Associate Director Of Software Engineer Executing Tests

How Will Your Role Impact First Command?

The Associate Director of SDET leads a team of test automation engineers responsible for creating and maintaining test automation frameworks, testing tools, and test data management tools. Additionally, the role is responsible for the defining of standards and execution of test documentation artifacts that is traditionally owned by Quality Assurance. This role brings a strong technical background in test automation, excellent leadership skills, and experience working with agile development methodologies. The Associate Director of SDET provides leadership and accountability across the entire development organization by empowering all employees to be self-sufficient for ensuring high levels of quality through collaboration within and across our agile teams.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Define and implement the overall test automation strategy for the organization
• Identify suitable automation tools, frameworks, and technologies to optimize the testing process
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of automated test scripts and frameworks. Ensure the scalability, maintainability, and reusability of automation assets.
• Implement and optimize continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes to streamline test automation and ensure rapid and reliable software releases
• Work closely with agile team members, including Product Owners, to define acceptance criteria for user stories and ensure that they are properly tested
• Collaborate across all agile teams to ensure that test automation is integrated into the overall SDLC process
• Provide training and support to agile team members to enhance the product quality
• Works alongside the Scum Masters and Product Owners to execute and grow First Command’s agile practices
• Creates an environment of collaboration and inclusion
• Serves as a Subject Matter Expert about business and technical processes for developers and agile teams
• Oversee and maintain health of the SDLC process, specifically around Quality and Testing
• Provide proof-of-concept solutions that show feasibility and viability of potential ideas (as necessary)
• Generate reports showing quality for processes and systems for Production and QA
• Ensures communication and coordination across the business is occurring for production releases, maintenance windows and during production-down scenarios

Who Will You Lead?

• Responsible for standard HR activities which include approving PTO, coordinating and approving training requests, goal setting and all aspects of performance management
• Key contributor in resume reviewing and interview process for hiring of new development employees
• Continually grow the soft and technical skills of developers
• Monitors and measures success of the agile teams by utilizing an agreed upon set of metrics and ensures availability to Senior Leadership
• Continually evaluating, refined, and updating metrics that are used that measure quality, success, and velocity of our agile teams

What Skills/Qualifications Do You Need?

Education

• Required – Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related degree

Work Experience

• 6-8 years of experience in the area of responsibility
• Minimum 2 years of experience in organizational leadership

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Required – Clear and strong communication skills. Ability to transition between technical and business speak
• Required – Proficient in programming languages such as C#, Java, React, and JavaScript
• Required – Knowledge and Experience of test automation tools and frameworks, such as Playwright, Cucumber, Selenium, JUnit, or TestNG
• Required – Knowledge and Experience of continuous integration and incorporating test automation into build pipelines
• Required – Ability to collaborate with others and foster a safe and open environment
• Required – Troubleshooting and debugging experience and knowledge
• Required – Agile/Scrum/SAFe experience
• Preferred – ITIL experience

Feeder Roles

• Manager
• Associate Director

Career Path

• Director

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