Position: Functional Test Lead Location: Mclean VA – Hybrid Onsite Duration: 6+ Month Job Description: As a Functional Test Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the quality and reliability of our software products. You will lead a team of test engineers to design, develop, and execute comprehensive test strategies, test plans, and test cases. Your focus will be on functional testing, ensuring that our software functions as intended and meets all business requirements. Key Responsibilities: Test Strategy and Planning: Develop and maintain a robust test strategy aligned with overall project objectives. Create detailed test plans outlining test scope, objectives, approach, and resource allocation. Collaborate with product owners, business analysts, and development teams to understand requirements and identify testing scenarios. Test Case Design and Execution: Design, develop, and maintain comprehensive test cases covering both positive and negative scenarios. Utilize effective test design techniques, such as equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, and use case testing. Execute test cases manually and automate test execution where feasible. Track and manage test execution progress, identifying and resolving issues promptly. Test Automation: Drive test automation efforts, selecting appropriate tools and frameworks. Develop and maintain automated test scripts to improve efficiency and test coverage. Collaborate with development teams to integrate automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline. Defect Management: Identify, log, and track defects using a defect tracking system. Collaborate with development teams to prioritize and resolve defects. Conduct root cause analysis to prevent recurring defects. Test Reporting and Analysis: Generate comprehensive test reports, including test execution status, defect metrics, and test coverage. Analyze test results to identify trends, risks, and areas for improvement. Present test results to stakeholders, highlighting key findings and recommendations. Team Leadership and Mentoring: Lead and mentor a team of test engineers, providing guidance, training, and support. Foster a collaborative and positive team culture. Motivate and empower team members to achieve their goals. Required Skills and Experience: Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and testing methodologies. Proven experience in functional testing, including test case design, execution, and defect management. Hands-on experience with test automation tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG). Proficiency in scripting languages (e.g., Python, Java, JavaScript). Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail and ability to work effectively under pressure. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in leading and mentoring teams. Knowledge of Agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) is preferred.