Senior Manager, Software Engineering

Zebra Technologies•Holtsville, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager of System Test to provide strategic and operational leadership for the validation of complex enterprise products and integrated solutions. This role defines system test strategy, leads globally distributed teams, and ensures effective manual and automated validation throughout the product lifecycle. The Senior Manager partners with Engineering, Product Management, Program Management, DevOps, and other stakeholders to manage product risks, improve test coverage and efficiency, and enable predictable, high-quality releases. The role also advances the responsible use of AI-enabled tools and intelligent automation to strengthen test effectiveness, engineering productivity, and data-driven decision-making.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline
10+ years of experience
5+ years of people-management experience leading managers and technical teams/ experience leading global or geographically distributed technical teams
Demonstrated experience leading test strategy and execution for complex software, hardware, or integrated enterprise products
Strong understanding of automated testing, test management, defect management, Agile development, CI/CD practices, and release management
Strategic leadership with the ability to translate business objectives into System Test priorities, roadmaps, and measurable outcomes
Strong knowledge of system, integration, regression, acceptance, functional, API, mobile, browser, cellular, wireless, field, reliability, and performance testing practices
Proven ability to build high-performing teams through coaching, feedback, talent development, and succession planning
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including risk assessment, root cause analysis, and data-driven decision-making
Ability to influence stakeholders, resolve complex issues, and lead organizational change across product families or business units
Strong program, resource, budget, schedule, supplier, and vendor-management capabilities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Working knowledge of test-management and collaboration tools such as Jira, as well as Windows and Linux environments

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment
Master’s degree in a related technical or business discipline
Experience leading System Test for enterprise mobility, connected devices, embedded systems, or integrated hardware and software solutions
Strong understanding of cellular technologies, protocols, networks, interoperability, and device validation
Experience implementing AI or GenAI capabilities within system test or software engineering workflows
Familiarity with large language models, AI agents, retrieval-augmented generation, prompt engineering, predictive analytics, or AI-assisted engineering tools
Experience scaling intelligent test automation, continuous testing, quality analytics, or engineering modernization initiatives

Responsibilities

Define and execute the System Test vision, strategy, operating model, standards, roadmaps, and measurable objectives
Lead, coach, and develop globally distributed System Test managers and engineers; build succession plans and capabilities required for current and future products
Establish risk-based test strategies and plans for complex products and integrated solutions, including requirements traceability, environments, test data, automation, and release criteria
Direct manual and automated validation across system, integration, acceptance, regression, functional, browser, mobile, API, cellular, wireless, field, reliability, and performance domains as applicable
Partner with Engineering, Product Management, Program Management, DevOps, Security, and other teams to align validation priorities, schedules, dependencies, investments, and release decisions
Monitor test progress, product-quality trends, defects, and release risks; ensure timely escalation, root cause analysis, corrective action, and communication to senior leadership
Develop and execute scalable automation roadmaps that improve coverage, execution efficiency, cycle time, maintainability, and return on investment
Champion the responsible adoption of approved AI and GenAI capabilities for test design, test maintenance, defect analysis, requirements traceability, risk assessment, analytics, and engineering productivity
Evaluate emerging AI-enabled testing methods and establish appropriate governance for secure, compliant, and ethical use
Manage organizational resources, project assignments, budgets, schedules, suppliers, and performance expectations while balancing quality, velocity, and business priorities
Foster an inclusive, accountable, and collaborative culture that recognizes contributions and encourages innovation and continuous learning
Communicate strategy, status, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations clearly to senior leaders and internal or external stakeholders