QA/Test Lead

Must be a US Citizen with an active TS or eligible for TS. No Third Party.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Strategic Innovation Group (SIG) is seeking a QA / Test Lead to prove that a new analytics platform for a federal government client works: that agency data lands in the data core correctly, that analytic rules fire when they should and not when they should not, and that dashboards show end users the right numbers. This role owns the test strategy, the test data, the single defect-tracking process used across the whole team, and the quality evidence that supports a performance-based Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. Much of the testing is data-centric rather than UI-centric: the successful candidate will build expected-results sets, validate pipeline outputs against source systems, and facilitate user acceptance testing with client staff.

ABOUT SIG

SIG is a fast growing 8(a) government contractor based in Arlington, Virginia. We offer a broad range of technical expertise and experience in Digital Transformation, Data Management/Data Science, and Systems Modernization. At SIG, our people are our mission. Come join our team! A successful candidate will be offered the following:

- Great work/life balance
- Eligibility for performance-based participation in cash bonuses
- Potential to participate in growth of the company through incentives
- Excellent benefits, including health, dental, vision, generous PTO, a 401(k) with match, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and a health savings account (HSA)

RESPONSIBILITIES

- Develop the test strategy and master test plan covering data ingestion, data quality, analytic rules, the end-user application, security controls, and accessibility.
- Build and maintain sample and synthetic test data sets with known expected results for connectors, analytic logic, and dashboard metrics; validate reconciliation of platform outputs against source-system totals.
- Design and execute integration, regression, and acceptance testing each sprint; automate regression suites for APIs, pipelines, and UI where practical.
- Work with the data engineering team to define and validate data-quality checks and error rates for ingestion and analytic pipelines.
- Own the single defect-tracking process spanning functional, data-quality, security, and accessibility findings: triage, severity classification, assignment, resolution tracking, and reporting.
- Plan and facilitate user acceptance testing with client staff; capture feedback into the backlog and confirm resolution.
- Produce test reports, acceptance evidence, and quality metrics that feed the QASP and monthly performance reporting.
- Define entry and exit criteria for prototype and delivery-acceptance milestones and lead readiness reviews.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, code reviews, and continuous improvement activities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
- 3+ years of software QA/testing experience, including 1+ years leading test planning and execution for a team (2+ years with a Master's degree).
- Demonstrated experience testing ETL/data pipelines and analytic outputs: writing SQL to validate transformations, building expected-results data sets, and reconciling to source systems.
- Experience with test automation frameworks for APIs and web UI (e.g., pytest, Postman/Newman, Playwright, Selenium, Cypress) and integrating automated tests into CI/CD.
- Experience administering a defect-tracking and test-management workflow (Jira, Azure DevOps, or equivalent), including severity models and reporting.
- Experience facilitating user acceptance testing with business or Government stakeholders.
- Strong SQL and working Python skills for test-data generation and validation scripts.
- Strong written communication skills for test plans, acceptance evidence, and quality reporting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Experience supporting a QASP or performance-based service contract with defined acceptable quality levels.
- Familiarity with Section 508 / WCAG 2.x testing and coordination with accessibility auditors.
- Experience testing applications with financial, budget, or grants data in a federal setting.
- ISTQB Advanced Test Manager or equivalent certification.

SIG is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.