QA Lead Jobs in Virginia
QA Lead jobs in Virginia are in strong demand, with active hiring concentrated in defense contracting, federal IT, cybersecurity, and healthcare technology sectors at levels from team lead through senior QA director. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads area anchor most of the hiring, with established employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Northrop Grumman regularly seeking qa leads to oversee testing programs for government and commercial clients. The most in-demand specialties are test automation, Agile QA, and security-focused quality assurance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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At Kinaras Solutions, we pride ourselves on delivering mission-critical, high-quality technical solutions to our government and commercial clients. We are expanding our team and seeking dedicated professionals who thrive in collaborative, Agile environments and are committed to engineering excellence in support of national security objectives.
Position Summary
Kinaras Solutions is actively seeking a detail-oriented Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer / Tester to drive software quality. In this role, you will collaborate closely with software developers, product owners, and cross-functional team members to define testing requirements. You will be instrumental in executing both manual and automated tests, identifying defects, and ensuring all deliverables meet rigorous technical, functional, and mission-critical standards. Note: This position requires an active DoD Secret clearance.Key Responsibilities
- Test Strategy & Execution: Develop, document, and execute comprehensive test plans, test cases, test scenarios, and testing criteria for browser-based applications.
- Lifecycle Testing: Perform thorough functional, regression, integration, system, and user-interface testing throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Defect Management: Identify, document, track, and validate software defects through to final resolution.
- Test Automation: Execute manual testing while actively supporting and developing automated browser-based tests utilizing industry-standard tools like Playwright and Selenium.
- API Testing: Conduct API testing and validation utilizing tools such as Postman or Insomnia.
- Agile Collaboration: Actively participate in all Agile/Scrum ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
- CI/CD & Deployment Support: Leverage GitLab for managing tickets, source-control workflows, and deployment pipelines, while conducting post-deployment validation and smoke testing.
- Front-End Troubleshooting: Validate front-end functionality and meticulously troubleshoot issues involving HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Stakeholder Communication: Clearly communicate testing results, defects, risks, and quality concerns to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Clearance: Must possess an active DoD Secret security clearance.
- Testing Experience: A minimum of 2+ years of dedicated experience testing browser-based/web applications.
- Agile Environment: At least 2+ years of experience operating within a Scrum/Agile software development environment and successfully collaborating with cross-functional development teams.
- Criteria Definition: 2+ years of experience supporting the creation and definition of testing criteria, test cases, or acceptance criteria.
- Infrastructure Skills: Demonstrated experience with GitLab, including ticket/issue management and familiarity with CI/CD pipeline deployments.
- Technical Familiarity: Working familiarity with modern software development languages and tools, specifically HTML, CSS, JavaScript, browser developer tools, and Git/GitLab workflows.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience creating, integrating, or maintaining automated regression test suites within CI/CD pipelines.
- Strong understanding of REST APIs, HTTP methods, status codes, JSON, and request/response structures.
- Familiarity with cross-browser and responsive application testing.
- Deep familiarity with Agile requirements management, formulating user stories, and enforcing the Definition of Done.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and defect-isolation skills coupled with exceptional written and verbal communication.
Compensation & Benefits
Kinaras Solutions is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier talent. We offer a highly competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package:- Base Salary: $85,000 – $109,000 annually (commensurate with experience and technical proficiency).
- Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Medical and Dental insurance plans.
- Financial Security: Company-sponsored Life Insurance.
- Retirement: 401(k) plan with employer match to support your long-term financial goals.
Work Environment & Schedule
This position is based in Chantilly, VA. Kinaras Solutions promotes a highly collaborative hybrid work environment, this position requires in-office attendance Monday through Thursday, with telework on Fridays.Equal Opportunity Employer Disclosure:
Kinaras Solutions, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position or to participate in the application or interview process, please contact hr@kinarassolutions.com.
Applicants selected may be subject to a background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information or employment as a contractor assigned to the U.S. government, as required.
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Find QA Lead JobsQA Lead Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
QA Lead Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Food Lion19

- Data Intelligence3

- General Dynamics Information Technology3

- ICF2

- Securiport2

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Construction & Real Estate
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in QA lead jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related technical field
- Proven experience leading QA teams, developing test plans, and managing defect tracking systems
- Hands-on proficiency with automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, or similar tools
- Familiarity with Agile and Scrum methodologies and participation in sprint ceremonies
- Experience with government or defense software projects, including security clearance eligibility
- Strong communication skills for reporting quality metrics to stakeholders and cross-functional teams
QA Lead Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a qa lead in Virginia?
Becoming a qa lead in Virginia typically starts with a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field followed by several years of hands-on QA or software testing experience. Virginia employers, especially in the defense and federal IT sectors, value certifications such as ISTQB Certified Tester or Certified Software Quality Analyst. Building expertise in test automation and Agile environments, then stepping into a senior QA analyst role, is the most common path to a lead position in this market.
Which companies hire qa leads in Virginia?
Employers hiring qa leads in Virginia right now include Food Lion, Data Intelligence, and General Dynamics Information Technology, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense contractors and federal agencies means many of these roles support government IT and systems integration programs, making the hiring environment here distinct from most other states.
Which Virginia cities have the most qa lead jobs?
Richmond, Reston, and McLean account for the largest share of qa lead openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of defense contractors, federal agencies, and technology firms, while Richmond draws hiring from financial services and healthcare IT companies, and Hampton Roads reflects the sustained demand from military and government systems contractors headquartered in that region.
Are there remote qa lead jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many technical roles. About 43% of qa lead openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work, test planning, automation scripting, and reporting, can be done off-site. Test execution for government systems with clearance requirements tends to remain on-site, while commercial software QA roles offer the most remote flexibility in Virginia.
How can I get hired as a qa lead in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through a junior QA analyst or software tester role, which large Virginia employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton and SAIC regularly hire for alongside their lead positions. Adjacent roles in business analysis, technical support, or software development give transferable skills that Virginia hiring managers recognize. Earning an entry-level ISTQB certification and building a portfolio of automation scripts or test cases strengthens any application, and some Virginia-based federal contractors offer structured associate programs that rotate new testers into QA tracks within their first year.
Where can I find and apply to qa lead jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to qa lead jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers actively hiring in the state. Search the listings, find roles that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to each one.
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