Information Technology Spec 4 - QA Automation Lead

Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) administers retirement plans that provide retirement, survivor, and disability benefit coverage for Minnesota state employees, the Metropolitan Council, and many non-faculty employees at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State university system. MSRS covers over 56,000 active employees and currently pays monthly benefits to over 44,000 retirees and survivors.

Job Details

Working Title: QA Automation Lead
Job Class: Information Technology Specialist 4
Agency: MN State Retirement System

Who May Apply: Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted: 10/31/2023
Closing Date: 11/27/2023
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit: MN State Retirement System / State Retirement System-MAPE
Division/Unit: MN State Retirement System / Systems Analysis
Work Shift/Work Hours: Day Shift
Days of Work: Monday - Friday
Travel Required: No
Salary Range: $34.95 - $57.65 / hourly; $72,975 - $120,373 / annually
Job Class Option: Info Tech Quality Assurance
Classified Status: Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union: 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status: Exempt - Administrative
Telework Eligible: No
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities: Yes

Make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans.
The work you’ll do is more than just a job. Join the talented, engaged and inclusive workforce dedicated to creating a better Minnesota.

Job Summary

As a QA Automation Lead, you will manage the creation of advanced automated regression, smoke and functional testing solutions for MSRS applications. The scope of this role will include leading development and execution of automated tests, building new automated testing processes and architectures, and meeting deliverables at every phase of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Throughout you will collaborate with the QA Lead, Development Lead, and Release Coordinator on the implementation of test environments, the deployment of automation components, and mentoring of other IT Application Development staff.
Job duties include but are not limited to:

Leading the planning and analysis for Test Automation
Executing automated tests and analyzing test results
Collaborating with other application staff and mentoring other testers and developers on test automation

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
Candidates must clearly demonstrate all of the following qualifications in their resume:
This position requires a minimum of four* (4) years of experience in IT Quality Assurance

A Master’s degree in Information Technology or a related field substitutes for 18 months of experience, OR a related Bachelor’s degree substitutes for 1 year, OR a related Associate’s substitutes for 6 months.

Experience of candidates considered must include:

Two (2) of the four (4) years of experience must be working with test automation
Experience in testing complex software systems and in creating test plans, test scripts, and test reports
Experience using browser virtualization tools to test web applications
Understanding of 508 accessibility requirements and web accessibility testing
Understanding of Agile principles and how to operate in an Agile SDLC
Experience working in a linux environment
Experience leading the QA effort on projects

Preferred Qualifications

Experience using Katalon studio to create and execute automated test cases
Experience setting up and working with pipelines in CI/CD software, such as Jenkins or Gitlab
Experience with one or more source control tools, such as Gitlab, Git, Github, Bitbucket or others
Experience with one or more defect tracking and requirements management tools, such as Jira, IBM RTC, Confluence, ALM, or others
Experience creating automated API tests

Additional Requirements
It is the policy of the Retirement Systems of MN that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

SEMA4 Records Check (applies to current and past State employees only)
Criminal History Check
Employment Reference Check
Social Security and Address Verification
Education Verification
Driver's License Check

The Retirement Systems will not sponsor applicants for work visas. All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the US.

Application Details

How to Apply**
Select “Apply for Job” at the top of this page. If you have questions about applying for jobs, contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us. For additional information about the application process, go to http://www.mn.gov/careers.
If you have questions about the position, contact Elizabeth Lefholz at betsy.lefholz@hr.mnretirement.us or 651-284-7876.
To receive consideration as a Connect 700 Program applicant, apply online, email the Job ID#, the Working Title and your valid Proof of Eligibility Certificate by the closing date to Elizabeth Lefholz at betsy.lefholz@hr.mnretirement.us.
Why Work for Us**
Diverse Workforce**
We are committed to continually developing a workforce that reflects the diversity of our state and the populations we serve. The varied experiences and perspectives of employees strengthen the work we do together and our ability to best serve the people of Minnesota.
A recent engagement survey of State of Minnesota employees found:**

95% of employees understand how their work helps achieve their agency’s mission
91% of employees feel trusted to do their jobs
88% of employees feel equipped to look at situations from other cultural perspectives when doing their job
87% of employees report flexibility in their work schedule

Comprehensive Benefits**
Our benefits aim to balance four key elements that make life and work meaningful: health and wellness, financial well-being, professional development, and work/life harmony. As an employee, your benefits may include:

Public pension plan
Training and professional development
Paid vacation and sick leave
11 paid holidays each year
Paid parental leave
Low-cost medical and dental coverage
Prescription drug coverage
Vision coverage
Wellness programs and resources
Employer paid life insurance
Short-term and long-term disability
Health care spending and savings accounts
Dependent care spending account
Tax-deferred compensation
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuition reimbursement
Federal Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Programs, resources and benefits eligibility varies based on type of employment, agency, funding availability, union/collective bargaining agreement, location, and length of service with the State of Minnesota.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER**
Minnesota state agencies are equal opportunity, affirmative action, and veteran-friendly employers. The State of Minnesota recognizes that a diverse workforce is essential and strongly encourages qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans to apply.
We will make reasonable accommodations to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us and indicate what assistance is needed.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $72,975.00 - $120,373.00 per year