Sr Director, Software Testing & Performance Engineering

Company Information 

At Advarra, we are passionate about making a difference in the world of clinical research and advancing human health. With a rich history rooted in ethical review services combined with innovative technology solutions and deep industry expertise, we are at the forefront of industry change. A market leader and pioneer, Advarra breaks the silos that impede clinical research, aligning patients, sites, sponsors, and CROs in a connected ecosystem to accelerate trials.  

Company Culture  

Our employees are the heart of Advarra. They are the key to our success and the driving force behind our mission and vision. Our values (Patient-Centric, Ethical, Quality Focused, Collaborative) guide our actions and decisions. Knowing the impact of our work on trial participants and patients, we act with urgency and purpose to advance clinical research so that people can live happier, healthier lives.  

At Advarra, we seek to foster an inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone is treated with respect and diverse perspectives are embraced. Treating one another, our clients, and clinical trial participants with empathy and care are key tenets of our culture at Advarra; we are committed to creating a workplace where each employee is not only valued but empowered to thrive and make a meaningful impact. 

Job Overview Summary 

The Senior Director of Software Testing and Performance leads a global, quality-focused organization responsible for enterprise-wide software testing strategy, performance engineering, test automation, quality governance, and release readiness across Advarra’s technology portfolio. 

This leader partners closely with Engineering, Product Management, Cloud/Infrastructure, Security, Compliance, and Operations to ensure scalable, compliant, high-performing, and reliable software delivery. The Senior Director is accountable for translating strategic objectives into operational execution, advancing “shift-left” quality initiatives, and driving continuous improvement across the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) to enable predictable, high-quality releases without impeding velocity. 

The role combines hands-on quality and test engineering expertise with strong operational leadership, cross-functional influence, and executive communication. 

 

Job Duties & Responsibilities 

Strategy & Quality Leadership 

• Define and execute the enterprise software testing and performance engineering strategy aligned with Product & Technology and corporate objectives  

• Champion a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the SDLC  

• Implement and sustain a risk-based testing approach that drives toward a “zero defects” mindset while maintaining release velocity  

• Advance “quality left” initiatives, embedding testing, automation, and performance validation early in the development lifecycle  

• Establish quality and efficiency metrics for product and process measurement, providing transparent reporting to senior leadership  

Delivery & Operational Excellence 

• Own release test planning, quality gates, defect management practices, and overall release readiness  

• Partner cross-functionally to design, implement, and optimize scalable testing frameworks and operational processes  

• Lead performance engineering initiatives to ensure system scalability, reliability, availability, and resilience 

• Facilitate management reviews of testing performance, quality metrics, and adherence to Quality Management System standards  

• Align staffing, capacity planning, and resource allocation with product roadmaps and business priorities  

Automation & Tooling 

• Set direction for t