Senior Systems Testing/QA Specialist

Job Description

Client: Government Services Integration Cluster – Government of Ontario

Ministry: Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement

Location: Toronto, ON – 40 St. Clair Avenue West

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite – 5 days per week

Contract: September 21, 2026 – March 31, 2027

Extension: Up to 1 additional term

Openings: 1

Security Clearance: No clearance required

Closing Date: October 1, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST

Maximum Submission: 1 candidate

Position Overview

The Government of Ontario is seeking a Senior Systems Testing/QA Specialist with 10+ years of enterprise-level software testing experience to support large-scale, complex IT systems.

The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and executing comprehensive testing strategies across functional, integration, system, regression, acceptance, performance, stress, load, and non-functional testing. The role requires strong hands-on experience with both manual and automated testing, test strategy and documentation, defect management, API/backend validation, database testing, automation, CI/CD integration, and AODA compliance.

The candidate will work closely with developers, Business Analysts, Project Managers, Testing Leads, IT Leads, and other technical and business stakeholders throughout the Software Development Life Cycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on testing strategies, test plans, testing tools, and testing resources.
  
• Plan, organize, and implement testing efforts for large-scale enterprise systems across both GUI and non-GUI environments.
  
• Develop and maintain test strategies, test plans, test cases, test scripts, test data, test reports, test coverage documentation, and quality metrics.
  
• Execute functional, integration, system, regression, acceptance, and non-functional testing.
  
• Support and participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities.
  
• Perform systems integration testing, specialized testing, stress testing, load testing, and performance testing.
  
• Validate system functionality and ensure applications behave as expected under various conditions.
  
• Identify, document, prioritize, and track defects using tools such as JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM, Bugzilla, TestRail, or Zephyr.
  
• Work closely with developers to reproduce, troubleshoot, and resolve defects.
  
• Develop and maintain automated test scripts using tools/frameworks such as Selenium, OpenText/Micro Focus UFT, TestComplete, Cypress, or Postman.
  
• Perform API testing using tools such as Postman.
  
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
  
• Develop and execute performance test scripts using JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar tools and analyze performance bottlenecks and scalability.
  
• Perform backend and database validation using SQL and Oracle.
  
• Validate data integrity, consistency, and accuracy across systems and databases.
  
• Perform data migration and transformation testing where required.
  
• Develop and manage robust test data strategies, including realistic test data generation, data privacy, and test environment management.
  
• Conduct basic security testing and collaborate with security specialists on deeper security/penetration testing activities.
  
• Apply knowledge of AODA and related accessibility standards and regulations to software testing.
  
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.
  
• Collaborate with developers, Business Analysts, Project Managers, and technical teams to clarify requirements and ensure comprehensive quality coverage.
  
• Provide input into user manuals, release notes, and implementation documentation.
  
• Ensure testing activities comply with applicable QA standards, industry practices, regulatory requirements, and OPS quality assurance practices.
  

Requirements

Mandatory Skills & Experience

Core QA / Testing – Mandatory

• 10+ years of experience in software testing within enterprise-level IT environments and large-scale systems.
  
• Hands-on experience with both manual testing and automated testing tools/frameworks.
  
• Strong understanding and practical experience with Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall methodologies.
  
• Extensive experience with AODA testing and accessibility compliance.
  
• Proven experience creating and maintaining:
  
• Test strategies
  
• Test plans
  
• Test cases
  
• Test scripts
  
• Test data
  
• Test reports
  
• Hands-on experience with test automation tools such as Selenium or Postman, including API testing.
  
• Experience with performance, stress, and load testing using JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar tools.
  
• Strong experience with defect tracking tools such as JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM, Bugzilla, TestRail, Zephyr, or similar.
  
• Proven experience performing end-to-end testing of complex systems, covering functional and non-functional requirements.
  
• Strong knowledge of QA principles, practices, tools, structured testing methodologies, and QA compliance standards.
  
