Systems Testing/QA Specialist - Senior

Position Overview

The Government Services Integration Cluster is seeking an experienced Senior Systems Testing / QA Specialist to lead and execute quality assurance activities across manual and automated testing initiatives.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing testing strategies, creating test plans and test cases, executing functional and integration testing, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions.

The role requires extensive experience in API testing, automation testing, SQL database validation, and testing methodologies across front-end and back-end application environments. The candidate will also collaborate with business analysts, developers, product owners, and other stakeholders throughout the Agile software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Testing Strategy and Execution

• Develop, review, and implement test strategies, test plans, test scripts, and test cases.
  

• Plan, organize, and manage testing activities for large-scale systems across GUI and non-GUI environments.
  

• Execute functional, integration, regression, unit, load, performance, and accessibility testing.
  

• Perform front-end and back-end application testing.
  

• Conduct system integration testing (SIT), specialized testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT).
  

• Prepare and manage test data for different testing phases.
  

• Validate test results against defined acceptance criteria.
  

• Develop traceability matrices to ensure alignment between business requirements and testing outcomes.
  

• Conduct post-release and post-implementation testing.
  

API and Automation Testing

• Review API specifications and develop comprehensive API test scenarios.
  

• Perform positive, negative, and error test cases, including HTTP status code validation.
  

• Validate API schemas, request/response payloads, and data integrity.
  

• Test API authentication, authorization, integration points, and error handling.
  

• Develop and maintain reusable automated test scripts.
  

• Perform functional, regression, and integration automation testing.
  

• Use API testing tools such as Postman, SoapUI, or RestAssured.
  

• Apply automation frameworks and tools such as Selenium, Appium, and Playwright.
  

• Execute SQL queries for database validation and data-driven testing.
  

• Debug automation scripts and identify root causes of failures.
  

Defect Management and Reporting

• Identify, document, track, and manage defects using Jira.
  

• Coordinate defect review meetings with business analysts and stakeholders.
  

• Communicate testing progress, results, risks, and outstanding issues.
  

• Prepare test execution reports and weekly status updates.
  

• Participate in daily Scrum meetings and project status discussions.
  

• Provide actionable recommendations to improve software quality.
  

Stakeholder Collaboration and Leadership

• Collaborate with product managers, product owners, developers, and business stakeholders.
  

• Participate in requirements-gathering workshops, sprint reviews, and walkthrough sessions.
  

• Provide guidance on testing strategies, tools, resources, and methodologies.
  

• Lead quality assurance initiatives and promote continuous improvement.
  

• Act as the primary point of contact for QA-related issues and escalations.
  

• Support business users during UAT activities.
  

Knowledge Transfer

• Conduct regular knowledge transfer sessions with ministry staff.
  

• Transfer all testing documentation, deliverables, source code, and relevant artefacts to designated ministry repositories.
  

• Participate in working sessions and meetings to ensure knowledge is effectively transferred.
  

• Provide clarification and technical guidance to ministry staff.
  

Required Skills and Qualifications

Testing Skills and Experience

• Minimum 10+ years of experience planning, organizing, and implementing software testing activities.
  

• Strong understanding of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), Agile, and DevOps methodologies.
  

• Extensive experience developing and executing test strategies, test plans, and test cases.
  

• Minimum 5+ years of REST API testing experience.
  

• Strong experience reviewing API specifications and validating request/response structures.
  

• Experience testing positive, negative, and error scenarios, including HTTP status codes.
  

• Knowledge of API authentication, authorization, schema validation, and data integrity.
  

• Experience with functional, integration, regression, performance, load, and accessibility testing.
  

• Experience testing front-end and back-end application components.
  

Automation and Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience with automation tools such as:
  

  • Selenium
    

  • Appium
    

  • Playwright
    

• Proficiency in at least one programming language:
  

  • Java
    

  • Python
    

  • C#
    

  • JavaScript
    

• Experience with testing frameworks such as:
  

  • TestNG
    

  • JUnit
    

  • NUnit
    

  • PyTest
    

• Experience with API testing tools:
  

  • Postman
    

  • SoapUI
    

  • RestAssured
    

• Strong knowledge of RESTful and SOAP web services.
  

• Ability to write and execute SQL queries for database validation.
  

• Experience debugging and troubleshooting automated test scripts.
  

• Knowledge of accessibility testing and AODA compliance tools such as:
  

  • AXE
    

  • WAVE
    

• Familiarity with performance testing tools such as JMeter or LoadRunner is an asset.
  

Leadership and Communication Skills

• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams.
  

• Ability to lead QA initiatives and improve testing processes.
  

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  

• Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills.
  

• Ability to communicate testing progress, risks, and recommendations effectively.
  

• Proven ability to build strong working relationships and manage competing priorities.
  

Requirements

Must-Have Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in software testing, planning, organizing, and implementing testing efforts.
  

• 5+ years of REST API testing experience.
  

• Strong experience reviewing API specifications and testing positive, negative, and error scenarios.
  

• Experience validating API schemas, request/response payloads, authentication, authorization, and data integrity.
  

• Hands-on experience with Postman, SoapUI, or RestAssured.
  

• Strong knowledge of RESTful and SOAP web services.
  

• Ability to write and execute SQL queries for database validation.
  

• Experience with automation tools such as Selenium, Appium, or Playwright.
  

• Experience conducting GUI and non-GUI testing, including system integration testing and UAT.
  

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Previous experience working with Ontario Public Sector (OPS) or government organizations.
  

• Experience with AODA accessibility compliance and testing.
  

• Experience with performance testing tools such as JMeter or LoadRunner.
  

• Experience working in large-scale enterprise application environments.
  

Additional Information

• Work Location: 40 St. Clair Street, Toronto, Ontario.
  

• Work Arrangement: Mandatory five days onsite per week.
  

• Contract Duration: November 9, 2026 – March 31, 2027.
  

• Security Clearance: No clearance required.
  

• Submission Deadline: November 4, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST