Manager of Software Quality Engineering (Auburn Hills)

Description :

Interested in learning more about this job Scroll down and find out what skills, experience and educational qualifications are needed.

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it's a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Austin, Texas and Juneau, Wisconsin with 600+ passionate team members.

What You'll Do :

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Quality Engineering Manager to lead and expand our quality engineering efforts across software quality assurance (QA), firmware SDETs, system integration, performance and security testing domains. This is a pivotal leadership role, responsible for driving the strategic vision of quality engineering within Whisker and ensuring the delivery of scalable, secure, and seamless products that meet the highest industry standards.

Summary :

As the Quality Engineering Manager at Whisker, you spearhead quality initiatives across a diverse range of platforms, including cloud-based applications, mobile apps, embedded firmware systems, and integrated hardware-software ecosystems. You also play a key role in fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration within cross-functional teams.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Defines and implements a comprehensive quality strategy that spans Software Quality Assurance, Firmware Quality Engineering, integration testing, performance and security testing

Builds, mentors, and inspires a high-performing team of Quality Engineering / SDET professionals to achieve technical excellence and continuous improvement

Drives the adoption of advanced testing methodologies, tools, and automation practices to accelerate development cycles while maintaining quality

Aligns quality engineering initiatives with organizational objectives and advocates for quality best practices across engineering and product teams

Oversees the end-to-end testing lifecycle for web, mobile, and backend systems, including functional, regression, and exploratory testing

Collaborates with software engineers to embed quality into the development lifecycle through code reviews, unit tests, and test-driven development (TDD)

Establishes rigorous testing protocols for embedded systems, focusing on reliability, performance, and compatibility with hardware

Partners with firmware engineering team to validate system-level functionality and ensure robust integration with software components

Ensures seamless interoperability across complex hardware, software, and third-party systems through comprehensive integration testing

Develops automated integration test frameworks to validate real-world use cases and edge conditions

Leads initiatives to identify and address latency issues or bottle necks through data-driven performance testing

Leads initiatives to identify and address security vulnerabilities through penetration testing, secure code analysis, and risk assessments

Partners with security and compliance teams to ensure adherence to regulatory standards such as GDPR, or similar

Collaborates with product management, engineering, and operations teams to define clear quality benchmarks and acceptance criteria

Act as a quality advocate, bridging communication gaps between stakeholders and ensuring alignment on quality priorities

Partners with Whisker DevOps teams to enhance CI / CD pipelines and integrate automated quality checks, enabling rapid and reliable releases

Leads the evaluation, selection, and implementation of testing tools and frameworks suitable for cloud, mobile, and embedded platforms

Drives advancements in test automation across all layers of the technology stack to increase coverage and efficiency

Continuously refines QA processes to adapt to evolving business and technological needs, ensuring agility in fast-paced development cycles

Defines, measures, and reports key performance indicators (KPIs) for quality, such as defect escape rates, test coverage, release velocity, and system uptime

Use data-driven insights to proactively identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement across quality processes

Fosters a culture of accountability and continuous learning through root cause analysis and post-release retrospectives

Will perform additional responsibilities when required

Leadership Responsibilities :

Directly supervises department Teams. Carries out supervisory responsibilities following Whisker policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, training, and hiring, planning, assigning and directing work, appraising performance, addressing team issues, and upholding safety and quality guidelines.

Requirements : What You'll Bring :

10+ years of experience in quality engineering, with at least 3 years in a management role overseeing cross-domain QA efforts.

Proven track record in leading QA teams for software, firmware, and integrated systems in dynamic, innovation-driven environments.

Proficiency in testing methodologies and tools for software applications (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Cypress) and embedded systems (e.g., hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation).

Strong knowledge of security testing tools and practices, such as OWASP, SAST, and DAST frameworks.

Familiarity with DevOps practices, CI / CD pipelines, and cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and inspire high-performing QA teams across multiple domains.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.

Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information.

Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions.

A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others.

Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues.

Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs).

Not Required but Nice to Have!

Experience with compliance and regulatory frameworks such as GDPR.

Knowledge of IoT systems, edge computing, and their quality requirements.

Advanced understanding of agile and lean principles as applied to quality engineering.

Benefits & Purrks :

Join a tenacious, inventive company that empowers team members to chart their own path, lead by grounding decisions in the why, and has a strong sense of empathy and openness to new perspectives. Be a part of exciting growth, work with incredible people, and create tomorrow's pet productsplus a whole lot of extras. You will also be provided with :

Premium Medical / Dental / Vision insurance

Paid parental leave

Whisker Parents Program

1 day pawternity leave for new pet adoption

Pet Insurance Discount

401K match

Flexible spending accounts

Company-paid short-term disability and life insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Generous paid time off

14 Paid Holidays

Top of the line equipment

Pet-friendly office

Whisker products and swag

Continuing education Support

On-site gym with Peloton

Referral program

Statement of Inclusivity :

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

#onsite1