Functional Testing Lead

Overview

JOB TITLE:

Functional Testing Lead

JOB CODE:

3594E

CAYUSE COMPANY:

Cayuse Civil Services

LOCATION

Sacramento, CA

SALARY:

$165,000-$195,000

EMPLOYEE TYPE:

Full-Time Salary Exempt

TRAVEL

No

RELOCATION

No

Employment in this role is conditional upon successful execution of the contract by the client.

The Work

The Functional Testing Lead will define and drive test strategies, ensure adherence to established entry and exit criteria for testing phases, and support readiness gates for deployment. Candidates must demonstrate a robust understanding of testing methodologies, technical leadership in managing test teams, and proficiency in applying automation and appropriate tools for test management and execution.

This position aligns with Cayuse’s core values of Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Integrity by fostering technical solutions that meet customer needs, promoting teamwork, and prioritizing quality in deliverables.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Test Governance and Leadership: Lead test planning, test execution, and team coordination for enterprise IT initiatives. Establish and enforce governance frameworks, ensuring testing policies, standards, and best practices are maintained.
• Test Strategy and Planning: Develop comprehensive test strategies, plans, and scripts to address end-to-end functional, integration, regression, API, batch, and user acceptance testing scenarios. Create and maintain requirements traceability matrices (RTMs).
• Defect Management and Triage: Manage the defect lifecycle, conduct triage sessions to identify root causes, coordinate resolutions across technical and business teams, and ensure timely defect resolution.
• Quality Assurance and Metrics Reporting: Track and report detailed quality metrics, including test coverage, overall progress, and defect leakage, to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement of testing processes.
• Test Environment Readiness: Define and enforce test entry/exit criteria and release readiness gates. Conduct test readiness reviews to ensure all testing prerequisites are met before executing specific phases.
• Cloud, SaaS, and Integration Testing: Lead end-to-end testing for cloud-based/SaaS systems, integrated environments, APIs, batch processes, and enterprise-scale databases. Ensure systems interoperate seamlessly and meet functional and non-functional requirements.
• Automation Support: Collaborate with automation engineers and other testing professionals to support the planning, design, and execution of automated test scripts. Oversee regression testing and script maintenance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications – Here’s What You Need

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent professional experience (Master’s degree preferred).
• 7+ years of experience supporting enterprise IT systems in a QA or Quality Engineering role.
• 4+ years of experience conducting test leadership roles, including team coordination and mentoring.
• 4+ years of experience developing key testing deliverables such as test plans, test cases, regression testing suites, and RTMs.
• 4+ years of hands-on experience managing the defect lifecycle and conducting defect triage sessions.
• 4+ years of experience tracking and reporting key quality metrics, including test case coverage, defect resolution, and test progress.
• 3+ years of experience using test management tools such as ALM, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar platforms for traceability, execution, and reporting.
• 2+ years of hands-on testing experience with cloud-based and SaaS platforms, ensuring functionality, scalability, and security.
• 2+ years of testing integrated systems, including APIs and batch jobs, ensuring seamless data exchanges across systems.
• Must be able to pass a background check. May require additional background checks as required by projects and/or clients at any time during employment.

Minimum Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate in a clear, professional, and articulate manner.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with high-level attention to detail.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast past environment with changing priorities; adaptable to change and a quick learner.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work well independently as well as on a multi-functional team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Proficient in MS Office, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of supporting enterprise application environments.
• 4+ years of experience defining and enforcing robust test entry and exit criteria and release readiness gates.
• 4+ years of experience maintaining and enforcing end-to-end requirements traceability matrices.
• 4+ years of experience testing large-scale enterprise applications, particularly enterprise benefits systems or other mission-critical platforms.
• 4+ years of experience supporting test automation strategy, script design, and coordination.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• ISTQB Advanced Test Manager
• Certified Agile Tester
• Certified Tester Expert Level (CTEL): Test Management and Strategic Test Management (CTEL-TM-SM)
• Possession of a Master’s degree in a Business Administration, IT or Engineering .
• In lieu of a Master’s degree, at least twelve (12) years of cumulative experience performing performance testing or performance engineering for large scale enterprise systems as defined above.

Our Commitment to you / overview of benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance; Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability options
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Company Provided)
• Voluntary Life and AD&D options
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with matching after one year
• Paid Time Off

Reports to: Program Manager

Working Conditions

• Professional office environment, with the ability to work onsite in the main office.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform duties extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed to meet the demands of this position.
• Must be able to establish a productive and professional workspace.
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time looking at computer screen.
• May be asked to work a flexible schedule which may include holidays.
• May be asked to travel for business or professional development purposes.
• May be asked to work hours outside of normal business hours.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cayuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, skills, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with any applicable federal, state, or local law.