Lead Software Quality Engineer

Prolaio; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Prolaio seeks a Backend Software Quality Engineering Lead to oversee validation of our cloud-based data platform. You will be a player-coach, balancing technical leadership with hands-on development of tests and strategies.

You will validate time-series data across BigQuery and Cassandra, ensure regulatory alignment for SaMD (ISO 13485, IEC 62304), and drive requirements into actionable verification plans while mentoring a small automation team.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in backend testing or software development with hands-on code contribution and team mentorship.
• Ability to write clean code and improve test automation frameworks (Python, Kotlin, or Java).
• Experience testing cloud-native services and API architectures.
• Expert SQL skills and validation of high-scale data environments (analytical warehouses, NoSQL).
• Proven ability to validate time-series data and complex data streams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of backend automation engineers while contributing to code and tests.
• Master and evolve the existing backend test frameworks for performance as cloud infra grows.
• Translate clinical needs into verifiable test plans with Product, Engineering, and Regulatory teams.
• Design strategies to validate large-scale data warehouses and NoSQL stores (BigQuery, Cassandra).
• Oversee V&V activities to meet SaMD standards (ISO 13485, IEC 62304).

Skills

Backend testing

Team leadership

Automation

Cloud backend testing

SQL

NoSQL

Time-series data validation

Requirements analysis

Tools

Python

Java

Kotlin

CI/CD

BigQuery

Cassandra

Job description

What Will You Do?

The Overview

The Backend Software Quality Engineering Lead will oversee and actively contribute to the validation and verification of our cloud-based data platform. In this role, you will act as a true player-coach—balancing technical leadership, team mentorship, and direct individual contribution. You will be responsible for the integrity of our high-volume data pipelines and backend services, leading a small team of automation test engineers while also contributing to test case automation and executing test strategies.

This role is ideal for a technical leader who wants to guide a team and handle management responsibilities, but prefers to remain an active contributor rather than stepping into a pure management role. You must be ready to quickly adopt existing automation frameworks, identify opportunities for optimization, and drive the requirements-gathering process to ensure clinical safety in a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) environment.

The Specifics

• Hands-on Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, coach, and mentor a team of backend automation engineers by example. You will handle light management responsibilities (defining roadmaps, professional development) but will split your time between leadership and active technical contribution (writing test code, reviewing PRs, and executing tests).
• Active Framework Evolution: Quickly master and directly contribute code to our existing backend test frameworks. You will be hands-on in maintaining, scaling, and optimizing these tools, ensuring they remain performant as our cloud infrastructure evolves.
• Requirements Engineering: Act as a collaborative bridge between Product, Engineering, and Regulatory teams. You will use your experience to translate complex clinical needs into actionable, testable verification plans, actively writing test cases that ensure full feature coverage.
• Data & Analytics Validation: Design and execute strategies to validate large-scale analytical data warehouses and NoSQL storage layers (e.g., BigQuery, Cassandra). You will be personally responsible for verifying the accuracy of complex datasets, specifically focusing on the precision of time-series data.
• Regulatory Alignment: Oversee and participate in the verification (V&V) process to ensure our cloud services meet SaMD standards (e.g., ISO 13485, IEC 62304), ensuring automated testing provides the necessary evidence for regulatory compliance.

Why Prolaio?

• Impactful Work: You will join in the fight against heart failure (HF) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with the goal of extending and saving the lives of our patients while also being at the forefront of changing the healthcare industry through technology.
• Innovative Environment: You will be part of an organization doing something that’s never been done before.
• Professional Growth: You will join a growing team and have a substantial impact on our daily and future operations with the opportunity to continuously learn and grow.
• Collaborative Team: You will be part of a team of collaborative, curious, and committed individuals focused on the collective good, inclusiveness, scientific excellence, and advancing digital health for cardiology.

Who You Are?

• Technical Leadership: 8+ years in backend testing or software development, with a proven track record of blending hands-on technical contribution with team mentorship or formal lead experience. You prefer leading by example from within the code, rather than managing from a distance.
• Automation Mastery: Demonstrated ability to write clean code and improve existing automation frameworks (e.g., Python, Kotlin, or Java) while knowing when to build new components from scratch.
• Cloud Backend Expertise: Deep, practical experience testing cloud-native services and API architectures.
• Advanced Data Proficiency: Expert-level SQL skills and extensive practical experience validating high-scale data environments, including analytical warehouses and NoSQL databases.
• Temporal Data Experience: Proven ability to validate time-series data and complex data streams, ensuring consistency and integrity over time.
• Requirements & Design: Strong background in requirements engineering, with the ability to analyze a feature at the design stage and ensure it is architected for testability and safety.

Additional Qualifications (Nice to Haves)

• Previous experience in a regulated industry (Healthcare, MedTech, or BioTech).
• Familiarity with Risk Management (ISO 14971) as it informs test case prioritization.
• Experience with CI/CD integration and cloud monitoring/observability tools.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Meaningful Compensation: Competitive salary, performance bonus, and equity so you can share in what we build.
• Great Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans with multiple options and strong company contributions.
• Flexible Spending Perks: HSA, FSA, commuter benefits, and a $1,200 annual Lifestyle Spending Account to support wellness, commuting, family needs, and more.
• Time to Recharge: Generous paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays.
• Family-First Benefits: Paid parental leave, caregiver leave, and support for growing families.
• Security & Peace of Mind: Company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Plan for the Future: 401(k) plan to help you build long-term financial security.
• Care When You Need It: Easy access to telehealth and optional supplemental coverage for life’s unexpected moments.

Starting Salary is at $150,000.00 (Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location)