Role: Principal Test Lead (QA, test strategy, client advisory)
Type: Independent contract
Start and duration: (project-based, 12 months)
Location: Cape Town
Summary
We need a senior, client-facing Principal Test Lead/Consultant to lead testing strategy and quality outcomes across multiple client engagements. You’ll shape QA roadmaps, run lightweight maturity assessments, guide delivery teams across manual and automated testing, and support pre-sales by translating client challenges into practical delivery approaches.
What you’ll do
- Define test strategy, approach, and governance across projects.
- Lead quality delivery across manual, automation and non-functional testing.
- Run QA maturity assessments and deliver clear, prioritised improvement plans.
- Coach teams and influence senior stakeholders, including managing escalations.
- Support discovery and pre-sales, shaping practical QA solutions.
What you’ll bring
- Proven QA/test leadership in consulting across multiple clients.
- Strong test strategy, operating model and metrics/reporting capability.
- Good working knowledge of modern QA tooling and automation practices.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and coaching.
Soft skills
- Highly structured, able to manage intensive workloads and competing priorities.
- Strong emotional intelligence, calm under pressure, and effective across diverse teams and client environments.
- Clear communicator, able to challenge constructively and drive alignment.
- Delivery-minded, practical, and accountable for outcomes.
InspiredXpert is a specialist IT Talent Solutions company providing high-quality contract or perm talent across software development, cloud, AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven roles. We connect skilled professionals with innovative companies, offering exciting opportunities to work on impactful projects across the globe.