Director Quality Engineering Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Ready to shape quality strategy across an entire engineering organization, not just a single team? If you're energized by ambiguity and building something from the ground up, this role is for you.

Lead the transformation of quality engineering in an AI-driven world. As Senior Manager, Quality Engineering, you'll set the strategic direction for quality across multiple platform portfolios, build and develop exceptional engineering talent, and champion innovative approaches that elevate quality, automation, and delivery at scale. As quality engineering enters an AI-driven era, this role will define what that transformation looks like at CFA Institute - partnering with senior leaders to shape enterprise-wide engineering practices and the future of quality.

The Senior Manager builds and develops engineering and management talent, oversees a blended team of full-time managers, engineers, and contractors, and is accountable for quality outcomes, automation strategy, and quality metrics across an expanded scope. This is a builder role: the Senior Manager balances strategic ownership with technical credibility, partnering with senior engineering and product leadership to embed quality at scale.

This position may be based in approved jurisdictions in the United States and is eligible for flexible working arrangements including remote/hybrid. It reports to the Director, Quality Engineering.

What You'll Do

Quality & Automation Strategy

• Set the strategic direction for quality across multiple platform portfolios - automation, performance, accessibility, and AI quality testing.

• Architect the practices, standards, and frameworks that scale beyond individual portfolios; drive consistency in test architecture, automation patterns, and AI quality governance.

• Define QE process standards: test planning, defect triage and SLAs, entry and exit criteria, end-to-end testing, release readiness, and reporting.

• Own quality metrics across portfolios - defect escape rate, automation coverage, test execution efficiency, AI quality scores, release readiness - and report regularly to leadership.

Team & Talent Leadership

• Lead a team of QE managers, senior engineers, tech leads, and contractors; develop the next layer of QE leadership.

• Partner with the Director, Quality Engineering on hiring, leveling, capability planning, and career development frameworks.

• Identify and develop high-potential engineers into tech leads and managers; coach managers on people leadership readiness.

AI Innovation

• Build a center of expertise on AI-led QE - one of the first roles of its kind at CFA Institute - driving AI adoption across test design, script generation, defect triage, and exploratory testing.

• Champion the Playwright/TypeScript automation framework, intelligent test execution tooling, and the AI quality stack.

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• 12+ years of experience in quality engineering, with 6+ years in people leadership, including experience managing managers.

• Proven track record mentoring senior engineers, tech leads, and managers into expanded leadership roles.

• Hands-on technical depth - ability to read a Playwright test, evaluate an automation framework, and review architectural decisions.

• Experience leading multiple portfolios or programs simultaneously.

• Demonstrated experience managing a blended team of full-time employees and contractors.

• A builder mindset and comfort operating with ambiguity.

Preferred

• Direct experience with at least three of: intelligent test execution, performance engineering, accessibility testing, API mocking and contract testing, CI/CD integration.

• Working knowledge of AI in QE - LLM-assisted test generation, AI model quality evaluation, prompt engineering, and AI quality scoring.

• Hiring and team-building experience across diverse and globally distributed talent markets.

At this time, CFA Institute cannot provide sponsorship. No agencies, please.

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position: Expected salary range: $140,000 - $190,000 per year. All salary ranges are subject to adjustment based on experience, education, and other factors relevant to the position including location. Additional benefits include eligibility for an annual incentive bonus, a 12% employer contribution to a 401(k) or pension plan, and a comprehensive medical benefits package.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we promote professional growth, uphold ethical standards, and help advance better financial markets. Join a global organization committed to putting investors first.

#LI-TB1

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we promote professional growth, uphold ethical standards, and help advance better financial markets. Join a global organization committed to putting investors first.

Follow CFA Institute on: LinkedIn | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | WeChat | Weibo

Important Message: Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements as CFA Institute cannot make assumptions about your education, experience, or location. We thank all those who apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. CFA Institute prohibits both discrimination and harassment with regard to all identifying characteristics: any individual employee, group of employees, or prospective employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, creed or belief, age, marital or partnership status, marital or family status, care giver status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, physical abilities/qualities, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, predisposing genetic characteristic, military or veteran status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence or sex offense or stalking, unemployment status, infectious disease carrier status, migrant worker status, educational background, socio-economic status, geographic location and culture or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy impacts all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, development, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, furlough, transfer, leave of absence, and dismissal. This is a global policy that applies to all CFA Institute employees, regardless of location.

If, due to a disability or current medical condition, you need an accommodation or assistance to complete a job application, you can request one at any stage of the recruitment process. Please send an email to TAHelpdesk@cfainstitute.org noting the accommodations or assistance you are requesting. Please do not include any medical or health information in this email. We will review your request and contact you to discuss the possible options and arrangements. We will try our best to provide you with an accommodation or assistance that meets your needs and respects your preferences.