Functional Testing Lead

Cayuse Holdings•Sacramento, CA

3d•$165,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Functional Testing Lead will define and drive test strategies, ensure adherence to established entry and exit criteria for testing phases, and support readiness gates for deployment. The role requires a robust understanding of testing methodologies, technical leadership in managing test teams, and proficiency in applying automation and appropriate tools for test management and execution. This position supports enterprise IT initiatives and aligns with Cayuse’s core values of Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Integrity by fostering technical solutions that meet customer needs, promoting teamwork, and prioritizing quality in deliverables. Employment is conditional upon successful execution of the contract by the client. The role is based in Sacramento, California; travel and relocation are listed as not required, though the working conditions note that travel may be requested for business or professional development purposes. The position is full-time, salary exempt, and reports to the Program Manager. The work is performed in a professional office environment, with the ability to work onsite in the main office. Flexible scheduling, work on holidays, and work outside normal business hours may be requested.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience.
At least 7 years of experience supporting enterprise IT systems in a QA or Quality Engineering role.
At least 4 years of experience in test leadership, including team coordination and mentoring.
At least 4 years of experience developing testing deliverables such as test plans, test cases, regression testing suites, and RTMs.
At least 4 years of hands-on experience managing the defect lifecycle and conducting defect triage sessions.
At least 4 years of experience tracking and reporting quality metrics, including test case coverage, defect resolution, and test progress.
At least 3 years of experience using test management tools such as ALM, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar platforms for traceability, execution, and reporting.
At least 2 years of hands-on testing experience with cloud-based and SaaS platforms, including functionality, scalability, and security.
At least 2 years of experience testing integrated systems, including APIs and batch jobs, to ensure seamless data exchanges across systems.
Must be able to pass a background check; additional checks may be required by projects or clients during employment.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and articulately.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.
Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities; adaptability and ability to learn quickly.
Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and on a multifunctional team.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred; preferred fields listed include Business Administration, IT, or Engineering.
At least 10 years of experience supporting enterprise application environments.
At least 4 years of experience defining and enforcing test entry and exit criteria and release readiness gates.
At least 4 years of experience maintaining and enforcing end-to-end requirements traceability matrices.
At least 4 years of experience testing large-scale enterprise applications, particularly enterprise benefits systems or other mission-critical platforms.
At least 4 years of experience supporting test automation strategy, script design, and coordination.
ISTQB Advanced Test Manager certification.
Certified Agile Tester certification.
Certified Tester Expert Level (CTEL): Test Management and Strategic Test Management (CTEL-TM-SM) certification.
In lieu of a Master’s degree, at least 12 years of cumulative experience performing performance testing or performance engineering for large-scale enterprise systems.

Responsibilities

Lead test planning, test execution, and team coordination for enterprise IT initiatives; establish and enforce testing governance frameworks, policies, standards, and best practices.
Develop comprehensive test strategies, plans, and scripts for end-to-end functional, integration, regression, API, batch, and user acceptance testing; create and maintain requirements traceability matrices (RTMs).
Manage the defect lifecycle, conduct triage sessions to identify root causes, coordinate resolutions across technical and business teams, and ensure timely defect resolution.
Track and report quality metrics, including test coverage, overall progress, and defect leakage, to support transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Define and enforce test entry and exit criteria and release readiness gates; conduct test readiness reviews to confirm prerequisites are met before testing phases begin.
Lead end-to-end testing for cloud-based and SaaS systems, integrated environments, APIs, batch processes, and enterprise-scale databases; ensure interoperability and compliance with functional and non-functional requirements.
Collaborate with automation engineers and other testing professionals on planning, designing, and executing automated test scripts; oversee regression testing and script maintenance.
Perform other duties as assigned.