Lead Product Software Engineer(Test Architecture/SDET) Opening At Wolters Kluwer, Pune

Basic Function

The Lead Product Software Engineer functions as a technical leader, playing a central role in defining and establishing technical and strategic direction for the */dxg Engineering organization. Be a change leader, working with agile teams to plan, design, and implement effective test practices, and test automation as well as how and what to test. Be a part of improving quality and reducing release timelines of our products.  Emphasis on next generation autonomous testing solutions, partnering with commercial vendors.

Essential Duties and responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide comprehensive guidelines and practical examples for project plans, quality metrics, quality plans, and process improvement.
• Offer invaluable advice and serve as a reliable sounding board for */dxg leadership, focusing on QE innovation, guidance, and training.
• Lead QE teams when necessary, inspiring team members to elevate their performance and become leading professionals in their field.
• Cultivate a solid, resilient, and high-value QE Team for the organization, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to QE teams, helping them solve complex technical challenges, adopt new technologies, and improve testing efficiency and effectiveness.

Quality Engineering Standards

• Establish and enforce quality engineering policies processes, standards, and procedures to ensure consistency and compliance across the organization.
• Conduct test automation code reviews, quality gates, and inspections to ensure compliance with quality standards and best practices.
• Implement metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to measure and monitor the effectiveness of quality engineering processes.

Innovation

• Provide insights into developing technologies and determine their implementation within the dxg QE environment.
• Continuously seek opportunities for process improvement and innovation, positioning */dxg at the forefront of cutting-edge quality practices.
• Consult on complex testing strategies for products, defining and redefining QE work procedures, guidelines, and designs for holistic testing processes.
• Advise on the strategic direction of Quality Engineering within */dxg, promoting awareness of the importance of quality engineering and driving initiatives to improve a quality culture, processes, and outcomes.
• Extensive knowledge of Java, J2ee, AWS cloud and other related technologies
• Responsible for design, code, configuration, QA, and implementation of high-quality software solutions that are delivered on time and within budget.
• Maintains the best practices needed to ensure on time, quality software solution deliverables.
• Work with a distributed engineering team to foster a smooth development process among onsite and offshore team members.
• Develop and review project estimates and assumptions during planning and at key project milestones. Validate the development approach and assumptions that underlie the project plans and work plans.
• Participate in design, code, and QA walkthroughs and reviews
• Stay abreast of the ever-changing technology industry to make sure solutions developed are following “best practices” and will meet the needs of the business going forward. Research and evaluate emerging technology solutions.
• Communicate at the appropriate level within and outside of IT the technical direction and proposed solutions for various projects and initiatives

Test Strategy Development

• Collaborate with stakeholders to define test objectives, scope, and requirements for software projects.
• Develop comprehensive test strategies and plans aligned with project goals, timelines, quality goals, and quality standards.
• Identify testing methodologies, and techniques best suited for each project's unique requirements.
• Identify opportunities to leverage automation for maximizing test coverage and minimizing manual effort.

Test Architecture Design

• Design and implement robust test architectures and frameworks to support automated testing, performance testing, and continuous integration.
• Define standards and best practices for test case design, test data management, and test environment configuration.
• Ensure scalability, maintainability, and reusability of test assets across multiple projects.
• Design comprehensive QE solutions that align with the organization's business objectives, development methodologies, and technology stack.

Tools Framework

• Design and implement robust test architectures and frameworks to support automated testing, performance testing, and continuous integration.
• Define standards and best practices for test case design, test data management, and test environment configuration.
• Ensure scalability, maintainability, and reusability of test assets across multiple projects.
• Design comprehensive QE solutions that align with the organization's business objectives, development methodologies, and technology stack..

Automation

• Create automated test scripts for functional, regression, performance, and security testing.
• Integrate automated tests into continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines for seamless execution.
• Ensure test scripts are efficient and reliable, and provide comprehensive coverage of application functionality.

Performance Testing

• Design and develop performance testing strategies to assess system scalability, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Identify performance bottlenecks, analyze test results, and provide recommendations for optimization.
• Collaborate with development teams to implement performance improvements and ensure scalability.
• Implement techniques such as parallel testing and distributed execution to accelerate testing cycles.
• Monitor test execution results and identify opportunities for performance improvements..

Collaboration

• Collaborate with development, product management, and operations teams to ensure alignment on quality objectives and priorities.
• Provide technical guidance and support to QA engineers, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and best practice dissemination across teams to promote a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Guidance and Training

• Develop and maintain updated training materials based on the Center of Excellence's (CoE) Methods of Work.
• Oversee the management, review, and dissemination of the Method of Work library to ensure accessibility and relevance.
• Offer mentorship and training sessions to Quality Architects and Quality Engineers, focusing on tools, techniques, and best practices.
• Cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the QA team, encouraging active participation and knowledge sharing.
• Share expertise and insights with cross-functional teams to foster collaboration and alignment on quality assurance initiatives.
• Equip individuals and teams with the knowledge and expertise required to excel in Quality Engineering through comprehensive training and mentorship.
• Enable Methods of Work (MoWs) writing and maintenance, fostering growth and proficiency in Quality Engineering among WK Groups/Divisions.
• Provide guidance in adopting Agile Scrum and SAFe ceremonies, ensuring project teams fully grasp the significance and implementation of Agile/Scrum methodologies.
• Conduct dxg Methods of Work (MoW) training tailored for various stakeholders, from project owners to development and quality assurance teams.

Reporting

• Provide regular progress updates and detailed reports to both peers and management regarding automation progress, test results, and key performance metrics.
• Effectively communicate with cross-functional teams to raise awareness of critical issues, risks, and recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare executive summaries and presentations that effectively convey the impact of automation initiatives on project outcomes and align with business objectives.
• Establish and co-lead the Quality governance process to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impact the quality of software products.
• Develop risk management strategies and implement controls to minimize the likelihood and impact of quality-related risks.

Job Qualifications

Qualifications.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related field. 
• Experience with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines and tools. 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a strong attention to detail. 
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and influence stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of software quality assurance principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and DevOps.
• Knowledge of Test Automation scripts and programming languages.

Or equivalent experience or training

Experience: 

• Proven experience (5 - 10 years) in quality assurance and software testing, with a focus on test architecture and strategy. 
• Experience designing and implementing comprehensive QE strategies, tools, frameworks, and solutions across complex software projects or organizations.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully leading QE initiatives, improving testing processes, and driving quality improvements.
• Able to Train, Coach, and mentor scrum cadence.

Or equivalent experience or training 

Other Knowledge, Skills, Abilities or Certifications: 

• Certification in quality engineering or related fields is a plus.
• Scrum experience or certifications
• Tricentis Tosca, and qTest
• Atlassian products as in Confluence, Jira, and BitBucket