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, TestRail, 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