
• Foster a "Quality as Code" culture, bridging the gap between developers and QA.
• Architect and implement a robust automation framework that supports web, API, and backend testing.
• AI Integration: Champion the use of Generative AI and Machine Learning tools to create self-healing test scripts, automate test data generation, and perform visual regression testing.
• Build and maintain "Intelligent Pipelines" within our CI/CD environment (GitHub/Azure DevOps) that utilize AI to intelligently select and execute tests based on code changes (Test Impact Analysis).
• Partner deeply with Product Owners during the requirements phase. You will help "flesh out" complex use cases and acceptance criteria to ensure testability is baked in from day one.
• Ensure SQA team translates customer feedback and support tickets into actionable test scenarios. Ensure the team understands not just how the software works, but why the customer uses it.
• User Acceptance: Facilitate UAT phases that mimic real-world customer behaviors, ensuring our legacy updates and new features provide a seamless user experience.

Release Management & DevOps

• Pipeline Ownership: Manage the release process and ensure smooth CI/CD transitions from development to production.
• Environment Management: Oversee the stability and data integrity of staging, QA, and production environments in Azure.

Metrics & Reporting

• Define and track KPIs related to automation coverage, defect leakage, and release velocity.
• Utilize AI-driven analytics to identify patterns in defect data and predict potential hot spots in the codebase.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Experience: 7+ years in Software Quality Assurance with at least 3+ years in a people management or technical lead role.
• Automation Expertise: Deep, hands-on experience building automation frameworks from scratch (using tools like Selenium, or Playwright).
• Coding Skills: Proficiency in at least one scripting language (Python, C#, or TypeScript). You must be able to do code reviews for your team.
• AI/ML in QA: Proven experience or demonstrable knowledge in applying AI to QA (e.g., using LLMs for test case generation, Copilot for code assistance, or commercial AI testing tools).
• CI/CD Integration: expert-level understanding of integrating automated suites into build pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience managing QA for Monolithic to Microservices migrations.
• Familiarity with Containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud environments (AWS/Azure).
• Experience implementing Test Impact Analysis (TIA) to reduce regression cycle times.

The ideal candidate profile:

• The Hybrid: You are comfortable reading C++/Legacy code logs in the morning and writing Python scripts for an AI agent in the afternoon.
• The Automator: You believe that if a test has to be run twice, it should be automated.
• The Innovator: You are constantly researching how LLMs (Large Language Models) can revolutionize the SDLC and are eager to implement these findings.

Location:

This role is a hybrid role, based in our Reggio Emilia office, Italy.

Our Core Values:

Learn, understand and live the Datacolor Core Values of Customer Focus, Execution, Ownership, Teamwork, Learning, Ethics, and Passion.

Our Core Competences

We believe Communication, Adaptability and Problem Solving are core competencies that all our employees consistently demonstrate.

Salary Range:

Total compensation budget between € 60 ,000 - 80,000 gross per year.

Your Benefits:

• Want to work in a company focused on innovative color management solutions?
• Looking for flexibility and autonomy in a global and diverse company?
• Want to be able to make daily connections with people all over the globe?
• Do you want to work in an open and informal atmosphere where your personal input is valuable?

Datacolor is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Notice: Datacolor never asks for personal or financial information via social media and does not contact candidates through private messages on messaging platforms. All official recruitment communications are conducted through our corporate email addresses and career website.

Color management tools integrate technology, engineering, and innovation to digitize color for the world’s biggest brands. Discover more with Datacolor.