Director of Quality Engineering – Only Locals to Chicago, IL
Job Title: Director of Quality Engineering
Location: Chicago, IL
Need Only Local Candidates – In Person interview required
***Only W2 Candidates***
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Quality Engineering to lead and drive the quality assurance and testing strategy across Gallagher s technology platforms. This role will be responsible for establishing and scaling quality engineering practices, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in quality engineering, test automation, and leadership, with a passion for innovation and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
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Strategic Leadership:
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Define and execute the overall quality engineering strategy, aligning with organizational goals and technology roadmaps.
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Establish and enforce quality standards, processes, and best practices across all technology teams.
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Drive a culture of quality and accountability throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
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Team Leadership & Development:
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Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of quality engineers, managers, and automation specialists.
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Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.
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Identify skill gaps and provide training opportunities to ensure the team stays current with emerging technologies and methodologies.
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Quality Assurance & Automation:
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Oversee the design, development, and implementation of test automation frameworks and tools.
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Ensure comprehensive test coverage, including functional, performance, security, and regression testing.
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Drive the adoption of continuous testing practices within CI/CD pipelines to enable faster and more reliable software delivery.
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Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:
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Partner with product management, development, and operations teams to ensure quality is embedded in every phase of the SDLC.
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Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure alignment with quality objectives.
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Act as a key advocate for quality engineering within the organization, influencing decision-making and driving change.
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Metrics & Reporting:
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Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of quality engineering efforts.
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Provide regular updates to senior leadership on quality metrics, risks, and improvement initiatives.
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Use data-driven insights to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.
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Innovation & Continuous Improvement:
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Stay abreast of industry trends, tools, and technologies to ensure Gallagher remains at the forefront of quality engineering.
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Drive initiatives to improve efficiency, reduce defects, and enhance the overall customer experience.
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Champion the use of AI/ML and other advanced technologies to optimize testing processes.
Qualifications
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Education:
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Bachelor s or Master s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
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Experience:
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10 years of experience in quality engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
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Proven track record of leading large-scale quality engineering initiatives in complex, enterprise environments.
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Experience with test automation tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Appium, TestNG, JUnit, Cypress).
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Technical Skills:
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Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
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Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps).
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Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and microservices architectures.
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Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner) and security testing practices.
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Soft Skills:
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Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
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Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with a focus on delivering results.
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certifications in quality engineering or testing (e.g., ISTQB, Certified Software Quality Engineer).
- Experience with AI/ML-driven testing tools and methodologies.
- Knowledge of regulatory compliance and standards (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001).