Test Automation Lead

Are you looking for your next challenge? Are you ready to work with a performance-based small company? At Zantech, we are a dynamic Woman Owned Small Business focused on providing complex, mission-focused solutions with a proven track record of outstanding customer performance and high employee satisfaction. We would love to talk with you regarding the next step in your career. Come join our team!Zantech is looking for a talented Test Automation Lead to contribute to the success of our upcoming Applied and Emerging Technology Support project for a Hybrid role based out of Camp Springs, MD.The Test Automation Lead provides strategic direction and hands-on leadership for all testing initiatives across USCIS OIT portfolios, including functional, performance, interoperability, and automated testing. This role drives the integration of testing automation into CI/CD pipelines, establishes reusable test frameworks, and ensures high-quality software delivery through comprehensive test coverage and rapid feedback mechanisms. The Test Automation Lead will work across multiple USCIS product teams to implement industry best practices in agile testing while bridging the gap between testing maturity levels across different systems.Responsibilities Include, But Will Not Be Limited ToTest Strategy & LeadershipDevelop and execute comprehensive test strategies aligned with USCIS product/portfolio objectivesLead test automation team of 10-15 QA engineers and test automation specialistsEstablish product-level and service-level testing standards across USCIS enterpriseDefine test coverage requirements for functional, performance, security, and accessibility testingCreate and maintain test automation roadmaps aligned with DevSecOps maturity goalsProvide technical guidance on testing best practices to USCIS development teamsTest Automation & CI/CD IntegrationDesign and implement automated test frameworks integrated into CI/CD pipelinesBuild reusable, maintainable test automation scripts across multiple USCIS systemsAutomate end-to-end integration testing across domains, systems, and servicesImplement continuous testing to provide quick feedback on anomalies and defectsEstablish automated regression test suites for critical business workflowsCreate self-service testing capabilities for USCIS delivery teamsOptimize test execution time and resource utilization in pipeline environmentsFunctional & Integration TestingDesign and execute end-to-end integration tests across multiple USCIS systemsVerify form types, business workflows, and cross-system data flowsCollaborate with development teams to ensure code testabilityPerform early identification of product defects and quality issuesCoordinate test data management strategies across environmentsValidate system integrations with external DHS and federal systemsPerformance TestingDesign and execute performance testing for USCIS systems handling millions of transactionsConduct load testing, stress testing, and scalability assessmentsIdentify performance bottlenecks in applications, databases, and infrastructureEstablish performance benchmarks and service level objectives (SLOs)Implement continuous performance testing in CI/CD pipelinesProvide diagnostic analysis and recommendations for performance optimizationInteroperability & Compatibility TestingVerify cross-system compatibility within USCIS enterprise architectureTest API integrations and data exchange between USCIS systemsValidate compatibility across browsers, devices, and operating systemsEnsure proper functioning of microservices and containerized applicationsTest against approved DHS/USCIS technology stack componentsCoordinate testing for multi-system business initiativesTest Automation Frameworks & ToolsSelect, implement, and maintain automated testing tools and frameworksEvaluate and integrate commercial and open-source testing solutionsBuild custom test harnesses for complex USCIS business logicImplement behavior-driven development (BDD) and test-driven development (TDD) practicesEstablish test reporting and analytics dashboardsIntegrate test management tools with USCIS enterprise platformsQuality Metrics & ReportingEstablish quality metrics and KPIs for USCIS products and portfoliosImplement automated reporting on test coverage, defect density, and pass ratesProvide continuous feedback to delivery teams on quality trendsTrack technical debt and quality degradation indicatorsPresent quality status and risk assessments to USCIS stakeholdersSupport data-driven decision making for release readinessEnd-User Testing FacilitationCoordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with USCIS business stakeholdersFacilitate product demonstrations to internal and external end-user communitiesManage feedback collection and defect tracking from end-user testingValidate business value delivery through testing with actual usersSupport USCIS field office and service center testing activitiesCollaboration & Process ImprovementWork closely with DevSecOps, Security, and Development teamsParticipate in Agile ceremonies and sprint planning activitiesIdentify and eliminate testing bottlenecks in delivery pipelinesChampion shift-left testing practices and early quality integrationPromote test automation culture and upskilling across USCIS teamsContribute to continuous improvement of USCIS SDLC processesRequired Experience Or Knowledge Of The Following Technologies/functionsExperience:Minimum 10 years of software testing and quality assurance experienceMinimum 5 years in test automation leadership rolesMinimum 3 years of federal government experience, preferably DHS or civilian agenciesDemonstrated experience with large-scale test automation initiativesExperience testing complex, multi-tier enterprise applicationsTrack record of integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelinesExperience with Agile/Scrum testing methodologiesTechnical Skills (Required):Expert-level proficiency with test automation frameworks:Selenium WebDriver, Cypress, Playwright, or similar for UI testingREST Assured, Postman/Newman, or similar for API testingJMeter, Gatling, or LoadRunner for performance testingStrong programming skills in at least two languages (Java, Python, JavaScript, C#)Experience with BDD frameworks (Cucumber, SpecFlow, Behave)Proficiency with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions)Experience with test management tools (TestRail, Zephyr, qTest, ALM)Knowledge of containerized testing environments (Docker, Kubernetes)Understanding of API testing, microservices testing patternsExperience with test data management and virtualizationProficiency with version control systems (Git) and branching strategiesTechnical Skills (Highly Desired):Experience with contract testing (Pact, Spring Cloud Contract)Knowledge of chaos engineering and resilience testingFamiliarity with accessibility testing tools (JAWS, NVDA, axe-core)Experience with mobile testing frameworks (Appium, Espresso, XCTest)Understanding of AI/ML-based testing approachesExperience with visual regression testing toolsKnowledge of synthetic monitoring and production testingFederal & DHS-Specific Knowledge:Understanding of DHS/USCIS system architectures and data flowsFamiliarity with federal security testing requirementsKnowledge of Section 508 testing standards (basic understanding)Experience with testing in AWS GovCloud environmentsUnderstanding of PII/PHI data handling requirements in testingPreferred Experience Or Knowledge Of The Following Technologies/functionsUSCIS-Specific Experience (Highly Desired):Experience testing USCIS immigration systems or similar benefit processing systemsFamiliarity with USCIS business processes and form typesUnderstanding of USCIS enterprise architecture and system interdependenciesExperience with USCIS Backstage or similar developer portalsKnowledge of USCIS Team Managed Deployment (TMD) quality gatesRequired Education/CertificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related fieldMaster's degree preferredCertifications (Required - Minimum 1):ISTQB Advanced Test Automation EngineerOR ISTQB Advanced Level Test ManagerOR equivalent professional testing certificationCertifications (Highly Desired):ISTQB Certified Tester - Expert LevelCertified Agile Tester (CAT)AWS Certified Developer - AssociateCertified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)Performance testing certifications (LoadRunner, JMeter)Required Security ClearanceUS Citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain an active Public Trust or higher clearance, per contract requirements.“Outstanding Performance…Always!”Our corporate motto represents our commitment to build long-term relationships with both our clients and our employees by providing the highest quality service in everything we do. We strive for excellence for our clients and for each other. We embrace the opportunity to hire individuals with new talents and fresh perspectives. Zantech offers competitive compensation, strong benefits, and a vacation package, as well as a fast-paced and exciting work environment. Come join our team!