Lead QA Engineer (USA)
DroneDeploy
Full-time
Remote
United States
About DroneDeploy
DroneDeploy powers field teams with robotics and AI. As the only reality capture platform that combines robotic automation, AI agents, and a truly unified system, DroneDeploy allows critical industries to operate with speed and confidence.
From construction and energy to agriculture, the world’s largest companies use DroneDeploy to simplify field operations, improve safety, and make smarter decisions, faster. By combining aerial drones, 360 and fixed cameras, ground robots and proprietary AI, we’re bringing the power of automation and visual intelligence to all stakeholders, from the field to the boardroom.
At DroneDeploy, we thrive in a mostly remote-first culture rooted in innovation and impact. We’ve been recognized as a Best Place to Work in the SF Bay Area and named one of America’s Great Places to Work—but what truly sets us apart is the experience you gain: solving real-world challenges with cutting-edge technology, surrounded by teammates who are as passionate as they are supportive. Our team is bold, mission-driven, and building something that matters. We foster a culture where a variety of perspectives drive smart decisions, and where growth—both personal and professional—is part of the journey. Whether it’s flexible schedules, family-friendly benefits, or our strong track record of internal promotions, we invest in people as much as we do in product. If you’re looking to be part of something ambitious, authentic, and transformative, you’ll find your place at DroneDeploy.
Role Overview
As Lead QA Engineer at DroneDeploy, you will drive the evolution of our quality practice across multiple engineering teams, shaping how we deliver reliable, high-impact digital twin solutions for industries like construction, energy, and agriculture. Reporting to the Director of Engineering, you will embed with teams - starting with Ground Mobile - to identify systemic quality patterns, define and own key metrics, and partner with engineering to modernize our approach to quality. Your work will directly influence the effectiveness and velocity of 70+ engineers, ensuring our platform’s reliability and customer trust as we scale. This is a high-impact, cross-team role for a strategic quality architect who thrives on solving complex, organization-wide challenges and elevating the QA function from reactive testing to proactive quality enablement.
Work Environment
- Work Model: 100% remote (work from home), with the expectation to embed with teams virtually and participate in collaborative sessions across US time zones.
- Time Zone Expectations: Operate with at least 5 hours of overlap between Pacific and Eastern time zones to maximize collaboration with distributed teams.
- Travel: Domestic travel, 1–2 times per year for company offsites or team events.
- Team Context: You will start by embedding with the Ground Mobile team (6 engineers, 2 QA, EM, PM), then rotate to other teams as needed to address quality challenges and spread best practices.
Responsibilities
- Evolve and execute the quality strategy across multiple engineering teams, shaping QA’s role throughout the delivery lifecycle.
- Define and refine planning processes and quality gates to ensure requirements translate into robust, risk-based test coverage before code ships.
- Shape and advocate for modern testing approaches (exploratory, automation, monitoring), embedding quality thinking into development workflows.
- Own and operationalize quality metrics (e.g., ESC/MAU, bugs per week, regressions, change failure rate), using data to identify systemic patterns, hotspots, and guide quality investments.
- Analyze incidents, bugs, and post-mortems to uncover root causes and drive prevention strategies, not just symptom fixes.
- Create actionable reporting and dashboards that provide visibility to engineering leadership and inform organizational priorities.
- Mentor and coach QA engineers, setting high standards for their role and supporting their growth from reactive testers to strategic quality partners.
- Partner with engineering teams to modernize test automation, enable continuous delivery, and accelerate safe, confident releases.
- Champion the adoption of AI and automation tools to streamline QA processes, shape test plans, and analyze quality patterns.
Requirements
- 6+ years of QA engineering experience, including defining and evolving quality strategy across multiple engineering teams.
- Demonstrated experience designing and improving quality processes (e.g., bug handling, test planning, quality gates) and translating post-mortem learnings into prevention strategies.
- Proven track record of improving quality metrics and creating actionable reporting that drives quality investments.
- Experience analyzing incidents and bugs to identify systemic patterns, quality hotspots, and distinguishing root causes from symptoms.
- Deep understanding of testing approaches (exploratory, automation, monitoring) and when to apply them, with strong knowledge of modern frameworks and tools (e.g., Playwright, TestRigor, smoke testing strategies).
- Experience coaching and developing QA engineers, setting standards for their role, and elevating QA from reactive testing to strategic quality partnership.
- Experience spreading successful QA practices across teams, building a unified quality culture, and partnering with engineering teams on test modernization.
- Understanding of continuous delivery practices and how quality processes enable faster, more confident shipping.
- Hands-on experience with both mobile and web testing is highly valued.
- Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., LLMs, automation platforms) to enhance QA processes.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to influence and collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Why Join DroneDeploy?
- Shape the Future of Quality: Lead the transformation of QA from a traditional testing function to a strategic, data-driven quality enablement practice that impacts the entire engineering organization.
- Cross-Team Impact: Operate at the intersection of multiple teams, influencing architecture, process, and culture to ensure quality is built in at every stage.
- Autonomy and Ownership: Take full ownership of quality strategy, metrics, and process improvements, with the latitude to design and implement solutions that scale as the company grows.
- AI-Driven Innovation: Leverage and experiment with the latest AI and automation tools to supercharge quality analysis, test planning, and reporting.
- Mentorship and Growth: Mentor QA engineers and developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
- Collaborative, Mission-Driven Team: Join a team that values initiative, curiosity, and pragmatic problem-solving, serving customers who rely on DroneDeploy’s platform to power critical field and office operations.
- Career Path: Opportunity to grow into a Staff QA Engineer (IC path) or explore future leadership roles as the organization scales.
$132,000 - $178,000 a year
The base salary range reflects our Tier 2 compensation band, which includes: Chicago, Austin, Denver, Boston, Washington DC, San Diego, Portland, Miami. If hired outside a Tier 2 location, the base salary range may adjust as our pay bands are based on location. The salary offered may vary based on meeting position requirements, skills, experience, position level, and location. In addition to the base salary, we offer an annual variable, equity, employee benefits, and programs.
#LI-Remote
Employee Offerings & Benefits
(Benefits may vary by location and role)
These are just some of the perks you'll enjoy—there's more to discover once you join us!
Culture of Innovation & Collaboration – Thrive in an environment that values creativity and teamwork.
Drone Certification – Get certified and gain unique, hands-on skills with our full backing.
Flexible Work Arrangements – Enjoy autonomy with remote-first options and schedule flexibility.
Paid Family Leave – Take the time you need to support your family during life’s most important moments.
Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage – Plans designed to support your well-being.
Career & Growth Development – Build new skills and unlock opportunities through continuous learning.
Flexible PTO – Take time off when you need it to recharge—we trust you to manage your time well.
Employee Referral Bonus – Know someone great? Refer them and earn a bonus when they join our team.
----
DroneDeploy is an equal opportunity employer.
All DroneDeploy employees are responsible for protecting the company and customer data by following information security policies and procedures.
Please refer to our Recruitment Privacy Notice for information about privacy during the recruiting process.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.