DESCRIPTION:Position Summary The Sr. SQAE – Team Lead is a senior individual contributor responsible for leading testing activities across core banking systems with integrated fintech and digital platforms. The role combines strong functional testing expertise in core banking with the ability to validate API-driven integrations and distributed system interactions. The position primarily focuses on validating end-to-end banking workflows, transaction processing, and data integrity across core systems, while also ensuring seamless integration with fintech services, digital channels, and external platforms. It requires close collaboration with Business, Product, Engineering, and external stakeholders to ensure quality delivery aligned with banking standards, regulatory expectations, and release timelines. The role operates in a structured, high-dependency environment and requires strong domain understanding of banking systems, along with the ability to guide QA engineers and maintain consistent quality practices across the team.
Key Responsibilities Lead functional testing activities for core banking modules and integrated fintech systems, ensuring complete test coverage and validation Plan and coordinate testing tasks across team members aligned with sprint and release timelines Analyze business and functional requirements and guide the team in preparing test scenarios, test cases, and test data Validate end-to-end banking workflows, including account operations, payments, lending, and transaction processing Ensure validation of API integrations between core banking systems and fintech platforms or external services Oversee execution of functional, regression, integration, and exploratory testing across releases Review test cases, execution results, and defect reports to ensure quality, completeness, and consistency Drive defect management, including triage participation, impact analysis, and closure validation Validate system behavior against business rules, regulatory requirements, and expected outcomes Perform API testing and validate service interactions across internal and external systems Ensure database validation and data integrity checks across transactions and integrated workflows Support SIT and UAT cycles, ensuring proper coverage, execution tracking, and issue resolution Provide structured reporting on testing progress, risks, defects, and quality metrics Identify risks, blockers, and dependencies, and escalate in a timely and structured manner Mentor and guide QA engineers on testing practices, domain understanding, and execution quality Contribute to continuous improvement of QA processes, including identification of automation opportunities Ensure adherence to QA standards, STLC practices, and organizational compliance requirements
Soft Skills Strong leadership and team coordination capabilities Clear and structured communication with business, technical teams, and stakeholders Strong analytical and problem-solving skills across banking and integration workflows Ability to manage multiple priorities across parallel releases and systems High attention to detail in validating transactions, data, and system behavior Proactive mindset in identifying risks and driving resolution Collaborative and mentoring-oriented approach within QA teams
Experience 6+ years of experience in Software Quality Assurance / Testing Strong experience in functional, regression, integration, and system testing Proven experience leading testing activities or coordinating QA teams for modules or projects
Mandatory: Hands-on experience in core banking systems
Preferred: Experience in fintech, digital banking platforms, or API-driven integrations Strong understanding of core banking workflows such as Accounts (CASA), Payments (SWIFT, RTGS), Customer Management, Lending, and transaction processing Experience in validating end-to-end transaction flows and integrated system behavior Hands-on experience in API testing and validating service integrations Experience in database validation and ensuring data consistency across systems Experience working in Agile, Scrum, Hybrid, or project-based delivery environments Experience supporting SIT, UAT, and release validation cycles Exposure to automation testing frameworks is an added advantage Experience in high-volume transaction systems and concurrent user scenarios is preferred
Technical Skills Strong functional testing expertise across banking and integrated systems Core Banking Domain Knowledge API Testing (Postman / REST / SOAP) Integration and service-level validation Database validation (SQL queries, data verification) Data integrity and transaction validation across systems Test planning, test design, and execution governance Defect lifecycle management and root cause analysis Understanding of STLC, QA governance, and release validation practices Agile / Scrum delivery models Tools: JIRA, Test Rail, Zephyr, HP ALM, or equivalent Automation (good to have): Selenium / Cypress / Playwright Performance testing exposure (good to have): JMeter
Languages English: Fluent (Professional Working Proficiency) Arabic: Speaking or understanding – Good to have
Certifications ISTQB Foundation Level (CTFL) – Preferred ISTQB Agile Tester or equivalent – Good to have Banking or fintech-related certifications – Good to have