QA Test Manager - Airline / Aviation

Role-Test Manager (Airline Domain)

Location- Abu Dhabi, UAE - 100% ONSITE

Type: Fulltime

The Test Manager will lead the end-to-end testing lifecycle for airline domain applications, ensuring high quality and on-time delivery of mission-critical systems such as PSS, DCS, Flight Operations, Loyalty, Reservation, Ticketing, NDC/ONE Order, and ancillary platforms.

The role involves managing test strategy, planning, execution, reporting, and stakeholder communication across distributed teams.

Required Skills & Experience Technical Skills :

Strong airline domain knowledge across reservation, ticketing, DCS, and/or NDC.

Hands-on experience with test management tools such as JIRA, ALM, qTest, Zephyr. Good understanding of APIs (REST/SOAP), XML, JSON, NDC schemas.

Knowledge of automation tools (Selenium, Postman, Karate, RestAssured).

Experience: 15+ years in QA/testing, with at least 3+ years in a Test Manager or Test Lead role. Must have experience working on airline or travel industry projects.

Education

Bachelors degree in Engineering/Computer Science or related field. IATA certifications (optional but a strong plus).

Preferred Qualifications :

Experience with PSS (Amadeus, Sabre, Navitaire, Hitit, Radixx, etc.). Exposure to airline retailing modernization (NDC/One Order).

Knowledge of DevOps, CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Azure DevOps).

Agile/Scrum certification.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Test Strategy & Planning Define comprehensive test strategies for complex airline systems (Reservation, Ticketing, DCS, NDC, Crew Management, Airline Retailing). Create test plans, effort estimations, resource planning, risk assessment, and test schedules. Identify test data needs aligned with airline business scenarios (PNR lifecycle, SSRs, EMDs, fares, ancillaries, disruption scenarios).

2. Test Execution Management Lead functional, integration, regression, UAT, and system testing activities. Ensure proper validation of airline domain workflows such as: PNR creation/modification/cancellation Ticketing & reissuance Check-in, boarding & load control Interline & codeshare flows NDC Offer/Order flows Manage test case design, review, traceability, and sign-offs.

3. Team & Stakeholder Management Manage onshore/offshore testing teams and allocate tasks efficiently. Collaborate with product owners, architects, business analysts, and development teams. Drive daily/weekly defect triage meetings; ensure effective resolution.

4. Automation & Quality Governance Identify automation opportunities across airline modules. Oversee automation