Quality Assurance Architect & Manager (AIM)

General Description and Classification Standards

The Quality Assurance (QA) Architect & Manager oversees the full QA lifecycle for Atlanta Information Management’s (AIM) enterprise applications, ensuring that all software and infrastructure projects meet organizational requirements, function reliably, and provide a high-quality user experience. This role leads testing strategy, QA team performance, and the development of scalable quality frameworks. Responsibilities include defining testing standards, architecting automation strategies, and ensuring alignment with organizational and end-user expectations across all of AIM’s initiatives.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Quality Leadership & Strategy

• Provide management of the full QA lifecycle, ensuring consistent quality across proprietary and enterprise systems.
• Lead and oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT) cycles to ensure solutions meet business expectations and improve employee processes.
• Documentation services including Test Plans, Regression Testing, and Smoke Testing.
• Facilitate all testing phases and ensure results are documented and tracked accurately.
• Certify the functionality, reliability, accessibility, and performance of production applications.
• Automate regression tests using repeatable, scalable scripts.
• Ensure all projects meet client team expectations and align with requirements.
• Perform verification activities on web-based proprietary software to ensure ongoing product quality.
• Assign, schedule, and oversee daily activities of QA team members.
• Delegate appropriately based on skill sets and responsibilities.
• Promote and foster an environment that proactively supports change, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Review and analyze team workload before making assignments and project decisions.
• Infuse a learning culture and drive continual improvement within the QA team.
• Hold staff accountable with clear direction and measurable objectives.
• Engage employees in ongoing performance conversations.
• Empower team members to meet project objectives and customer expectations.
• Coordinate with AIM Management and HR on personnel matters such as development, performance, and discipline.
• Develop training programs for all QA positions to support skill growth and cross-training.

Cross-Department Collaboration & Governance

• Manage enterprise application projects and priorities in collaboration with other division managers.
• Review and develop cross-divisional project schedules.
• Develop and maintain processes, procedures, and policies as appropriate.
• Recommend strategic technology or business system changes to the CIO and leadership teams.
• Contribute to short- and long-term strategic planning for the IT Department.
• Manage and administer service level agreements (SLAs) with business clients.
• Share responsibility for major IT governance processes such as Change Management, Release Management, and Request Management.
• Establish and enforce technical standards related to database, server, desktop, development, and other environments.
• Ensure customer service experience and communication with stakeholders remain a top priority.
• Recommend and manage assigned budgets, including capital project budgets.
• Monitor performance to ensure city funds are managed responsibly and transparently.
• Oversee and strengthen relationships between the Enterprise Applications Team and business stakeholders.
• Lead the selection, design, integration, and operation of enterprise applications and business software solutions across the city.

Additional Leadership & Architecture Responsibilities

• Define QA architectural standards and frameworks, including test data management, test environment management, and automation architecture.
• Evaluate and implement modern QA tools, technologies, and platforms to increase efficiency and automation maturity.
• Establish KPIs, dashboards, and quality metrics to monitor product quality, team performance, and release readiness.
• Conduct root-cause analysis (RCA) for defects and production issues, ensuring long-term corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with security, accessibility/ADA, data governance, and regulatory requirements.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

This is a partial list of the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for the role

• Ability to consistently meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.
• Experience working on software development teams and within modern SDLC frameworks.
• Excellent soft skills, including communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution.
• Familiarity with ERP processes and enterprise application ecosystems.
• Programming skills sufficient for creating automated tests in various languages.
• Knowledge of Agile Testing principles and the full SDLC framework.
• Cross-browser and cross-platform testing experience.
• Experience with tools such as SOAP-UI, TestIM, Selenium, Appium, Cypress, BrowserStack, Percy, and related platforms.
• Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines and how automated testing integrates with DevOps workflows.
• Ability to mentor QA engineers and interns, develop technical career paths, and conduct skills assessments.
• Strong analytical and architectural thinking skills, especially in evaluating risk, complexity, and scalability

Minimum Qualifications – Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience in Information Technology, Business, Public Administration, or related field.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise applications, including at least 2 years in Project Management or equivalent leadership roles.
• Proficiency with MS Office, MS Project, MS Visio, and MS SharePoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understanding of QA methodologies, lifecycle, and processes.
• Experience with Software Engineering, Information Systems, or relevant technical disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of application development methodologies and implementation.
• Experience managing the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Experience leading or architecting QA automation frameworks at enterprise scale.

Preferred

• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• Business Analytics Certification
• Full-Stack Development Certification
• Certification in DevOps, Cloud Architecture, or Automation Tools

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.