SENIOR SOFTWARE TEST ENGINEER(QA LEAD) (Bengaluru)

Career Area

Technology, Digital and Data

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives.

For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our creative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Your Impact Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do - but also about each other. We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here - we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

What does it mean to live the Caterpillar Experience

It means you play a part in building a better world. You contribute to a winning culture-a spirit of accountability-that has driven change on every continent for more than 90 years. To work with us is a commitment to improve sustainability, invent for the digital age and innovate in order to bring solutions to millions of people. Sure, you work for Caterpillar. But more importantly, you work for the good of your career, your family, your community, and your world.

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled Senior Software Test Engineer (QA Lead) to join Informatics & Connected Worksite - CAT IT Division.

The preference for this role is to be based out of Chennai - Brigade World Trade Center & Bangalore - Caterpillar PSN office.

What you will do

The QA lead should have 10-15 years of experience in software testing and quality assurance, including leading QA teams in fast-paced product environments. The candidate is a hands-on quality leader with expertise in manual and automation testing, release management, quality strategy, and team development. The QA lead will drive end-to-end quality across the SDLC while championing automation, AI-enabled testing, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and continuously evolve the organization's QA strategy across manual, automation, regression, exploratory, API, performance, and release testing.
• Lead QA activities throughout the SDLC including test planning, execution, defect management, risk assessment, release validation, and production sign-off.
• Drive AI-enabled testing initiatives and continuously improve testing efficiency, quality, and coverage.
• Define, track, and report quality metrics such as defect leakage, automation coverage, release readiness, defect trends, and test effectiveness.
• Perform root cause analysis for production issues and implement preventive quality improvements.
• Lead automation initiatives, improving framework reliability, execution efficiency, and maintainability.
• Collaborate with business and product teams to improve API/UI automation and overall software quality.
• Mentor and develop QA engineers across manual and automation disciplines.
• Support customer issue investigations, production incidents, and QA escalations.
• Drive release planning, workload allocation, capacity planning, hiring, onboarding, performance management, and succession planning.
• Build a collaborative, accountable, high-performing QA culture.

What you will have

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred).
• 10-15 years of QA experience in product-based companies.
• 4+ years of experience leading and managing QA teams.

Must-Have Skills

• Strong people leadership, planning, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Hands-on experience testing web applications, APIs.
• Playwright with Python and BDD frameworks.
• API testing using Postman, Bruno or equivalent tools.
• Test strategy, regression testing, defect management, release validation.
• Experience driving production release sign-offs.
• Quality metrics, RCA, defect prevention.
• Agile/Scrum experience.
• CI/CD pipelines, Git/GitHub.

Good to Have

• Performance testing exposure.
• Exposure to security and penetration testing.
• This position requires candidate to work a 5-day-a-week schedule in the office.

Skills desired

• Business Career