Home
About
Guiding Principles
Education
Experience
Community Service
Conferences
Timeline
Recommendations
Contact
Resume

Ken Hill

IT Quality Assurance Leader

INTRODUCTION

IT Quality Assurance Leader

Strategic and results-oriented Senior QA Architect and IT Leader with over 15 years of experience driving quality assurance initiatives, leading high-performing teams, and influencing enterprise-wide testing strategies. Proven ability to bridge the gap between technology and business by aligning QA practices with organizational goals. Recognized for building and mentoring technical teams, developing scalable test automation frameworks, and implementing innovative solutions that enhance software reliability and accelerate delivery cycles. Adept at enterprise-level collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Unique Strengths

Strategic Leadership Rooted in Technical Expertise

Talent Development & Team Empowerment

Building Scalable, Business-Aligned Quality Solutions

Hobbies

I am an avid cyclist.

I am also the co-chair for a non-profit, West Valley Trail Alliance (a mountain biking/trail advocacy organization, a chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association)

Skillset

Technology & Strategy Alignment

Enterprise-Wide QA Leadership

Cross-Functional Team Management

Process Improvement & Optimization

Mentorship & Talent Development

Stakeholder & Executive Collaboration

CI/CD & Test Automation Frameworks

API, GUI, Mobile & Regression Testing

Agile & DevOps Transformation

Driving Quality Transformation and Organizational Growth

In both my last two employers I helped play an instrumental part in transforming the QA department from a poor state to power-houses. At Choice Hotels I started when test automation was a new technology, I helped implement multiple lines of sustainable technology. At CSAA, I started there when the company was divided into many silos and QA was fractured. Over the years, I was a key player in helping QA transform; as the silos merged and by the time I left, QA was an enterprise organization and technology flourished.

Guiding Principles

Lead with Expertise

I believe leadership is earned through knowledge, action, and trust. I lead by example, using my technical expertise to empower teams, drive results, and influence enterprise direction.

Empower People through Mentorship

I take pride in developing talent. Creating a collaborative, supportive environment where engineers can grow is one of my greatest accomplishments. I believe mentorship is a multiplier of success.

Quality is Strategic

Quality assurance isn't just a technical function, it's a strategic pillar of business success. My goal is to deliver software that is reliable, scalable, and sustainable, adding long-term value to the organization.

Innovate with Purpose

I embrace innovation when it solves real problems. Whether it's automating intelligently, refining frameworks, or integrating CI/CD, I focus on solutions that streamline processes and create measurable impact.

Think Enterprise-Wide

I operate with a systems mindset. From supporting 30+ teams to building shared frameworks, I strive to create solutions that scale, unify, and align with enterprise goals.

Take Ownership & Deliver with Integrity

I hold myself and my teams accountable to high standards. I take initiative, follow through, and maintain transparency throughout every engagement.

Communicate & Collaborate Effectively

Great quality is a team sport. I believe in strong cross-functional collaboration, clear communication, and aligning with stakeholders at every level to ensure success.

Specialization

Extensive experience in

Technical Leadership

Strategic Framework Development

Mentorship & Talent Growth

Enterprise-Wide Impact Capability

CI/CD & Agile Transformation

Cross-Team Collaboration

TEST AUTOMATION TOOLS

Selenium

Appium

TestNG

Rset Assured

Sauce Labs

Maven

Jenkins

Java

JavaScript

TypeScript

SQL

Git

SVN

AWS Pipeline

Jira

Xray

Education

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems

Experience

Senior QA Architect | Enterprise QA Leader

CSAA

2015 - 2024

Led a team of six architects and engineers, driving strategic automation and quality initiatives across the enterprise.
Partnered with senior leadership to align QA best practices with business objectives, reducing risk and enhancing product quality.
Championed enterprise-wide test automation strategies, ensuring consistent and scalable testing solutions for 30+ Agile teams.
Served as a trusted advisor to leadership teams, providing strategic input on software quality, automation, and delivery efficiency.
Built and mentored high-performing QA teams, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
Designed and implemented 20+ advanced QA frameworks to optimize automation processes, reduce maintenance, and enhance testing reliability.
Led integration of CI/CD pipelines, accelerating deployment cycles and improving delivery confidence.
Drove initiatives supporting multiple teams, enhancing test reusability and efficiency across diverse products and platforms.

