JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job Title: IT QA Practice/Programme Lead
Employment Type: Permanent, On-site
Work Location: Sandton, Johannesburg

ROLE REQUIREMNTS:

1. Leadership and Strategy:

Strategic leader that can engage at all levels, from Executive to squad-level resources.
Deep understanding of integrated strategies and platforms, systems, and applications.
In-depth knowledge of software development/engineering, quality engineering, and architecture. Ability to translate strategy into tactical and operational plans and develop and drive execution.
Proven ability to coach and mentor at all levels.
Ability to influence at multiple levels within a multi-matrix stakeholder model.
Strong understanding of financial impacts, budgets, and interdependencies between projects and programmes. Must be able to demonstrate handling complex programmes, especially modernisation programmes and net-new solutions.
Capability to identify efficiencies and optimisation opportunities. Experience with AI solutions is preferred, but exposure is also acceptable.

2. Quality Assurance Management:

Test strategy design.
Test approach design.
Test plan and management.
Mentoring and coaching SQE and other squad members.

3. Software Quality Engineering Ability:

Test analysis and design.
Test automation experience.
Development experience preferred.
Experience in Agile delivery.
Exposure to Test Driven Development (TDD) advantageous.
Experience in Behaviour Driven Development (BDD).
Exposure within a continuous delivery model preferred.
Experience in NFT (Performance, load, stress).

EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Qualification requirements:

Education: BSc IT, BCom IT, or similar qualification.
Certifications: ISTQB Agile foundations certification (advanced preferred).
Training: Bootcamp training in Agile and DevOps.

2. Experience:

3-4 years management experience.
Proven experience in the banking or financial services sector.
Proficiency in QA tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium, JIRA, TestRail).
Strong knowledge of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies.
Experience with test automation, performance testing, and security testing.

3. Technical Proficiency:

Development Languages: Preference to Java.
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP).
Mobile Test Automation.
SOAP and RESTful Services.
Use of Testing Tools and Frameworks: e.g., Selenium, Appium, RestAssured, Karate, Jira, JMeter.
Service Virtualisation and Data Virtualisation (advantageous).
Vulnerability Testing (advantageous).

4. Soft Skills: