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Quality Assurance Lead resources

QA Lead (Hybrid – St. Paul, MN)

Project Overview

The Metropolitan Council is seeking up to two full-time Quality Assurance Lead resources to support the Cubic Program , a large-scale transformation initiative focused on modernizing fare collection and payment systems across the region’s transit network.

The selected candidates will provide strategic QA leadership and hands-on testing execution across multiple enterprise initiatives involving cloud-based SaaS platforms and multi-system integrations . This role combines team leadership, vendor oversight, test strategy development, and direct testing activities in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.

This is a hybrid position requiring onsite presence at least one day per week at the Metropolitan Council offices in St. Paul, Minnesota .

Key Responsibilities

QA Leadership & Governance

Serve as the Program QA Lead for multiple enterprise-wide initiatives within the BPSI/Cubic Program.
Develop and implement QA strategies, standards, and testing frameworks across projects.
Provide QA governance and oversight throughout the entire project lifecycle.
Define and monitor quality metrics such as defect density, test coverage, and release readiness.

Test Management & Execution

Lead testing efforts including:

Test strategy development
Test plan creation
Test case design
Defect management

Execute manual testing scenarios, including:

Functional testing
Integration testing
Regression testing

Manage test schedules, dependencies, and risk mitigation plans across concurrent projects.

Team Leadership

Direct and mentor multiple QA Analysts while managing individual testing workstreams.
Promote QA best practices across the program by mentoring Business Analysts and project teams.
Foster collaboration and accountability within cross-functional teams.

Vendor Coordination

Oversee and validate vendor-led testing activities.
Ensure vendor deliverables align with program standards, integration requirements, and quality expectations.

Collaboration

Work Closely With

Program Management
Business Analysts
Development teams
Vendors and external partners

to prioritize defect resolution and maintain testing scope.

Configuration & Release Support

Support configuration management and release control processes.
Maintain testing documentation, traceability, and audit readiness across the QA lifecycle.

Minimum Qualifications

10+ years of experience in software quality assurance or software testing
5+ years of experience leading QA initiatives or managing QA teams
1+ year of experience with cloud-based SaaS implementations
2+ years leading QA in multi-vendor or multi-system integration environments
2+ years of experience performing manual and automation testing
2+ years developing:

QA strategies
Test plans
Test cases
Quality metrics

1+ year of experience using test management tools such as:

Azure DevOps
JIRA
HP ALM

2+ years applying QA processes in Agile, Iterative, and Waterfall methodologies
Ability to work onsite at least one day per week

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
Experience delivering solutions in government or regulated industries
Prior experience with public sector, utilities, or transportation systems
Exposure to mass transit technologies, including:

Fare collection systems
Asset management platforms
Operational analytics solutions

Familiarity with:

Test data management
Performance testing
Vendor validation processes

Working knowledge of test automation frameworks
Professional certifications such as:

PMP
Agile certifications (CSM, SAFe)
QA certifications

Core Competencies

Strong leadership of cross-functional QA teams
Ability to communicate technical QA concepts to business and executive stakeholders
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
Effective stakeholder management and conflict resolution
Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on testing responsibilities

Work Environment