Automation Program Manager / Test Program Manager —Automation

Job Title: Automation Program Manager / Test Program Manager —Automation

Location: Nashville, TN (on-site/hybrid)

Job Type: Contract

About the Role

Facility is integrating a Warehouse Control System with ERP  for inventory management. We are seeking an experienced Automation Test Program Manager / QA Consultant to own end-to-end test strategy and execution across this automation initiative, driving the program toward a full go-live by end of December.

This is a hands-on leadership role — not a pure documentation function. The consultant will need to build the test plan, actively run the test cycle day-to-day, coordinate across engineering, operations, and IT  teams, and translate testing status into clear, executive-ready reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Test Strategy & Planning: Develop a high-level, end-to-end test plan covering the full device flow — from automation hardware/conveyance triggers, through (WCS layer) logic, to ERP (receiving, put-away etc.).
• Test Cycle Management: Own and manage the test cycle schedule, including test case development, environment/data readiness, defect triage, regression cycles, and UAT sign-off criteria.
• Cross-Team Coordination: Work directly with automation/hardware teams, WCS product/engineering teams, ERP IT teams, and warehouse operations to align on test scope, dependencies, and readiness gates.
• Integration & Interface Testing: Ensure test coverage of system integration points — automation-to-WCS signals/events and WCS-to-ERP transactional integration (e.g., inventory updates,serial number tracking).
• Defect & Risk Management: Establish a defect tracking and triage process; identify, escalate, and drive resolution of blocking issues; maintain a go-live risk register.
• Executive Reporting: Produce regular, concise status reporting for executive leadership — test progress, defect burn-down, go-live readiness, and risk callouts — suitable for steering committee/leadership review.
• Go-Live Readiness: Define and track exit criteria/entrance criteria for go-live; support cutover planning and hypercare test validation post-launch.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in test program management, QA leadership, or systems integration testing, ideally within supply chain, warehouse automation, or logistics environments.
• Demonstrated experience testing systems that span WCS/WMS layers and ERP inventory systems
• Experience with warehouse automation go-lives — conveyance systems, sortation, robotics, or similar physical automation integrated with software control layers.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end test methodology: test strategy, test case design, UAT, regression, defect management, and readiness/exit criteria.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional stakeholders (engineering, operations, vendors, IT) without direct authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to executive/leadership audiences.
• Comfortable working on-site in a warehouse/DCC operational environment in Nashville.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with sortation/guidance systems (e.g., put-to-light/sort-to-light) or automated transport (e.g., AMRs/robotics).

Deliverables

• High-level end-to-end test plan and test strategy document
• Test cycle schedule and tracking dashboard
• Defect/risk log with escalation cadence
• Go-live readiness assessment and exit-criteria checklist
• Weekly/bi-weekly executive status reporting through go-live