Software Quality Assurance Lead

Job Description

Position: Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Lead – CMMI & ISO Compliance

Location: Delhi NCR

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Lead to drive organizational process excellence, quality governance, and compliance initiatives across the organization. The role requires expertise in managing the complete lifecycle of CMMI Level 5 and ISO-based quality processes, conducting audits, guiding project teams on process adherence, and ensuring successful external assessments and certifications.

This is not a software testing or test management role. The ideal candidate should have hands-on experience in Software Quality Assurance, process compliance, organizational quality frameworks, audit management, and continuous process improvement within IT Services, Product Engineering, or Digital Transformation environments.

Qualifications & Experience

Education
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Quality Management, or a related discipline.
• Certifications in CMMI, ISO Lead Auditor, Six Sigma, Lean, Quality Management, or Process Excellence will be an advantage.

Experience
• 10–15+ years of experience in Software Quality Assurance (SQA), Process Excellence, Quality Management, or Organizational Process Improvement.
• Hands-on experience managing and supporting CMMI Level 5 implementation, maintenance, appraisal readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience in coordinating and handling external CMMI and ISO audits, assessments, and certification activities.
• Proven experience conducting project and organizational process audits for compliance with CMMI and ISO standards.
• Strong experience in quality governance, process documentation, metrics management, and compliance reporting.
• Experience working with large IT Services, Product Engineering, Digital Transformation, or Enterprise Technology organizations.
• Experience in driving enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives and organizational maturity programs.

Required Skills & Competencies
• Strong knowledge of:
• CMMI Maturity Level 5
• ISO 9001
• ISO 20000
• Quality Management Systems (QMS)
• Process Governance Frameworks
• Expertise in process definition, implementation, monitoring, and institutionalization.
• Experience conducting internal audits, gap assessments, and compliance reviews.
• Strong analytical, stakeholder management, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to mentor project teams and leadership on quality standards and compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in quality metrics reporting, audit management, and documentation tools.

Personal Attributes
• Strong quality and compliance mindset.
• Excellent problem-solving and process improvement capabilities.
• Detail-oriented with high standards of professional integrity.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive organization-wide adoption of quality practices.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Management & Process Governance
• Define, implement, and manage organizational quality processes and governance frameworks.
• Drive compliance with CMMI, ISO, and other applicable quality standards across projects and functions.
• Establish quality metrics, KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for process performance monitoring.
• Ensure institutionalization and consistent adoption of quality processes across the organization.

CMMI & ISO Compliance Management
• Lead and coordinate CMMI Level 5 implementation, appraisal readiness, assessments, and continuous improvement activities.
• Manage external ISO and CMMI audits, including preparation, evidence collection, stakeholder coordination, and audit closure.
• Act as the primary point of contact for auditors, assessors, and certification agencies.
• Ensure compliance with organizational quality policies, standards, and regulatory requirements.

Audit & Process Assurance
• Conduct internal quality audits and process compliance assessments across projects and business units.
• Identify process gaps, non-conformities, and improvement opportunities.
• Track corrective and preventive actions through closure and ensure effectiveness of implementation.
• Publish audit findings, compliance reports, and management review inputs.

Process Improvement & Organizational Excellence
• Drive continuous process improvement initiatives using quality metrics, audits, lessons learned, and industry best practices.
• Recommend process enhancements to improve efficiency, quality, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Support organizational process maturity and business excellence initiatives.

Coaching & Stakeholder Management
• Guide project teams on CMMI and ISO process requirements, quality standards, and compliance expectations.
• Conduct awareness sessions, workshops, and training programs on quality processes and best practices.
• Collaborate with project managers, delivery leaders, PMOs, and senior management to improve process adherence and quality outcomes.

Documentation & Knowledge Management
• Develop, maintain, and govern quality policies, procedures, templates, guidelines, and process assets.
• Ensure process repositories are current, version controlled, and accessible to relevant stakeholders.
• Support organizational knowledge management and process asset library initiatives.

Risk & Compliance Management
• Identify and mitigate process-related and quality-related risks.
• Monitor compliance trends and proactively address potential quality concerns.
• Support management reviews and leadership reporting related to quality and compliance performance.