Sr. Manager, Cloud and AI QA

Patterson Companies, Inc.; Arizona; Remote; USD 123,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

Patterson Companies, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager, IT Quality Assurance to lead the software QA function, define quality strategies, and drive testing and validation across products, cloud, integrations, and AI capabilities.

The role partners with Engineering, Product, and cross-functional teams to establish risk-based testing, automate quality practices, and ensure production readiness through measurable quality metrics and governance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/SE or equivalent.
• 10 years in software quality assurance or related field.
• 5 years of leadership/people management experience.
• Experience with cloud-based apps and AI-enabled solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead QA, testing, and validation strategies across software products.
• Develop quality strategies and risk-based testing aligned to business goals.
• Oversee user acceptance, alpha/beta testing, and defect resolution.
• Provide visibility into testing progress, risks, and quality metrics.
• Drive test automation and modern quality engineering practices.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and documentation for quality records.

Skills

Quality assurance

Leadership

Stakeholder management

AI-enabled solutions

CI/CD

Cloud technologies

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/SE

Tools

Automation tools

CI/CD tools

Cloud platforms

Job description

Date Last Edited: 10/19/2026 4:26:39 PM

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, IT Quality Assurance is responsible for leading the software quality assurance function, establishing quality strategies, leading testing and validation efforts, developing team capabilities, and partnering across the organization to deliver reliable, high-quality software solutions. This role leads teams and influences enterprise quality practices helping evolve quality practices to support future product, cloud, integration, and AI capabilities.

Essential Functions

• Lead software quality assurance, testing, and validation strategies ensuring software and technology solutions meet business requirements, quality standards, and end-user expectations
• Develop and oversee quality strategies and risk-based testing approaches aligned with business objectives, ensuring new software solutions meet functional requirements, technical specifications, compliance standards, and integration expectations across the development lifecycle
• Oversee user acceptance testing, alpha testing, beta testing, and defect resolution activities to ensure testing is completed, documented, and successfully supports production readiness
• Lead quality oversight for software releases by providing visibility into testing progress, quality metrics, risks, defects, and areas requiring remediation to support informed release decisions
• Drive the adoption of test automation, modern quality engineering practices, and shared accountability for quality to improve testing effectiveness and efficiency
• Define and implement appropriate quality assurance and validation approaches for new technologies and AI-enabled capabilities while balancing risk, regulatory, and business requirements
• Ensure quality assurance processes and testing activities comply with organizational standards, applicable regulations, and recognized quality frameworks, including completion of applicable documentation and controls, regulatory approval of quality records, while driving continuous process improvement
• Partner with Engineering, Product, and other cross-functional teams to identify risks, establish priorities, communicate progress, and improve overall product quality
• Analyze application documentation, technical specifications, and vendor solutions to assess functionality, evaluate suitability, and provide quality-focused recommendations for software and system selection; drive effective vendor contract and sourcing administration
• Establish and integrate quality metrics to understand trends, measure effectiveness, and identify opportunities for improvement
• Comply with Company and department policies and standards; performs other duties as assigned

People Management

• Accountable for team staffing and managing direct reports to include development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties
• Ensures direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and Company’s Code of Conduct to maintain a supportive and productive working environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 10 years of relevant experience in software quality assurance, software testing, or quality engineering, including experience within the area of expertise
• 5 years of leadership or people management experience
• Experience supporting quality assurance for cloud-based applications and AI-enabled solutions

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with enterprise quality assurance programs within complex technology environments

Skills And Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of software quality assurance, testing methodologies, validation practices, quality governance, and the software development lifecycle to develop and implement strategies and standards that align with business objectives and drive continuous improvement
• Expertise in evaluating quality metrics, testing results, and risk indicators to assess release readiness, identify improvement opportunities, and inform decision-making
• Ability to lead quality modernization efforts, including shift-left testing, test automation, and shared ownership of quality across development teams
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence quality outcomes across cross-functional teams
• Ability to adapt quality approaches to emerging technologies, including AI-enabled solutions, while applying strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk-management skills
• Knowledge of automated testing tools, CI/CD practices, cloud technologies, APIs, integrations, and modern software development environments

Physical and Cognitive Demands

• Communicate/Hearing Frequently
• Communicate/Talking Frequently
• Learn New Tasks or Concepts Frequently
• Make Timely Decisions in the Context of a Workflow Frequently
• Complete Tasks Independently Constantly
• Maintain Focus Constantly
• Remember Processes & Procedures Constantly
• Stationary Position (Seated) Constantly
• Vision Constantly
• Hand/Eye Coordination Occasionally
• Bend Rarely
• Complete Tasks in a Noisy Environment Rarely
• Feeling/Grasping/Handling Rarely
• Move/Traverse Rarely
• Repetitive Motions Rarely

Working Environment

• Hazards Occasionally

Environmental Conditions

• Office: This position primarily operates in a professional office environment in which team members occupy desks in assigned areas or at meeting/collaboration spaces within the building. The building's primary work areas consist of desks, chairs, computers, and other office equipment and devices for professional services.
• Remote: This position primarily completes work from a remote setting, most commonly, a home office. This may be referenced as flexible workplace.

Travel Requirements

• This position requires occasional travel (up to 10%)

The potential compensation range for this role is below. The final offer amount could exceed this range, based on various factors such as candidate location (geographical labor market), experience, and skills. $123,200.00 - $164,333.33