Manager SQA Engineering

Kaiser Permanente; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaiser Permanente seeks an Experienced QA/UAT leader to oversee testing across complex, integrated applications, drive test planning, risk management, and release readiness. You will manage QA teams, coach staff, and partner with Product, IT, and business stakeholders to align testing with strategic objectives.

The role emphasizes establishing quality standards, governance, metrics, and scalable testing practices in a matrixed environment, while guiding cross-functional teams through SIT, UAT,

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelors degree in CS/CIS or related field with minimum six years in SQA/testing.
• Experience leading QA/UAT across multiple applications and teams.
• Strong knowledge of testing strategies, governance, metrics, and release readiness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow QA/UAT teams, coaching and performance management.
• Coordinate test planning, execution, risk management, and dependency alignment.
• Oversee test metrics, reports, and governance across SIT, UAT, performance testing, and automation.
• Collaborate with Product, IT, PMO, and business stakeholders to align testing with business goals.
• Ensure adherence to Kaiser testing standards and entry/exit criteria.
• Drive continuous improvement and quality assurance governance in a matrixed environment.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic Thinking

Problem Solving

Team Building

Attention to Detail

Risk Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Change Management

Decision Making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, CIS, or related field

Tools

Job description

Job Summary

Experienced QA/UAT leader with a strong background in people management, quality assurance, user acceptance testing, and test delivery across complex, integrated applications and business initiatives. Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing QA teams while overseeing test planning, execution, risk management, dependency coordination, and release readiness across multiple applications and organizational stakeholders. Skilled at building trusted partnerships with Product Managers, Business Leaders, Development Teams, PMO, and Technology organizations to align testing strategies with business objectives and drive successful project outcomes. Experienced in establishing quality standards, testing best practices, governance frameworks, performance metrics, and consistent operating processes within matrixed environments. Strong communicator and collaborative decision-maker with the ability to influence stakeholders, manage competing priorities, navigate organizational change, and drive continuous improvement while balancing strategic objectives with day-to-day operational execution.

This position manages the alignment of all test plans and timelines with cross-functional project/program milestones. This role leads teams in understanding business plans and translating them into tactical action items. In addition, this position drive the evolution of the enterprise cyber security architecture program by working with various information security groups, enterprise architects, and business stakeholders to define the security architecture function to support KPs strategic business direction and priorities. This position also collaborates with key stakeholders to obtain consensus on roadmaps to jointly mitigate security risks.

Essential Responsibilities

• Manages individuals and/or teams in designated work unit by translating business plans into tactical action items; ensuring all policies and procedures are followed; delegating tasks to meet goals and objectives; overseeing the completion of work assignments; aligning team efforts; building accountability for and measuring progress in achieving results; identifying and addressing improvement opportunities; removing obstacles that impact performance; and guiding performance and developing contingency plans accordingly.
• Pursues professional growth and provides developmental opportunities for others by soliciting and acting on performance feedback; building collaborative, cross-functional relationships; training and developing talent for growth opportunities; delegating tasks and decisions; fostering open dialogue amongst team members; supporting execution of performance management guidelines and expectations; and working closely with employees to set goals and provide open feedback and coaching to drive performance improvement.
• Reviews project status and milestone reports, provides justification and first-level authorization for exceptions and waivers, and meets with IT and business stakeholders to address contingency plans as appropriate.
• Ensures quality assurance projects are appropriately staffed, work plans are followed, and milestones are met.
• Ensures quality metrics are tracked across testing phases (e.g., SIT, Performance, UAT, Automation, Production, Validation).
• Develops a network of partnerships with cross-functional enterprise IT and business leaders to support the review and approval of testing approaches.
• Oversees and addresses critical issues, dependencies, and risks related to testing.
• Manages and oversees the adherence of entry and exit criteria according to Kaiser testing standards.
• Initiates and evaluates required business process improvements in order to achieve business results and appropriate solutions for customers.
• Publishes and reviews scheduled reports (e.g., test execution, defects, ad hoc reports) with IT and business leadership.
• Oversees and ensures the development of test scenarios and execution of test cases meet established standards across all testing phases (e.g., SIT, Performance, UAT, Automation, Production, Validation).
• Manages the review and validation of testable business processes, test data, and test environment requirements.
• Oversees the development and takes accountability for the quality assurance (QA) test strategies, methodologies, and standard processes for IT initiatives in assigned area by reviewing the results of business and technology requirements analyses to verify testability and traceability.
• Manages the alignment of all test plans and timelines with cross-functional project/program milestones.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Core)

• Ambiguity/Uncertainty Management
• Attention to Detail
• Business Knowledge
• Communication
• Constructive Feedback
• Critical Thinking
• Cross-Group Collaboration
• Decision Making
• Dependability
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Support
• Drives Results
• Facilitation Skills
• Health Care Industry
• Influencing Others
• Integrity
• Leadership
• Learning Agility
• Organizational Savvy
• Problem Solving
• Short- and Long-term Learning & Recall
• Strategic Thinking
• Team Building
• Teamwork
• Topic-Specific Communication

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (Functional)

• Application Testing
• Conflict Resolution
• Delegation
• Demonstrating Personal Flexibility
• Getting Work Done Through Others
• Hardware/Software Quality Assurance Oversight
• IT Quality Assurance
• Innovative Mindset
• Key Performance Indicators
• Managing Diverse Relationships
• Mentoring and Coaching
• Organizational Skills
• Prioritization
• Relationship Building
• Software Quality Assurance and Testing
• System Testing

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum four (4) years IT experience working across multiple IT domains and business units in a corporate setting.
• Minimum two (2) years in a leadership role working with technical teams.
• Minimum two (2) years experience with operating budgets and/or project financials.
• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, CIS, or related field and Minimum six (6) years experience in SQA, software testing or related field. Additional equivalent work experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years supervisory experience.
• Two (2) years of work experience in a role requiring interaction with senior leadership (e.g., Director level and above)