We are seeking an Associate Director, QA to lead and shape the automation testing strategy for our software applications, systems, and databases. This leadership role requires a strong technical background in software testing, SQL for database validation, and systems testing. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing and mentoring high-performing AQA teams, establishing quality assurance best practices, and driving end-to-end automation initiatives across complex software applications. This role combines both strategic leadership and hands-on technical expertise, focusing on ensuring that the quality of our products meets the highest standards.  MAIN ACTIVITIES: * Leadership & Team Management: Lead and manage the AQA team, including hiring, mentoring, and developing engineers. Foster a high-performing team culture focused on quality, innovation, and continuous improvement.  * Automation Strategy: Define and implement the strategic vision for test automation across software applications, systems, and databases. Drive the adoption of automation best practices, methodologies, and frameworks across the organization.  * SQL Database Testing: Oversee the development and execution of SQL-based automated tests for database validation, ensuring data integrity, performance, and security across multiple databases   * Integration of AI and Machine Learning: Leverage Azure Machine Learning (ML) to develop predictive models for automated testing, improving test coverage, and identifying potential software issues before they arise.   * Software Testing Leadership: Guide the automation of testing for various types of software applications (desktop, APIs) and systems, ensuring full test coverage and system reliability.  * Continuous Improvement: Drive the improvement of automation frameworks, testing processes, and toolsets to increase efficiency, scalability, and maintainability of test automation efforts.  * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product management, development, and DevOps teams to ensure that testing efforts align with business objectives and product delivery timelines.  * Test Planning and Execution: Establish and enforce standards for test planning, execution, and reporting. Ensure comprehensive test coverage across all layers of the application stack, from UI to backend systems and databases.  CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Oversee the integration of test automation into the CI/CD pipelines, ensuring automated tests run seamlessly as part of the build and deployment processes.  * Performance & Load Testing: Manage performance testing efforts for both applications and databases to ensure that systems can scale and perform efficiently under load.  * Quality Assurance Metrics: Define, measure, and report on key quality metrics, including defect density, test coverage, and test execution status. Use these metrics to continuously refine and improve testing strategies.  * Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify potential risks to product quality and take appropriate action to mitigate risks, resolve issues, and communicate findings to key stakeholders.  * Stakeholder Engagement: Regularly update senior management and cross-functional teams on test results, challenges, and improvements, ensuring transparency and alignment with business goals.  SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS: At least 10+ years of experience in AQA or software testing, with 5+ years in a leadership or management position. Proven experience overseeing test automation across software applications, systems, and databases.  Advanced proficiency in SQL, with extensive experience in writing complex queries, validating database integrity, and performing data migration and ETL testing.  Strong experience with Azure Purview, Power Automate, Azure DevOps, and Azure Machine Learning.  In-depth experience with test automation tools and frameworks such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, Cypress, Appium, or similar tools. Strong background in developing and maintaining scalable test automation frameworks.  Experience testing a broad range of software applications (web, desktop, mobile) and systems (APIs, databases) with a strong focus on ensuring both functional and data quality.  Experience managing and conducting performance, load, and stress testing for both software applications and databases using tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, or equivalent.  Proven expertise in integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, Bamboo, or other CI/CD platforms.  Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic thinking skills. Experience in leading large, distributed teams and guiding them through complex, multi-stage testing projects.  Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.  Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to diagnose complex issues across software applications, systems, and databases.  Solid experience in Agile environments, with a deep understanding of Agile testing principles and practices.  Experience with test management tools (ex: JIRA) for tracking test cases, defects, and metrics.