Manager of Software Quality Engineering

Description

At Whisker, we’re on a mission to make life with your pets endlessly better. As the makers of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com, we’re leading the pack in pet tech and pet accessories—creating smarter, cleaner, and more thoughtful solutions for pet parents everywhere.

We believe pet care should keep up with the way people actually live. Whether it’s automating litter box chores, unlocking more intelligent insights into your cat’s routine, or helping pets develop more routine eating habits, we’re here to revolutionize what is possible for your life with pets.

We work onsite 4 days a week, with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700 passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

At Whisker, we know life with pets is already pretty great, but we’re here to make it even better.

What You’ll Do:

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Quality Engineering Manager to lead and expand our quality engineering efforts across software quality assurance (QA), firmware SDETs, system integration, performance and security testing domains. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for driving the strategic vision of quality engineering within Whisker and ensuring the delivery of scalable, secure, and seamless products that meet the highest industry standards.

Summary:

As the Quality Engineering Manager at Whisker, you spearhead quality initiatives across a diverse range of platforms, including cloud-based applications, mobile apps, embedded firmware systems, and integrated hardware-software ecosystems. You also play a key role in fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration within cross-functional teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Defines and implements a comprehensive quality strategy that spans Software Quality Assurance, Firmware Quality Engineering, integration testing, performance and security testing
• Builds, mentors, and inspires a high-performing team of Quality Engineering / SDET professionals to achieve technical excellence and continuous improvement
• Drives the adoption of advanced testing methodologies, tools, and automation practices to accelerate development cycles while maintaining quality
• Aligns quality engineering initiatives with organizational objectives and advocates for quality best practices across engineering and product teams
• Oversees the end-to-end testing lifecycle for web, mobile, and backend systems, including functional, regression, and exploratory testing
• Collaborates with software engineers to embed quality into the development lifecycle through code reviews, unit tests, and test-driven development (TDD)
• Establishes rigorous testing protocols for embedded systems, focusing on reliability, performance, and compatibility with hardware
• Partners with firmware engineering team to validate system-level functionality and ensure robust integration with software components
• Ensures seamless interoperability across complex hardware, software, and third-party systems through comprehensive integration testing
• Develops automated integration test frameworks to validate real-world use cases and edge conditions
• Leads initiatives to identify and address latency issues or bottle necks through data-driven performance testing
• Leads initiatives to identify and address security vulnerabilities through penetration testing, secure code analysis, and risk assessments
• Partners with security and compliance teams to ensure adherence to regulatory standards such as GDPR, or similar
• Collaborates with product management, engineering, and operations teams to define clear quality benchmarks and acceptance criteria
• Act as a quality advocate, bridging communication gaps between stakeholders and ensuring alignment on quality priorities
• Partners with Whisker DevOps teams to enhance CI/CD pipelines and integrate automated quality checks, enabling rapid and reliable releases
• Leads the evaluation, selection, and implementation of testing tools and frameworks suitable for cloud, mobile, and embedded platforms
• Drives advancements in test automation across all layers of the technology stack to increase coverage and efficiency
• Continuously refines QA processes to adapt to evolving business and technological needs, ensuring agility in fast-paced development cycles
• Defines, measures, and reports key performance indicators (KPIs) for quality, such as defect escape rates, test coverage, release velocity, and system uptime
• Use data-driven insights to proactively identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement across quality processes
• Fosters a culture of accountability and continuous learning through root cause analysis and post-release retrospectives
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required

Leadership Responsibilities:

Directly supervises department Teams. Carries out supervisory responsibilities following Whisker policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, training, and hiring, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, addressing team issues, and upholding safety and quality guidelines.

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• 10 years of experience in quality engineering, with at least 3 years in a management role overseeing cross-domain QA efforts.
• Proven track record in leading QA teams for software, firmware, and integrated systems in dynamic, innovation-driven environments.
• Proficiency in testing methodologies and tools for software applications (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Cypress) and embedded systems (e.g., hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation).
• Strong knowledge of security testing tools and practices, such as OWASP, SAST, and DAST frameworks.
• Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and inspire high-performing QA teams across multiple domains.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information.
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions.
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues.
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs).

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• Experience with compliance and regulatory frameworks such as GDPR.
• Knowledge of IoT systems, edge computing, and their quality requirements.
• Advanced understanding of agile and lean principles as applied to quality engineering.

Benefits & Purrks:

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the “why”, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow’s pet products—plus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Whisker Parents Program
• 1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoption
• Pet Insurance Discount
• 401K match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Generous paid time off
• 14 Paid Holidays
• Top of the line equipment
• Pet-friendly office
• Whisker products and swag
• Continuing education Support
• On-site gym with Peloton
• Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

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