Senior QA Manager (f/m/x) - Enpal Energy at enpal · Berlin

At Enpal, we are not just a company; we are a movement. As a recognized greentech unicorn and one of Europe’s fastest-growing energy companies, we’re dedicated to making solar energy accessible and effortless for homeowners across the continent. Our innovative business model for solar panels, heat pumps, home energy storage systems, and EV charging stations is redefining the residential energy market. With our mission to empower homeowners to embrace clean energy, we are paving the way for a sustainable, decentralized energy future. As the leading player in residential solar, Enpal is expanding its next frontier: Enpal Energy, our platform for managing, optimizing, and orchestrating millions of distributed energy assets. This includes building Europe’s largest Virtual Power Plant (VPP), connecting solar systems, batteries, heat pumps, and EV chargers to actively stabilize the grid and unlock new revenue streams for our customers. Our vision is bold: to become the driving force in Europe’s transition to distributed, intelligent, and clean energy generation. About the role We’re looking for a Senior QA Manager / Test Manager to build our QA function from the ground up and raise the quality bar across everything we ship. You’ll define the strategy, processes, tooling, and metrics that make quality repeatable and measurable -then lead and mentor a team of QAs to execute it. This role is highly collaborative: you’ll work closely with Engineering, Product, Design, and other stakeholders to embed quality from feature discovery and design all the way through release and post-release learning. WHAT YOU'LL DO BUILD THE QA FUNCTION FROM SCRATCH - Define and roll out the QA vision, strategy, and operating model (quality standards, test strategy, ownership model, and governance). - Establish pragmatic processes for test planning, risk assessment, test execution, defect management, and release readiness. - Select, implement, and continuously improve QA tools and frameworks (manual + automation, test management, CI/CD integration, reporting). - Create clear documentation and playbooks (Definition of Done, quality gates, test case standards, regression strategy). RAISE QUALITY ACROSS PRODUCT DELIVERY - Partner with Product and Engineering to define quality requirements early (acceptance criteria, testability, non-functional expectations). - Introduce and uphold quality gates across the SDLC (design reviews, code review quality checks, test coverage expectations, release sign-off). - Champion shift-left testing, helping teams prevent defects rather than only finding them late. - Drive improvements in testability, observability, and fast feedback loops (e.g., stable test environments, reliable test data). LEAD, MANAGE, AND MENTOR QA TALENT - Hire, onboard, and develop a high-performing QA team (manual testers, automation engineers, SDETs—depending on needs). - Coach and mentor QAs on test design, exploratory testing, automation approaches, stakeholder communication, and career growth. - Set expectations and provide continuous feedback through performance management and development plans. - Foster a culture of ownership, curiosity, and continuous improvement within the QA practice. QUALITY LEADERSHIP & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT - Act as the primary owner of release quality and readiness, coordinating go/no-go criteria and risk-based decisions. - Communicate clearly about quality risks, tradeoffs, and mitigation plans to technical and non-technical stakeholders. - Define and report on meaningful quality metrics (defect trends, escape rate, flaky test rate, cycle time, test coverage by risk). - Run retrospectives and root-cause analysis for major incidents and recurring issues, ensuring actions stick. What you'll bring - What you’ll bring (Qualifications) REQUIRED EXPERIENCE - Significant experience in QA/Test leadership (e.g., Senior QA Lead, QA Manager, Test Manager) with a track record of improving quality outcomes. - Proven success building or scaling a QA function, including processes, tooling, and team practices. - Experience managing and mentoring QA professionals, including performance management and coaching. - Strong understanding of the full testing spectrum: - Manual (exploratory, regression, usability, acceptance) - Automation (API/UI tests, test pyramid, CI/CD integration) - Non-functional testing (performance, reliability, security awareness, accessibility as relevant) - Solid technical fluency: able to collaborate deeply with engineers, review test approaches, and influence architecture for testability. NICE TO HAVE - Experience introducing quality practices in fast-moving product teams (Agile/Lean environments). - Background in SDET / automation engineering, or managing teams that include SDETs. - Familiarity with modern tooling such as Playwright/Cypress/Selenium, Postman/Newman, REST/GraphQL testing, CI tools (GitHub Actions/GitLab/Jenkins), and test management tools (TestRail, Xray, Zephyr, etc.). - Experience with quality in distributed systems: microservices, event-driven architectures, mobile apps, or data-heavy products (as relevant to your domain). What we offer - Work at Germany's first green unicorn - Play an active role in shaping the solar energy transition. - The sun shines all over the world - At Enpal, you'll work with a highly motivated, diverse team of over 65 nationalities. - The ideal setup for your focus - We are convinced that excellent results are achieved when the conditions are right. That's why we rely on a hybrid working concept that gives you the freedom to always work in the way that best suits your tasks. Do you need new inspiration on an international level? With Workflex, we offer you the opportunity to relocate abroad for up to 30 days a year, depending on your responsibilities. - Grown-up business & startup spirit - In our modern office in Berlin-Friedrichshain, you'll find everything your heart desires, from height-adjustable desks and table tennis to stocked beverage fridges and barista coffee. - Your kick-start at Enpal - Onboarding day with a welcome bag, buddy program, and a team that really supports you. - Stay up to date & help shape the future - Transparent all-hands meetings, short decision-making processes, and an open feedback culture - without mistakes, there is no progress. - The energy transition can only be achieved together - At Enpal, you can expect legendary team spirit and unforgettable team events. - Your extra boost - 29 + 2 vacation days, discounted membership at Wellhub, and corporate benefits. Everything you need to help you achieve a good work-life balance. At Enpal, we are proud of the diversity of our team. No decisions are made on the basis of skin colour, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or age, either during recruitment or employment. Enpal stands for a safe workplace and takes action against discrimination and harassment of any kind.