Lead Manual Tester - Contract Role (Karnataka)

We are looking for an experienced Lead Software Tester QA Engineer to join our team and work exclusively with a new healthcare client This role will be the sole QA specialist on the engagement responsible for defining and owning the complete test strategy designing and executing test cases and ensuring the quality safety and reliability of software delivered in a regulated environment The ideal candidate is highly autonomous detail-oriented and comfortable collaborating closely with product development and business stakeholders Key Responsibilities Define own and execute the end-to-end test strategy for the client s products including Test scope levels and types Test environments and data Entry and exit criteria Analyse requirements user stories and clinical workflows to derive clear test conditions and comprehensive test cases ensuring full coverage and traceability Plan design and execute manual testing including Functional testing Integration testing Regression testing Usability testing Exploratory testing Log prioritise and track defects working closely with developers and product owners to clarify issues and ensure timely resolution Provide clear and concise test reporting including Test coverage and execution status Defect metrics and trends Risk assessment and mitigation Go No-Go recommendations Collaborate proactively with cross-functional teams to embed quality throughout the development lifecycle Required Skills Experience Proven experience as a Software Tester QA Engineer with ownership of test strategy and approach on at least one project Robust experience in designing and executing test cases based on requirements and user stories Solid understanding of functional integration system and regression testing concepts Ability to work independently as the sole tester managing priorities workload and quality risks effectively Hands-on experience with test management and defect tracking tools such as Azure DevOps Jira or similar platforms Good understanding of software development lifecycles including Agile Scrum and Kanban methodologies Excellent English communication skills written and spoken with the ability to Clarify and challenge requirements Communicate defects and risks Present test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders Strong analytical mindset attention to detail and a high standard for quality and risk management .