Quality Assurance Manager

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Workers Compensation Division, has an opening for a Quality Assurance Manager, to be based in its Walnut Creek Office. This experienced manager will be responsible for shaping the overall quality strategy across complex IT systems and applications, managing and enhancing QA processes, ensuring high-quality product releases, and taking ownership of test strategy development, automation frameworks, and quality metrics. The beauty of this opportunity is this technical professional will remain deeply involved in the technical aspects of software testing while leading a team of QA engineers and will collaborate closely with development, operations, and product teams to ensure the delivery of robust, reliable, and scalable IT solutions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages and implements a comprehensive Quality Assurance strategy, incorporating automation, performance, security, and scalability testing.
• Leads and manages a team of QA engineers, ensuring alignment with business and technical objectives.
• Defines and implements quality assurance strategies, processes, and best practices that ensure the highest levels of product quality.
• Develops testing plans, test strategies, and test cases for both functional and non-functional requirements.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by driving automation and process enhancements.
• Collaborates with DevOps to integrate QA tools into CI/CD pipelines and establish continuous testing practices.

• Actively participates in the design, development, and execution of automated test scripts for front-end, back-end, API, and database testing.
• Implements, maintains, and scales test automation frameworks using tools such as Selenium, Appium, TestNG, or Cucumber.
• Executes performance, load, and stress testing using tools such as JMeter or LoadRunner, and provides insights for performance optimization.
• Ensures test automation integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, Bamboo) for continuous testing.

• Manages and implements performance and load testing strategies to ensure that applications meet scalability and availability requirements.
• Collaborates with the security team to ensure integration of security testing practices, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, into the QA process.
• Analyzes performance test results, identifies bottlenecks, and recommends optimizations for performance and scalability.

• Works closely with software architects, developers, and operations teams to understand technical requirements, system design, and performance goals.
• Collaborates closely with development, DevOps, and product teams to integrate QA processes into the overall software development lifecycle (SDLC).
• Partners with the DevOps team to ensure automated test coverage as part of continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Works with the architecture team to understand technical designs, scalability concerns, and non-functional requirements, ensuring thorough test coverage.
• Participates in code reviews, sprint planning, and technical discussions to ensure quality is embedded from the earliest stages of development.

• Leads the creation and execution of test plans and test cases that ensure comprehensive test coverage for complex IT systems.
• Develops end-to-end testing strategies that include unit, integration, system, regression, and acceptance testing.
• Designs and implements automated regression testing strategies to ensure product stability across releases.
• Identifies, documents, and mitigates risks by proactively addressing quality concerns during all phases of development.

• Defines, monitors, and reports on key quality metrics, such as test coverage, defect density, test execution progress, and release readiness.
• Establishes automated dashboards to provide real-time visibility into quality status, defect trends, and testing progress.
• Conducts root cause analysis on defects and failures, working with engineering teams to ensure corrective actions and prevention strategies.
• Establishes and monitors quality metrics, including defect density, test coverage, and mean time to detect/fix defects.
• Generates detailed quality reports, providing insights into system stability, performance, and quality risks.
• Creates dashboards and automated reporting systems for real-time visibility into test execution, results, and defect trends.

• Leads, mentors, and coaches QA engineers to build strong technical and testing competencies.
• Drives training initiatives for the QA team, ensuring up-to-date knowledge of automation tools, testing methodologies, and best practices.
• Ensures the team is well-versed in test automation, performance testing, security testing, and manual testing where needed.

• Stays informed about emerging QA tools, technologies, and methodologies, implementing improvements that enhance testing effectiveness.
• Advocates for a shift-left testing approach, embedding quality practices early in the SDLC to catch defects early and reduce overall testing cycles.
• Drives the adoption of modern testing techniques, such as behavior-driven development (BDD), test-driven development (TDD), and exploratory testing.

• Works with business applications across various environments, including on-premises, hybrid, and cloud systems.
• Works with the infrastructure and cloud teams to ensure that application environments are stable, secure, and meet business performance expectations.
• Supports the transition of applications from on-premises environments to cloud or hybrid architectures, working closely with senior IT leadership on cloud migration strategies.
• Ensures proper governance and performance monitoring for applications in all environments, proactively identifying areas for optimization.

• Ensures that all business applications comply with industry regulations and internal security standards, including SOX, PCI-DSS, and other financial sector regulations.
• Works with the cyber security team to ensure applications are secured against potential threats and vulnerabilities.
• Develops and implements procedures for regular audits, risk assessments, and disaster recovery plans for critical applications.
• Ensures that QA processes adhere to relevant industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO, GDPR, HIPPA).
• Develops and maintains test documentation, including test plans, test cases, test scripts, and test data management.
• Implements processes to ensure traceability of test cases to requirements and automated defect tracking/reporting.

• EDUCATION: Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field required. Master's degree a plus.
• CERTIFICATIONS: Highly Preferred: ISTQB Advanced Test Manager, Certified Agile Tester, or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM).
• EXPERIENCE: Required: Minimum of 10 years of experience in software quality assurance, with a minimum of 3 years in a QA management role. Proven hands-on experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber). Solid experience in integrating test automation into C!/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, or Bamboo. Experience in performance and load testing using JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar tools. Preferred: Experience working in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) and familiarity with testing cloud-native applications. Experience with performance monitoring tools like Grafana, Prometheus, or New Relic.

• Strong understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies.
• Expertise in API testing using tools like Postman, SoapUI, or REST-assured.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, or similar for test automation.
• Familiarity with containerized testing environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on detail and accuracy.
• Excellent communication and and leadership skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally and lead technical discussions.

• Work-Life Balance
• Work From Home Program (up to 2 days per week upon eligibility)
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Modern Office Setting
• Free On-Site Fitness Facility
• Free downtown shuttle route
• Two-minute walk from Walnut Creek BART Station
• Three-minute car ride from CA-24 and I-680
• Free On-Site Garage Parking

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Retirements Savings Match
• Group Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Flexible Savings Accounts
• Paid Community Volunteer Day
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Program
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program

ABOUT US

With more than 50 years in business, BHHC has grown from a regional organization to a national insurance group, offering insurance products from coast to coast. Relationships are the cornerstone of our culture, and we believe in doing the right thing. That means we invest in our business in every way possible to deliver on our mission and demonstrate that people are what powers our success. Our commitment to financial strength and integrity means our customers can rest assured that we will be there when it counts.

At BHHC we embrace diversity and foster an environment where our people can be their authentic selves. Our differences make us stronger and better together, which fosters a harmonious workplace—something we truly value. We’ve created an approachable and collaborative atmosphere. Here you’ll find a welcoming workplace where everyone can feel valued, supported, and inspired to do great work. Together, we raise the bar by being curious, remaining customer-focused, and operating with integrity.