Quality Assurance Technical Manager

Image Sensing Systems, Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Image Sensing Systems, Inc. is seeking a Technical QA Manager to lead and scale its QA team during a modernization phase.

You will manage three QA engineers and an intern, hands-on architecting test frameworks, and drive unified testing standards across hardware-adjacent embedded platforms, legacy C++ desktop software, and React/Cloud APIs. The role blends people leadership with hands-on testing—designing Playwright automation, defining DoD, and integrating QA into Azure Pipelines for faster,

Qualifications

• 8+ years of hands-on QA engineering experience in software/hardware production environments.
• 1–2 years in a lead or player-coach role.
• Mastery of Playwright for web/API automation testing and Azure DevOps (Test Plans, Boards, Pipelines).
• Hybrid testing mastery across hardware/embedded and cloud-based software ecosystems.
• Experience navigating legacy C++ codebases and manual scripting for legacy software.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of QA engineers and an intern, with weekly 1-on-1s and performance reviews.
• Govern QA via centralized test plans, test suites, and execution tracking in Azure DevOps.
• Define DoD, risk-based testing strategies, and bug-triage workflows.
• Integrate QA into the agile development lifecycle with cross-functional partners.
• Design, build, and maintain a Playwright automation framework for React frontends and APIs.
• Define strategies for Hardware-in-the-Loop testing and embedded hardware validation.
• Own test strategies for legacy C++ software in Azure DevOps and modernize the test system.
• Embed Playwright test suites into Azure Pipelines for faster release cycles.

Skills

8+ years QA experience

Leadership experience

Problem solving

Education

B.S./M.S. in Computer Engineering/CS/Physics

Experience in hardware/embedded testing

Tools

Playwright

Azure DevOps

C++ familiarity

Job description

At Image Sensing Systems, we develop intelligent solutions that help transportation agencies better understand and manage what’s happening on their roadways. By turning complex traffic data into clear, actionable insights, our technology supports safer intersections, smoother travel, and more responsive infrastructure. By connecting hardware, software, and data, we help communities create safer, more efficient ways for people to travel every day.

We’re a team that values practical innovation, curiosity, and impact. Engineers here don’t just write code—they shape systems that operate in complex, real-world environments and directly influence how communities function every day. If you’re motivated by solving meaningful problems at scale and want to see your work deployed where it truly matters, you’ll find both challenge and purpose here.

Role Overview:

As ISS undergoes an exciting phase of growth and modernization, we are expanding and restructuring our engineering functions. We are seeking a Technical QA Manager to lead, stabilize, and scale our newly restructured Quality Assurance department. Reporting directly to the Director of Engineering, you will operate as a "Player-Coach." You will assume management of a newly formed team of three QA engineers and an intern (currently being recruited in parallel) while remaining deeply hands-on—architecting modern test frameworks, writing automation code, and establishing unified testing standards.

Our ecosystem bridges multiple eras and technologies. You will drive quality across three distinct pillars: hardware-adjacent embedded platforms, legacy C++ desktop software, and modern React/Cloud API ecosystems.

Logistics:

• Location: Minneapolis, MN

What You Will Do:

People & Technical Leadership (The “Coach”: 50%)

• Team Leadership: Manager, mentor, and foster high performance across an ambitious team of 3 QA engineers and an intern (domestic and international), conducting weekly 1-on-1s, tracking career development, and managing performance evaluations.
• Azure DevOps Governance: Architect and manage the centralized repository for test plans, test suites, and manual execution tracking inside Azure Test Plans.
• QA Governance: Establish testing methodologies, definition of done (DoD), bug-triage workflows, and risk-based testing strategies from the ground up.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner with the Director of Engineering, the Technical Software Manager, and the Scrum Master team to integrate QA seamlessly into the agile development lifecycle.

Architecture & Automation Execution (The “Player”: 50%)

• Playwright Automation: Design, build, and maintain a scalable end-to-end automation framework using Playwright for React frontends and cloud-hosted APIs.
• Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Testing: Collaboratively define strategies for testing embedded hardware platforms, incorporating physical device state validation and firmware verification.
• Legacy C++ Test Ownership: Own the exploratory and manual regression protocols for legacy C++ software in Azure DevOps, leading the strategy to maintain and modernize the test system to prevent deployment regressions.
• CI/CD Integration: Partner with the Technical Software Manager to embed Playwright automated test suites directly into Azure Pipelines to achieve faster, safer release loops.

What We Are Looking For:

• Education: B.S. or M.S. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a closely related technical field.
• Experience: 8+ years of professional hands-on QA Engineering experience in a software and hardware production environment including 1-2 years in a lead, supervisor, or player-coach management role.
• Tools: Mastery of Playwright for web/API automation testing and deep familiarity with Azure DevOps (Test Plans, Boards, and Pipelines)
• Hybrid Testing Mastery: Proven track record managing QA for complex ecosystems that involve both physical hardware/embedded devices and cloud-based software.
• Legacy Systems Literacy: Comfortable reading or navigating C++ source code repositories with experience writing precise manual scripts for legacy software.
• Leadership Mindset: Strong emotional intelligence with the ability to manage a small team, run 1-on-1s, and handle administrative management tasks without losing your technical edge.
• Growth Mindset: Proactive problem solver who continually evaluates modern tools and methodologies to elevate team performance and committed to fostering a blameless post-mortem culture for positive team evolution.

Physical Demands:

Should be able to work comfortably in a typical office environment. Some minor lifting may be required. Should be able to travel nationally and internationally (< 5%).

Additional Information:

Essential position functions and education and experience are representative of the minimum levels of education, experience and skills required to perform the vital duties of this position. The position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Image Sensing Systems, Inc. reserves the right to revise or change essential position functions and/or required duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.