AI-Driven QA Automation Lead

abra • Wheaton, IL

9d

About The Position

abra professional services is seeking a AI-Driven QA Automation Lead to lead the organizational transition to an Automation-First approach and implement Quality Engineering practices and smart automation. This role involves end-to-end ownership of the quality strategy, including testing methodologies, quality gates, KPIs, and unified QA processes across all development teams. The lead will manage the testing strategy throughout the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)—from DEV environments through QA, Staging, and Production—while ensuring consistent standards, risk management, and release readiness. Additionally, the role includes professional leadership, mentoring, and guidance of QA personnel in a matrix environment, fostering knowledge sharing and building organizational capabilities. The lead will implement and maintain mobile automation infrastructure for iOS and Android using Cucumber / Gherkin, ensuring scalability, reliability, and compliance with organizational standards. This includes defining automation standards, code writing guidelines, and framework architectures, as well as optimizing performance and maintainability using advanced AI tools. The role also involves developing solutions for Test Data challenges within a banking environment and utilizing Mocks, Stubs, and Service Virtualization to minimize dependencies on unstable environments. Integration of automated test suites into Build and Release pipelines in VSTS / Azure DevOps, and defining quality gates and automated verification processes in CI/CD are also key responsibilities.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of hands-on QA experience in large enterprises, conducting both manual and automated testing for mobile applications.
• At least 1 year of experience in a leadership role as a QA Team Lead, Development Team Lead, or Tech Lead.
• At least 2 years of experience designing and implementing Cucumber / Gherkin-based automation frameworks across cross-functional teams.
• At least 2 years of hands-on mobile automation experience, with a preference for Appium or Detox.
• At least 2 years of experience defining testing methodologies and managing quality metrics (KPIs).
• At least 2 years of hands-on programming experience in JavaScript / TypeScript, Python, or Java.
• At least 2 years of experience working within a React Native environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience implementing AI-driven testing solutions.
• Experience integrating and executing automated test suites within VSTS / Azure DevOps Pipelines and CI/CD processes.
• Experience in matrix leadership, influencing without direct authority, professional mentoring, and collaborating with Tech Leads, R&D Managers, Product Managers, and senior management.
• Experience in the Fintech, Banking, or Financial sectors.

Responsibilities

• Leading the organizational transition to an Automation-First approach and implementing Quality Engineering practices and smart automation.
• End-to-end ownership of the quality strategy, including testing methodologies, quality gates, KPIs, and unified QA processes across all development teams.
• Managing the testing strategy throughout the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)—from DEV environments through QA, Staging, and Production—while ensuring consistent standards, risk management, and release readiness.
• Professional leadership, mentoring, and guidance of QA personnel in a matrix environment, including knowledge sharing and building organizational capabilities.
• Implementing and maintaining mobile automation infrastructure for iOS and Android using Cucumber / Gherkin, ensuring scalability, reliability, and compliance with organizational standards.
• Defining automation standards, code writing guidelines, and framework architectures, as well as optimizing performance and maintainability using advanced AI tools.
• Developing solutions for Test Data challenges within a banking environment and utilizing Mocks, Stubs, and Service Virtualization to minimize dependencies on unstable environments.
• Integrating automated test suites into Build and Release pipelines in VSTS / Azure DevOps, and defining quality gates and automated verification processes in CI/CD.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed