Lead IT QA Analyst

Position summary

The Lead IT QA Analyst is responsible for leading quality assurance testing activities for assigned technology projects, system changes, enhancements, upgrades, integrations, and releases. This role exercises judgment and discretion in evaluating testing scope, analyzing business and technical requirements, developing and executing test plans, identifying quality risks, reviewing testing results, assessing defects and defect trends, recommending next steps, and supporting release readiness.

Theis role partners with developers, vendors, IT teams, project teams, business stakeholders, and other resources to coordinate testing activities, support issue resolution, and promote consistent QA testing practices. Additionally it provides project-level guidance to QA analysts, project team members, and business testers on test execution, defect documentation, retesting expectations, QA documentation, and testing practices, while supporting practical improvements to QA tools, templates, processes, and documentation.

Job duties and responsibilities

• Lead QA testing activities for assigned technology projects, system changes, enhancements, upgrades, integrations, and releases, exercising judgment and discretion to evaluate testing scope, quality risks, defects, and release readiness.
• Develop and execute QA test plans, test cases, and test scripts based on business and technical requirements to validate the functionality, usability, performance, and reliability of technology applications, systems, enhancements, upgrades, and releases.
• Evaluate business and technical requirements, user workflows, project documentation, and acceptance criteria to identify testing needs, coverage gaps, testing risks, and quality considerations.
• Perform manual and automated testing to identify defects, validate expected results, and support overall quality of assigned technology solutions.
• Lead regression testing activities to verify that system changes, enhancements, fixes, upgrades, integrations, or releases have not adversely affected existing functionality, business processes, or user workflows.
• Identify, document, prioritize, and track software defects, testing issues, and quality concerns, partnering with developers, vendors, IT teams, project managers, and stakeholders to support timely resolution and retesting.
• Analyze and report test results, defect trends, testing risks, quality concerns, and release readiness considerations, providing findings, recommendations, and next steps to project teams and stakeholders.
• Serve as the QA representative for assigned projects, testing work sessions, release planning discussions, stakeholder updates, and project meetings, providing testing status, feedback, risks, recommendations, and readiness updates.
• Coordinate QA testing activities across developers, vendors, IT teams, project teams, business stakeholders, and other resources to support testing timelines, issue resolution, retesting, and release readiness.
• Provide QA guidance, coaching and mentoring, to QA analysts and project team members by reviewing testing deliverables, sharing best practices, and promoting consistent application of QA methodologies and standards.
• Lead coordination of test environment readiness, test data availability, system access, and related testing dependencies with technical teams, vendors, and project stakeholders to support efficient and successful testing activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities by partnering with business stakeholders to facilitate test execution, track completion, support issue resolution, and validate that business acceptance criteria are satisfied.
• Review and evaluate vendor testing activities, deliverables, and quality results to help ensure testing meets project requirements, established QA standards, and release expectations
• Support the use, maintenance, and improvement of QA testing tools, automation tools, test repositories, defect tracking tools, and related QA documentation.
• Coordinate or support non-functional testing activities, such as performance, security, compatibility, accessibility, and other quality validation efforts, as appropriate for assigned technology initiatives.
• Maintain awareness of QA methodologies, testing tools, automation practices, and technology changes, and recommend practical improvements to QA testing processes, templates, tools, and documentation.
• May volunteer or be selected to serve on special committees, work groups, project teams, or escalation teams related to various firm wide IT initiatives. Initiatives may be specific one-time events, such as research, testing, rollouts, upgrades, and installations, or ongoing activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job duties and responsibilities included are not exhaustive and may be supplemented asnecessary.  Reed Smith reserves the right to revise or modify job duties and responsibilities at any time. 

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in a computer-related or technical field required. Additional training or certification in software testing, quality assurance, or a related area preferred. ISTQB or comparable certification preferred.

• Experience:
• Minimum of 6 years of IT quality assurance, software testing, application testing, systems testing, or related technology testing experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing, executing, and leading QA test plans, test cases, and test scripts through the software testing lifecycle, including manual, regression, and automated testing.
• Practical experience identifying, documenting, prioritizing, tracking, and retesting defects, testing issues, and quality concerns, and partnering with developers, vendors, IT teams, project teams, and stakeholders to support issue resolution, testing status updates, release readiness, and quality outcomes required.

Experience working in a law firm, professional services, or similarly service-oriented business environment preferred.

Skills:

• Knowledge of software quality assurance methodologies, testing practices, defect tracking, regression testing, test documentation, release testing processes, and QA lifecycle practices.
• Working knowledge of manual testing, automated testing, test case management, defect tracking tools, and test automation tools such as Selenium, TestComplete, or comparable tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project, as well as Power BI, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and related collaboration tools.
• Skill in developing, executing, leading, and documenting test plans, test cases, test scripts, test results, defects, and retesting outcomes.
• Skill in analyzing testing issues, defect trends, quality concerns, and release readiness considerations, and recommending practical next steps.
• QA coordination and project-level guidance skills across developers, vendors, IT teams, project teams, business stakeholders, QA analysts, and business testers.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication and collaboration skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organization and follow-through in managing priorities, deadlines, assigned testing activities, and documentation.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to work independently while remaining productive, responsive, and accountable in a remote or hybrid environment.

Additional information

Supervisory responsibilities: None

Equipment used: Personal computer and other office equipment such as telephone, calculator, copier, scanner, etc.

Essential job functions

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and perform tasks requiring prolonged and/or extensive computer use.
• Ability to use computers, telecommunications, and digital collaboration tools to perform core job responsibilities.
• Ability to engage in effective and professional communication.
• Ability to analyze information, maintain attention to detail, manage multiple priorities, and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to access, use, and safeguard confidential and sensitive information while performing job responsibilities in work environments that support confidentiality, privacy, and information security requirements.
• Ability to work an adjusted schedule or extended hours as needed, including earlier start times, to support collaboration with international stakeholders in EMEA based on business, operational, or project needs.
• Ability to work in-office as required to meet business or project needs. 

Working conditions

You will be required to work in the office at minimum 4 days per week. Occasionally called upon to work hours in excess of your normal daily schedule. The details of your weekly schedule will be discussed further with your direct supervisor.

Pay ranges
This represents the presently anticipated low and high end of Reed Smith's pay range for this position. Actual pay may vary based on various factors, including but not limited to location and experience.

Pittsburgh: $112,000 - $125,000

Employee benefits overview

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Virtual Health Services
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-Term Disability Coverage
• Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Lyra Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Family Leave (for eligible Exempt and Non-Exempt staff)
• Transportation Benefit
• Back-up Child Care Services
• College Coach Program
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Sick Time (for Exempt staff)
• Paid Time Off (available to all full-time, non-temporary employees)

Reed Smith offers a challenging work environment, business casual dress code and a total compensation package that includes a competitive salary, flexible benefits program, tuition assistance, and generous 401(k) plan.

Reed Smith is an Equal Opportunity Employer with Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork & Respect, Innovation, and Impact. Reed Smith also provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with law, including in the application and interview process.

Qualified candidates only. No search firms.