QA Lead

Kforce has a client that is seeking a QA Lead in Peoria, IL. Job Summary: The QA Lead for the modernization program will act as the QA Quarterback-owning the execution of the Master Test Strategy and ensuring alignment across internal teams and external partners. This role emphasizes hands-on leadership in planning, coordination, and governance of all testing phases. The QA Lead will drive quality assurance activities for smoke, functional equivalence, integration, and performance testing, ensuring compliance standards and ISO guidelines. Responsibilities:

• Act as liaison between internal QA, and offshore testing teams; CST Hours for collaboration
• Review and approve test plans, test suite, test cycles, test execution traceability matrices, and exit criteria documentation
• Drive automation strategy using Playwright, Postman, and Beyond Compare
• Oversee test data management and validate integration points with external systems
• Lead defect triage and resolution workflows
• Prepare and present test execution reports, quality metrics, and risk assessments
• Provide mentorship and guidance to QA Analysts and cross-functional teams
• Own the Software Test Life Cycle (STLC) for Phoenix, including planning, execution, and reporting.
• Ensure risk-based prioritization of test scenarios and adherence to quality gates
• ISTQB Foundation Level (Advanced Level preferred)
• 7+ years in Quality Assurance, with at least 3 years in lead role
• Experience in large-scale modernization or migration projects
• Experience with at least one of the scripting languages (JavaScript, Perl, Ruby, Python), object-oriented languages (Java, C#), API Testing (SOAPUI, PostMan) and any automation frameworks/harnesses will be a plus
• Strong understanding of functional and integration testing for modernization projects
• Expertise in Azure DevOps test and defect management features
• Familiarity with automation frameworks (Playwright, Selenium) and API testing tools (Postman, SoapUI)
• Solid knowledge of SQL Server, data migration validation, and comparison tools
• Excellent coordination and communication skills across distributed teams
• Strong understanding of relational databases, distributed architecture, and web application concepts
• Fully understands software development lifecycle and experience with a variety approach to software testing; Agile methodology will be a plus
• Excellent reasoning and research skills; Ability to see the -big picture- and manage the details
• Possess a -test to break- attitude toward testing; Ability to understand complex business processes Intermediate level SQL skills with data migration project experience is desired
• Ability to interpret and enforce Master Test Strategy and quality governance, across all testing phases (Smoke, FET, Integration, UAT, Performance)
• Insurance domain experience will be a plus

• Insurance domain experience
• Familiarity with mainframe-to-modern platform migrations
• Exposure to offshore team coordination and vendor management