What next in the career map for a Lead QA Engineer

Question

I am a Lead QA Engineer in a Software company and at a stage in my career wherein i need to plan my next move.

Option 1: The very obvious move would be to stay as a QA Lead and eventually become a QA Manager. But i don't see very good prospects/future after that. Or am i wrong?

Option 2: I love programming/coding, though i haven't spent a whole lot of time on that. So a direct move to becoming a Software Developer is not possible. Will moving to Test Automation eventually lead me to development. Even so, am i looking at step-down in pay and career-level.

Option 3: Moving to Product Management. Is this even possible and if so what would be the best approach.

Appreciate all your responses in advance. Thanks.

Answer 1

Perhaps it is also worth asking the question on a software QA specific forum such as SQA Forums or Software Testing Club. Personally, I would suggest that automation would improve your skill set and also be technically satisfying. It could either improve your QA career or provide a transition into full time development.

Answer 2

I'd be tempted to step back for a moment and do the following:

1. Analyze what you like and where are your strengths - This can help give some thought to what kinds of jobs you'd want to do. Is managing things where you want to go? There is also Project Manager that you left out for another possibility. This can be hard as well as quite personal

2. See what can your current company do towards meeting these - Can your current position involve more coding? Could some TDD area possibly be able to use your QA experience and work with that to make you into more of a developer? How did those above up in the company get those positions and what is in them that you'd want to do?

3. Consider alternatives elsewhere - This can be harder as you have to have an idea of what you really want and what are your dealbreakers. How much of a salary drop can you tolerate? In what kind of culture do you want to work? Are there certain kinds of development methodologies you'd want in another job? What size of company would you want? Do you want to be a contractor or a full-time employee?

Lots of questions there yes, but I think you are wanting to explore things and hopefully the answers to the above questions will give you an idea of where you go from here.

Answer 3

Our Company has

1. Entry QA Engineer
2. Lead QA Engineer
3. QA Manager
4. Director, Test and Quality Engineering

So probably your best bet would be QA Manager.