Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in Virginia
Quality Assurance Lead jobs in Virginia concentrate in the Northern Virginia tech corridor, Richmond, and Hampton Roads, where defense contractors, federal IT firms, and large healthcare systems drive consistent demand for professionals with software testing, compliance auditing, and manufacturing quality backgrounds. Employers with lasting hiring presences include Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Northrop Grumman, all of which maintain substantial Virginia operations and regularly seek quality assurance leads for both government and commercial programs. Openings range from mid-career specialists stepping into their first lead role to senior leads overseeing enterprise-level QA programs across complex regulated environments. 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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See All 131+ Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in Virginia
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Find Quality Assurance Lead JobsQuality Assurance Lead Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Quality Assurance 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 quality assurance lead jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field required
- Demonstrated experience leading QA teams or managing a full software or product testing lifecycle
- Proficiency with test management tools such as JIRA, TestRail, or equivalent platforms
- Familiarity with CMMI, ISO 9001, or federal quality standards common in Virginia defense programs
- Experience writing and executing test plans, test cases, and defect tracking documentation
- Strong communication skills for reporting quality metrics to cross-functional and government stakeholders
Quality Assurance Lead Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a quality assurance lead in Virginia?
Most quality assurance lead roles in Virginia do not require a state-issued license, but employers in defense and federal contracting prioritize candidates with a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related field alongside a recognized certification such as the Certified Software Quality Engineer or Certified Quality Auditor from the American Society for Quality. Virginia's large government contractor market also values candidates who have completed security clearance processes and have experience with CMMI or federal acquisition quality frameworks.
How much do quality assurance leads make in Virginia?
Quality assurance leads in Virginia earn a median of about $121,590 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,820 for the lowest 10% to over $169,200 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire quality assurance leads in Virginia?
Virginia quality assurance lead roles are posted by Food Lion, Data Intelligence, and General Dynamics Information Technology and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Northern Virginia's concentration of defense and federal IT contractors means many of the most active employers operate on government program cycles, producing steady openings for quality assurance leads with compliance and systems testing backgrounds.
Which Virginia cities have the most quality assurance lead jobs?
Richmond, Reston, and McLean have the most quality assurance lead openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because of its dense cluster of federal agencies and defense contractors headquartered in and around Tysons, Reston, and Herndon, while Richmond draws openings from financial services firms and healthcare systems, and Hampton Roads benefits from significant naval and defense industry employment.
Are there remote quality assurance lead jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 43% of quality assurance lead openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how much of the work involves reviewing documentation, running automated test suites, and coordinating teams digitally. Roles tied to hardware testing, manufacturing lines, or classified government facilities are most likely to require on-site presence, while software and compliance-focused positions offer the greatest remote flexibility.
How can I get hired as a quality assurance lead in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is moving into a QA lead role from a quality analyst, software tester, or QA engineer position, which Virginia's defense and technology employers hire in volume as pipeline roles. Large contractors like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton run associate and junior analyst programs that develop testers toward leadership. Earning an entry-level American Society for Quality certification and building a portfolio of test plans or defect reports gives candidates a measurable edge when applying to these feeder roles.
Where can I find and apply to quality assurance lead jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to quality assurance lead jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings. Search the listings for roles that match your background and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
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