Lead QA/Test Manager - Telecom Domain (Manual & Automation Testing | Serenity BDD | OSS/BSS Systems)

We are looking for a highly experienced and technically adept Lead QA/Test Manager with a proven track record in leading both manual and automated testing initiatives for complex telecom enterprise platforms. This role demands a hands-on leader who can drive QA strategy, optimize test processes, and ensure exceptional product quality across OSS/BSS, CRM, billing, and provisioning systems serving millions of subscribers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Test Leadership & Strategy: Spearhead testing efforts across multiple workstreams - manual and automation - for large-scale telecom applications. Design, implement, and continuously improve test strategies that ensure high test coverage, scalability, and risk mitigation.
• Enterprise Telecom System Testing: Lead functional, regression, integration, and end-to-end testing across OSS/BSS, CRM, billing, order management, and provisioning platforms. Ensure comprehensive coverage of user journeys and system interoperability in highly dynamic telecom environments.
• Test Planning & Execution: Define and maintain detailed test plans, test scenarios, and test cases aligned with business and technical requirements. Ensure structured traceability and high-quality documentation that supports complex project delivery.
• Automation Excellence: Provide technical leadership in the use and evolution of test automation frameworks such as Serenity BDD with Java and Cucumber. Review and validate automation logic, collaborate closely with automation engineers, and analyze Serenity reports to ensure reliable test coverage and execution.
• Hands-On Contribution: Participate in manual and automated test case creation and execution. Provide direction and quality assurance in web-based, GUI, content, and mobile application testing initiatives.
• Team Management & Coaching: Lead and mentor a team of manual QA engineers. Define priorities, assign tasks, monitor daily progress, review test assets, and ensure alignment with overall project timelines and deliverables.
• End-to-End SDLC Involvement: Collaborate with cross-functional teams including developers, business analysts, DevOps, and product owners throughout the SDLC. Ensure validation from requirements grooming to production readiness and go-live verification.
• Quality Reporting & Traceability: Use tools such as Serenity BDD, JIRA, and HP ALM to track defects, test execution, traceability, and coverage. Leverage test analytics and reporting to drive continuous quality improvements and executive-level visibility.

Required Skills & Experience:

• 7+ years of professional QA experience, with 3+ years in a QA leadership or test manager role overseeing large-scale enterprise testing initiatives.
• Strong background in testing telecom systems with deep knowledge of OSS/BSS domains, CRM, provisioning, and telecom billing platforms.
• Proficiency in test automation tools and frameworks including Selenium WebDriver, Serenity BDD, and Cucumber using Java.
• Proven experience with manual test case design, execution, and defect management in enterprise environments.
• Hands-on experience with test management tools such as JIRA, HP ALM, Xray, or similar.
• Solid understanding of SDLC, Agile/DevOps methodologies, and testing best practices including shift-left and risk-based testing.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work closely with technical and non-technical stakeholders, and lead multi-location QA teams.

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Communication Engineering (or equivalent).

Certifications (Required & Preferred):

• ISTQB Foundation Level Certification (Required)
• ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager or Agile Tester (Preferred)
• Certified Agile Tester or equivalent QA leadership certification
• Certification in Selenium or test automation tools (a plus)

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and integrating test automation into Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or AWS CodePipeline.
• Familiarity with AWS infrastructure, particularly in validating cloud-based applications and API endpoints.
• Exposure to performance testing using tools like JMeter or Gatling.
• Strong knowledge of telecom industry standards and protocols (e.g., TM Forum, SIM provisioning, subscriber lifecycle).