Quality Assurance Lead

Location: Chicago, ILDuration: 6+ Months ContractJ ob Summary :We are seeking an experienced QA Lead to support Broker Copilot POD(s) within a Reinsurance Solutions environment. The ideal candidate will bring strong manual testing leadership experience, hands-on collaboration skills, and the ability to coordinate testing activities across Agile teams. This role requires close engagement with business stakeholders, developers, product owners, and QA team members to ensure high-quality releases across multiple environments.Requirements:10+ years of overall QA/testing experience4+ years of experience leading QA teams consisting of manual and automation testersMinimum 6 months of automation testing experience (Playwright preferred)Strong manual testing expertiseExperience with API testingStrong SQL query experienceSolid understanding of SDLC and Agile methodologiesExperience with TFS / Azure DevOps or similar workflow management toolsExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to work independently with minimal supervisionStrong analytical and strategic thinking skillsResponsibilities:QA Leadership & DeliveryLead QA activities for assigned Broker Copilot POD(s)Serve as the primary QA point of contact for respective POD(s)Provide regular updates on QA risks, accomplishments, dependencies, and key watchlist itemsFacilitate communication and collaboration across QA team membersConduct weekly checkpoint meetings with QA resourcesEnsure active QA participation during Scrum ceremonies and team eventsTest Planning & ExecutionReview and analyze features, requirements, and user stories to ensure complete understanding of deliverablesIdentify test requirements from specifications and business documentationDesign and maintain comprehensive test cases and test scenarios for functional and regression testingExecute manual test cases and validate deliverables against functional and design specificationsPerform API testing and validate backend integrationsConduct post-release and post-production testing as requiredMaintain regression test suites and testing documentationCollaboration & Release CoordinationWork closely with Developers, Business Analysts, Product Owners, and Scrum teams to resolve issuesParticipate in release planning, coordination, and testing activitiesRepresent the QA team during release management meetings, including:Release Finalization MeetingsRelease Readiness MeetingsMonthly and ad-hoc release discussionsProvide QA signoff for QA, Pre-Production, and Post-Production testing phasesEnsure adequate testing coverage for production deploymentsMaintain and update release deployment listsProcess & Quality StandardsAdhere to established QA processes, procedures, and standardsAct as Subject Matter Expert for QA processes and best practicesProvide mentorship and guidance to QA team membersIdentify obstacles early and proactively communicate risks to avoid project delays.Preferred Qualifications:Experience in Reinsurance domain/projectsAgile Certification and/or formal Agile trainingExposure to enterprise-scale release management environmentsExperience coordinating cross-functional QA activities in POD-based delivery models26-00521