RQ00822 - Systems Testing/QA Specialist - Senior

The Quality Assurance Specialist (QA lead) is responsible for performing application testing tasks and Quality Assurance activities including Functional Testing, Automation Testing, and various AI testing as described below.

The Quality Assurance Specialist (QA lead) will participate in planning and estimating the activities required to test the new solutions and enhanced applications. He/She will participate in the development of Master Test Plans, Test

Cases, Test Scripts, Test Completion Reports, etc. while providing advice to business users for the development of Test Cases for User Acceptance Test.

Executing the tests as required, performing issue tracking and resolution.

The Quality Assurance Specialist (QA Lead) plays a critical role in ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions by designing, executing, and managing testing activities throughout the software development lifecycle. The QA Specialist will work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to validate system functionality, performance, and usability, and ensure alignment with business requirements and quality standards.

The Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist will be working under a hybrid work model (3 days in office and a remote location). The office location will be Metro Hall 15th floor, 55 John Street in Toronto. The successful candidate will be working seven (7) hours per day, five (5) days per week based on normal working Business Hours.

Key Responsibilities:

Quality Assurance Leadership

• Lead testing efforts for assigned projects, including planning, coordination, execution and oversight of QA activities.
  
• Assess risks to quality based on verification and validation results and provide recommendations for mitigation.
  
• Implement and maintain quality processes that support development and production change management.
  

Test Design & Planning

• Design comprehensive manual and automated testing processes, including test plans, test cases, and test scripts.
  
• Develop functional, system, regression, integration, load, and performance test scenarios based on project requirements.
  
• Collaborate with development leads and business analysts to design and create test data to support test execution.
  

Test Execution & Management

• Perform various types of testing manually and/or using automation tools, including:
  
• Functional Testing
  
• Regression Testing
  
• Integration Testing
  
• Usability/Accessibility Testing
  
• Performance Testing
  
• Perform the following types of AI testing activities:
  
• Functional AI Testing
  
• Response accuracy
  
• Hallucination testing
  
• Prompt testing
  
• AI-Security and privacy testing (prompt injection)
  
• AI-Safety Testing (inappropriate behaviours)
  
• Execute test cycles, monitor progress, and manage defect resolution and issue tracking.
  
• Maintain detailed records of test results and discrepancies using designated QA tools.
  

Coordination & Collaboration

• Work closely with project managers, implementation team, system administrators, architects, vendors (as needed) and database administrators to ensure testing activities are aligned with project timelines and technical requirements.
  
• Lead and assist business users in conducting User Acceptance Testing (UAT), providing guidance and support as needed.
  

Reporting & Communication

• Manage the full-cycle process for documenting and communicating test discrepancies and defects to appropriate stakeholders.
  
• Provide regular updates on testing progress, issues, and outcomes to project teams and management
  
• Develop and build a Test Completion Report summarizing all testing activities and results for Gating purposes
  

Requirements

Assignment Duties:

• Post-secondary degree in Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline.
  
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience performing testing for large-scale applications, including on-premise web solutions, cloud-based integrations, and mobile platforms.
  
• Minimum of 3 years of solid experience in AI-assisted testing with hands-on experience in developing AI-powered QA agents using agentic AI, LLM technologies and chatbot applications to create and execute test cases.
  
• Experience using AI tools to increase testing coverage, negative testing, regression testing with knowledge of AI-assisted automation for CI/CD pipelines.
  
• Experience leading and coordinating testing activities in collaboration with project with project teams and a strong understanding of the various delivery methodologies such as: SDLC - Waterfall, Agile (Scrum), Hybrid, and DevOps.
  
• Certification in Software Quality Engineering or an equivalent credential is considered a strong asset.
  
• Excellent analytical skills in business processes, information systems, information management, and web UI design and accessibility.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
  

Technical Capabilities:

• Extensive hands-on experience with all layers of testing:  UI, Integration, Regression, Performance, AI-enabled systems, and User Acceptance Testing - across web-based, mobile, and cloud platforms.
  
• Proven ability to execute AI testing activities utilizing specialized tools such as DeepEval, Applitools, Promptfoo, SaolaAI, Reflect AI, Agentic AI, Copilot Studio Kit, etc.
  
• Skilled in implementing automated testing using tools such as Micro Focus UFT, TOSCA, Selenium, Cucumber, as well as conducting performance testing with JMeter and OpenText Load Runner. As well as experience with platforms such as: ServiceNow, Salesforce, SAP, or equivalent are considered an asset
  
• Strong experience in executing test cycles, analyzing results, and managing the full defect lifecycle using tools like OpenText ALM, OpenText Octane, JIRA, Visual Studio, Confluence, etc.
  
• Demonstrated capability in analyzing business requirements and user stories to design test scenarios, develop test cases and scripts, prepare test data, and assess results for quality assurance.
  

The City may contact the references provided. Should any reference fail to confirm that the services listed in Section 3.0 were performed in a satisfactory manner; the Candidate may be declared non-compliant and not considered for the remainder of the evaluation process.

Key Deliverables

• Design and deliver detailed manual and automated test plans, test cases, and test scripts aligned with business requirements and project objectives.
  
• Perform various testing types (functional, regression, integration, system, performance, usability, and UAT) across multiple platforms and environments. Report and document results accordingly.
  
• Maintain accurate records of test discrepancies and defects using designated QA tools and provide timely reports and recommendations to stakeholders.
  
• On as needed basis, develop and implement automated testing frameworks and scripts using tools such as Micro Focus/OpenText UFT, Selenium, Cucumber, etc.
  
• On as needed bases, conduct load and stress testing using tools like Load Runner or JMeter and deliver performance analysis reports with actionable insights.
  
• Collaborate with business analysts and developers to create and manage test data and scenarios that support robust validation of business processes.
  
• Support the implementation of quality assurance processes and contribute to the continuous improvement of testing practices within Agile, DevOps, and traditional environments.
  

Must Haves:

• Minimum of 3 years of solid experience in AI-assisted testing with hands-on experience in developing AI-powered QA agents using agentic AI, LLM technologies and chatbot applications to create and execute test cases.
  
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience performing testing for large-scale applications, including on-premise web solutions, cloud-based integrations, and mobile platforms.
  
• Extensive hands-on experience with all layers of testing: UI, Integration, Regression, Performance, AI-enabled systems, and User Acceptance Testing - across web-based, mobile, and cloud platforms.
  
• Proven ability to execute AI testing activities utilizing specialized tools such as DeepEval, Applitools, Promptfoo, SaolaAI, Reflect AI, Agentic AI, Copilot Studio Kit, etc.