Senior SDET | QA Leadership & Strategy

Choice Hotels International

1999 - 2015

Played a pivotal role in leading, mentoring, and developing automation strategies for 17 Agile teams across multiple applications.
Acted as a key technical leader, ensuring the adoption of best practices and innovative solutions across QA initiatives.
Directed seven architects, standardizing automation practices and tools across teams.
Recruited, trained, and mentored a majority of the QA staff, cultivating future leaders in test automation.
Designed and managed multiple test automation projects supporting 17 teams, ensuring seamless integration into Agile workflows.
Received Employee of the Year Award, nominated by peers for exceptional contributions to QA innovation.

Community Service

Co-chair of the West Valley Trail Alliance (WVTA)

Work with landowners and municipalities to build and maintain trails.
Volunteer and sponsor events.
Mentor new and younger mountain bikers.
Raise money at events and secure donations from other organizations.

Conferences

Gartner Tech Growth & Innovation Conference

Star West User Conference (7 x alum)

Jenkins User Conference

Timeline

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

PHOENIX, AZ

Senior SDET | QA Leadership & Strategy

Choice Hotels International

PHOENIX, AZ

1999 - 2015

Senior QA Architect | Enterprise QA Leader

CSAA

GLendale, AZ

2015 - 2024

Recommendations

Peer

I am excited to recommend Ken, a Senior IT Architect with exceptional expertise and leadership skills. Ken is not only deeply knowledgeable in his field but also a genuinely trusting and supportive leader. His extensive experience is evident in every project he undertakes. Ken has a remarkable ability to foster an environment where creativity can flourish. He encourages his team to explore various approaches to solving challenges, which has led to innovative solutions and a dynamic work culture. His leadership style not only inspires confidence but also empowers team members to reach their full potential. Any organization would be fortunate to have Ken on their team. His blend of experience, insight, and supportive leadership makes him a valuable asset in any setting.

Peer

I had the pleasure to work alongside Ken for two years as he led our team of architects in QA. His technical skill sets are top notch along with his ability to translate them into documentable processes. We accomplished so much together and was successful in enabling many automation marketplace assets for our QA engineers to use seamlessly across value stream teams. This brought structure, sustainability, and maintainability to the teams. He always presented a positive and upbeat attitude which brought great camaraderie to not only our group but to the entire QA team. Speaking of assets, he is one! I envy the team that he joins next and given the opportunity, I would join him in a heartbeat.

Team Member

It was an absolute pleasure to work with Ken on the CSAA project. As a Lead Test Automation Architect, he brought exceptional technical expertise and leadership to the table. Ken consistently delivered innovative solutions to complex challenges, streamlining our test automation processes and improving overall efficiency. Their ability to mentor and guide the team, while implementing best practices, was invaluable. I highly recommend Ken for any organization seeking a dedicated, knowledgeable, and strategic automation leader. It was great collaborating with such a talented professional!

Prior Leader

I had the privilege of working with Ken during his time as Senior IT Architect Lead, where he demonstrated an ideal balance between technical expertise and leadership. Leading a team of four architects, Ken played a pivotal role in delivering the test strategy we had in place. His "can do" attitude and ability to inspire trust among his colleagues made him a key contributor to our team 's success.Together, we achieved significant automation milestones that enhanced our testing capabilities and improved overall quality. I particularly enjoyed collaborating with Ken on planning our technology roadmap. I highly recommend Ken for any IT leadership role he chooses to pursue—his skills and approach will make him a tremendous asset to any organization.

Team Member

It was a pleasure to work with Ken in CSAA for 4+ years. He is an amazing architect and a dedicated worker, who is always available to help and mentor the team. His guidance in building the test framework has been invaluable. We still refer to a lot of documents and articles that Ken has created for the team. Ken is a great mentor, He is fun to work with and is an amazing team player. I wish you success and hope our paths cross again. Thanks for everything Ken!

Peer

Team Member

Prior Leader

Team Member

Peer

Team Member

Contact

Let's get the conversation started! Explore opportunities and reach out if you're interested in collaborating or working together. I'd love to connect with you on potential projects or discuss how we can achieve success together!

Resume Download

DEVELOPED & DESIGNED BY THERADARLIST