Sr Lead, SDLC Testing Governance at Northern Trust

Chicago, Illinois, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Financial ServicesIndustries

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field
8+ years in software testing/QE, test governance, or QA leadership in regulated financial services

Responsibilities

Own and enforce SDAM testing controls across programs/releases covering test requirements analysis, strategy/plan approvals, production-separate and production-equivalent environments, application security testing, and data protection in non-prod
Define and operate practical stage gates and tollgates for testing artifacts (Test Strategy, Test Plan, Traceability, Execution Results, Defect reports, Test Summary, Post-Implementation Validation) with clear acceptance criteria and approvals
Serve as the primary point of contact for QE/testing compliance matters; conduct self-assessments and targeted audits; manage exceptions with documented mitigations; partner with 1LOD/2LOD to meet ECM and enterprise risk expectations
Support remediation of supervisory observations (e.g., MRIA/MRA) by tightening test oversight, documentation completeness, and release governance for Tier-1 programs
Lead the uplift of testing governance processes, playbooks, and templates; standardize how teams plan, execute, and evidence testing in ADO / ServiceNow Test Management Module (TMM); drive adoption through pilots and iterative rollout
Facilitate governance forums, CAB support, and decision-making meetings; curate artifact checklists and ensure readiness against ECM expectations and required templates (e.g., Impact Analysis, Risk Registry, Test Strategy/Plan)
Develop and deliver training, clinics, and office hours for engineering, product, and program teams on SDLC testing governance, evidencing, and SDAM alignment
Build trusted relationships with product owners, architects, development, QE, change/release, and risk/audit partners; act as a liaison across IT, compliance, audit, and business to ensure cohesive execution and a culture of accountability
Define and track KPIs/OKRs for testing governance (e.g., artifact completeness, traceability coverage, defect leakage, automation coverage, environment parity, audit issue closure); publish dashboards and executive-ready reporting
Perform gap assessments and retrospectives across audits, and major releases; integrate lessons learned to mature controls, tooling, and workflows (including risk-based testing and exception paths)

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

SDLCTesting GovernanceTest StrategyTest PlanTraceabilityDefect ManagementExecution ResultsTest SummaryApplication Security TestingData ProtectionRisk ManagementAudit ManagementComplianceStage GatesTollgates

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the employment type for this position?

This is a full-time position.

Is this role remote or does it require office presence?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills and experiences are required for the Sr Lead, SDLC Testing Governance role?

The role requires expertise in SDLC testing governance, knowledge of testing controls like test strategy/plan approvals and environments, experience with compliance and audit management in regulated environments, and proficiency with tools like ADO and ServiceNow Test Management Module.

What is the company culture like at Northern Trust?

Northern Trust emphasizes enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity, with a focus on innovative financial services, leading technology, and exceptional service in a regulated environment.

What makes a strong candidate for this Sr Lead role?

A strong candidate is a senior individual contributor and thought leader with experience establishing and governing SDLC testing practices, partnering across product, engineering, risk, and audit teams, and driving process uplifts in a regulated financial services environment.