• Experience with system, integration, regression, functional, acceptance, UAT, performance, and load testing.
  
• Knowledge of the complete Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Software Testing Life Cycle.
  

Technical Skills – Mandatory

• Strong database testing experience with SQL and Oracle.
  
• Knowledge and practical exposure to cloud technologies such as Azure and/or AWS.
  
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and integration tools such as:
  
• Jenkins
  
• Git
  
• GitLab
  
• Experience writing SQL/database queries for backend testing and data validation.
  
• Understanding of scripting languages such as Python, JavaScript, or Bash for automation and/or test-data setup.
  
• Experience validating data integrity, consistency, and accuracy across system components and databases.
  
• Experience with data migration/transformation testing.
  
• Experience developing and managing test data strategies.
  
• Experience with automated testing frameworks/tools such as Selenium, Postman, Cypress, OpenText/Micro Focus UFT, or TestComplete.
  
• Experience with performance testing tools, specifically JMeter, LoadRunner, or equivalent.
  
• Knowledge of security testing best practices.
  

Public Sector / OPS

• Knowledge of or experience with Ontario Public Service (OPS) quality assurance standards and practices is highly desirable.
  
• Previous Ontario Public Sector or other public-sector experience is considered an asset.
  

General Qualifications

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with functional and technical teams.
  
• Ability to work effectively as part of a large project team.
  
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, creativity, and perseverance.
  
• Proven ability to meet deadlines and deliver within aggressive timelines.
  
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
  
• Strong understanding of structured methodologies for application development, implementation, and maintenance.
  
• Experience using CASE tools and data query tools to support test-case development.
  
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, comprehensive test cases and execute them effectively.
  

Mandatory Technology Keywords

Candidates should demonstrate relevant hands-on experience with as many of the following as applicable:

Testing: Manual Testing, Automation Testing, Functional Testing, Integration Testing, System Testing, Regression Testing, UAT, Performance Testing, Load Testing, Stress Testing, Non-Functional Testing

Automation/API: Selenium, Postman, Cypress, OpenText UFT, Micro Focus UFT, TestComplete

Performance: JMeter, LoadRunner

Defect/Test Management: JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM, Bugzilla, TestRail, Zephyr

Database: SQL, Oracle, Backend Testing, Data Validation, Data Migration, Data Transformation

Cloud/DevOps: Azure, AWS, Jenkins, Git, GitLab, CI/CD

Scripting: Python, JavaScript, Bash

Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, SDLC/STLC

Compliance: AODA, Accessibility Testing, QA Compliance, Security Testing

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a Senior QA/Test Specialist with 10+ years of enterprise testing experience who can independently manage complex testing activities from strategy and planning through execution and reporting. Strong candidates should have a balanced background in manual and automated testing, with demonstrable hands-on experience in Selenium/Postman, JMeter/LoadRunner, SQL/Oracle, Azure/AWS, CI/CD, defect management, AODA, and end-to-end systems testing.

Important: This is a 100% onsite position in Toronto (40 St. Clair Avenue West), 5 days per week.

Requirements
10+ years enterprise software testing, Manual Testing, Automation Testing, Functional Testing, Integration Testing, System Testing, Regression Testing, UAT, Acceptance Testing, Performance Testing, Load Testing, Stress Testing, Non-Functional Testing, Selenium, Postman, Cypress, OpenText UFT, Micro Focus UFT, TestComplete, JMeter, LoadRunner, JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM, Bugzilla, TestRail, Zephyr, SQL, Oracle, Backend Testing, Data Validation, Data Migration, Data Transformation, Azure, AWS, Jenkins, Git, GitLab, CI/CD, Python, JavaScript, Bash, Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, SDLC, STLC, AODA, Accessibility Testing, Security Testing, Test Strategy, Test Plans, Test Cases, Test Scripts, Test Data, Test Reports, Defect Management, Enterprise Systems Testing