TOSCA Test Automation Lead

As the SAP Test Manager, you will be a cornerstone of Ford’s transition to SAP S/4 HANA. This is not just a migration; it is a total transformation of our global supply chain and manufacturing logic. You will oversee the end-to-end testing lifecycle—from Unit and Integration Testing (SIT) to User Acceptance Testing (UAT)—ensuring that every deployment meets Ford’s rigorous quality and performance standards.

A critical component of this role is Regression Management. Given the scale of 60+ global sites, you will be responsible for defining a robust regression strategy that ensures new site deployments do not negatively impact established global business processes. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams (Developers, Business Analysts, and Project Managers) to identify high-risk areas, perform impact analysis on SAP transports, and maintain a sustainable automated regression suite. Your leadership will foster an environment of continuous improvement, utilizing automation to drive efficiency and operational excellence.

1. End-to-End Test Leadership

• Lead planning and execution of SIT, UAT, and regression testing across S/4HANA rollout waves. 
• Define test scope, scenarios, and detailed test cases aligned to business-critical processes. 
• Enforce entry/exit criteria, quality gates, and Go/No-Go readiness standards. 
• Coordinate test cycles, defect triage, and execution tracking across global teams. 

2. Automation-Driven Testing Execution

• Drive automation-first testing approachleveraging Tricentis Tosca’s Vision AI to automate complex UI elements reducing manual effort and accelerating cycles. 
• Collaborate with automation teams to design, build, and execute automated test suites using tools such as TOSCA (Tricentis). 
• Implement Self-Healing AI capabilities within Tosca to reduce maintenance overhead and ensure test stability across dynamic SAP environments. 
• Utilize GenAI tools (e.g., Tricentis Copilot) to accelerate the creation of test steps and documentation from natural language requirements
• Identify and prioritize high-value automation candidates across MM, PP, and integrated processes. 
• Ensure automation coverage for regression, integration, and critical business scenarios. 
• Support integration of automation into CI/CD and continuous testing pipelines. 

3. Regression & Impact Management

• Execute and refine a robust regression strategy for multi-wave global deployments. 
• Perform change impact analysis on transports, enhancements, and configurations. 
• Ensure zero regression leakage across existing live sites during new rollouts. 
• Partner with automation teams to scale and maintain reusable regression suites. 

4. Defect & Quality Governance

• Own end-to-end defect lifecycle management (logging, triage, prioritization, closure). 
• Facilitate daily defect triage calls with cross-functional teams. 
• Monitor and report defect leakage, severity trends, and resolution SLAs. 
• Drive root cause analysis and preventive quality improvements.  

5. Integration, Data & Process Validation

• Validate end-to-end business processes across SAP modules and external systems. 
• Ensure data integrity and reconciliation across interfaces and migration cycles. 
• Support test data readiness, coordinating with Test Data Management teams. 
• Validate complex manufacturing scenarios (MRP, JIT, sequencing, shop-floor integration). 

6. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with: 
  • SAP Functional teams (MM, PP, FICO, SD, EWM) 
  • Technical & Integration teams 
  • Business stakeholders for UAT validation 
  • Cutover and release management teams 
• Translate business requirements into executable test scenarios.  
• Ensure alignment across distributed global teams and vendors.  

7. Agile & Delivery Excellence

• Operate within an Agile/SAFe framework, aligning testing with sprint and release cadences. 
• Use tools like JIRA and ALM for backlog, defect tracking, and reporting. 
• Provide real-time visibility into test progress, risks, and readiness. 

8. Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and coordinate global test analysts and automation engineers. 
• Provide hands-on guidance and mentoring on test design and automation practices. 
• Drive continuous improvement and shift-left testing culture.  
• Ensure high productivity, accountability, and quality standards across teams. 

9. Contribution to SAP Test Factory Setup & Industrialization

• Design, build, and operationalize a centralized SAP Test Factory with global delivery capabilities. 
• Define standardized operating models, KPIs, SLAs, and governance frameworks. 
• Implement scalable resource models (onshore/offshore/hybrid) to support multi-wave deployments. 
• Drive toolchain standardization (e.g., ALM, JIRA, automation tools like Tosca) and integrate them into a unified quality platform. 
• Enable continuous testing and DevOps integration for SAP landscapes. 

Qualifications & Experience

• 10–14 years of SAP testing experience, including leadership roles. 
• Strong expertise in SAP S/4HANA testing, particularly in MM and/or PP modules. 
• Proven experience in automation-led testing using tools such as TOSCA (Tricentis). 
• Hands-on experience in SIT, UAT, regression, and integration testing for large-scale programs. 
• Demonstrated ability to drive automation adoption and scale regression suites. 
• Strong understanding of test data management and environment dependencies. 
• Experience in multi-site, global SAP rollouts, preferably on RISE with SAP. 
• Deep knowledge of automotive/manufacturing processes (MRP, supply chain, MES integration). 
• Proficiency in JIRA, ALM, or similar tools. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills. 

Leadership Competencies

• Execution Excellence: Ability to deliver high-quality outcomes under tight timelines and complex dependencies. 
• Automation Mindset: Strong focus on scalability, reusability, and continuous testing. 
• Risk Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of functional and technical risks.  
• Stakeholder Influence: Ability to align business and IT stakeholders in high-pressure environments. 
• People Leadership: Experience leading distributed teams and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.