QA Lead (Automation & AI)

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Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Job Summary

The QA Validation Architect provides technical leadership for validation and quality assurance for MineStar modernisation programs. This role owns the test strategy, validation execution, and quality governance for phase‑wise modernisation from legacy to modern platforms. The role requires strong technical depth, automation expertise, and leadership to ensure releases meet acceptance criteria, built‑in quality standards, and deployment readiness goals .

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership to all QA teams supporting MineStar modernisation initiatives
• Define and own the test strategy and validation approach for phase‑wise modernisation, ensuring effective coexistence and transition between legacy and modern systems
• Establish and govern built‑in quality standards and Definition of Done
• Define modernisation test suites by refactoring and extending existing legacy test suites
• Define and drive automation strategy, coverage, and standards across teams
• Make strategic decisions on test automation versus manual validation based on risk, complexity, and return on investment
• Review and approve test plans prepared by QA leads
• Plan and ensure adequate test coverage across functional, integration, system, and non‑functional areas
• Identify quality risks, dependencies, and challenges, and drive mitigation actions
• Provide technical guidance for component‑level, service‑level, and API testing
• Collaborate with Product Managers, Architects, Engineering, and QA teams to align validation with feature intent
• Drive validation execution to ensure features meet defined acceptance criteria
• Define, enforce, and make decisions on quality gates and deployment readiness
• Act as the final authority on validation approach decisions where technical or quality trade‑offs are required
• Track quality metrics, test effectiveness, and defect trends, driving continuous improvement

Required Skills & Experience

• 12+ years of experience in Quality Assurance and  automation testing
• Experience working with multiple or large QA teams in enterprise or platform modernisation programs
• Strong expertise in manual testing concepts and test design techniques
• Experience with CI/CD and DevOps tools including Git, Maven, Jenkins, and DevOps pipelines.
• Hands‑on experience with automation tools and frameworks, including Cucumber and Playwright
• Strong understanding of SDLC and STLC in Agile and SAFe environments
• Solid knowledge of non‑functional testing methodologies (performance, reliability, scalability, security)
• Strong risk assessment and decision‑making capabilities related to quality and releases

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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