Lead Test Engineer- Automation + team lead

About Gartner IT:  Join a world-class team of skilled engineers who build creative digital solutions to support our colleagues and clients.  We make a broad organizational impact by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that power Gartner.  Gartner IT values its culture of nonstop innovation, an outcome-driven approach to success, and the notion that great ideas can come from anyone on the team.  About this role: The Lead Test Engineer is a hands-on technical leader responsible for guiding the design, development, and execution of test strategies and automation frameworks. This role provides technical expertise to the QA team, mentors test engineers, and collaborates closely with developers, product owners, and project managers to ensure high-quality product delivery.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Design, develop, and maintain robust test automation frameworks for functional and non-functional testing (UI, DB, API, performance, etc.). Lead the creation and execution of comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test scripts, ensuring alignment with project requirements and quality standards. Own the execution and reporting of system, integration, end to end, and regression testing activities. Identify, document, and prioritize defects with appropriate severity; collaborate with development teams to resolve issues efficiently. Lead and own defect triage calls with product owner and development team. Implement and advocate QA best practices, tools, and metrics within the team. Drive the automation strategy for assigned projects, ensuring coverage and efficiency. Review and optimize test case management and defect tracking processes (e.g., JIRA). Provide clear and concise status updates, including metrics and risk assessments, to project stakeholders. Collaborate with developers, product owners, and scrum teams to align testing with project goals and customer requirements. Stay current with emerging technologies and trends in test automation, integrating new tools and techniques as appropriate. Support and coach team members in technical problem-solving and professional development.

A strong IT professional with 6–8 years of experience in software testing. The candidate should have excellent technical, analytical, and communication skills, and demonstrate high ownership and accountability. Must have 6-8 years of experience in QA, with at least 1 years in a technical lead or senior engineering role. Proven experience designing and implementing manual and automated test solutions. Proficient in leading end-to-end test management across the software lifecycle Strong programming/scripting skills in one or more languages: Java, JavaScript, Python. Hands-on experience with industry-standard test automation tools: Selenium, Playwright, JUnit, TestNG, JMeter, Cucumber, Appium, Postman, Report Portal. Experience with SQL and data validation. Experience with UI, API, Performance, Experience in estimation, prioritization, and planning/coordination of QA activities in Agile/Scrum environments. Proficiency with test case management and defect tracking tools (e.g., JIRA). Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide junior engineers. Experience integrating test suites with DevOps/CICD pipelines (GIT, Jenkins, Who you are Graduate/Post graduate in BE/BTech, ME/MTech, or MCA is preferred. Excellent communication and prioritization skills. Able to work independently or as a technical leader within a team in a fast-paced Agile-Scrum environment. Owns success – Takes responsibility for the quality and delivery of solutions. Strong attention to detail, end-user quality, and usability. Self-motivated and excellent problem-solving skills. #LI-JJ3 Who are we? At Gartner, Inc. (NYSE:IT), we guide the leaders who shape the world. Our mission relies on expert analysis and bold ideas to deliver actionable, objective business and technology insights, helping enterprise leaders and their