Whether you're hiring a dedicated QA team for the first time or replacing an existing vendor, ThinkSys deploys in 3–7 days with zero ramp-up gaps.
We embed experienced QA leads and testers directly into your sprints, covering all aspects of software testing (manual, automation, performance, and security coverage as needed). You get measurable KPIs, clear SLAs, and a proven 30-day onboarding plan that starts delivering results from week one.
ThinkSys Leadership
Led by ThinkSys QA leads
3–7
Days to Start
Measurable KPI Impact
"Compared to hiring in-house, a dedicated QA team gives you high quality, ready-to-run testers and predictable execution from week one — without recruitment delays or ramp-up costs."
A senior QA lead manages your testing strategy while experienced QA engineers execute — no juniors, no learning curve.
Add mobile testers for a sprint. Scale down post-launch. Adjust team size monthly without recruitment overhead or severance costs.
Your team sees every test case, defect, and status update in real-time. We work in your tools, your workflows, your dashboards. Jira becomes the single source of truth for task management, test execution, and defect status.
All test plans, automation frameworks, and defect insights belong to you. NDA-ready from day one, no vendor lock-in.
Track defect leakage, automation stability, and release readiness every week. Get go/no-go reports within 2 hours of the final build.
ThinkSys assigns the same named QA lead and engineers to your account sprint after sprint. Your testers build deep product knowledge over time. We include team-continuity clauses in every contract: if a team member leaves, we guarantee a documented knowledge transfer and replacement ramp-up within 1–2 business days with no gap in test coverage.
Skip the 3-month hiring cycle and start software testing next week
A dedicated quality assurance team works best when you need embedded testing capacity that scales with your product, not a one-time project or fully hands-off outsourcing.
Not sure which model fits your needs?
Book a 20-minute QA fit call, and we'll walk through your release cadence, team structure, and testing gaps, then recommend the right engagement model (dedicated team, managed QA, or staff augmentation).
Need managed QA instead? Let's discuss other models.
What Your Dedicated QA
Team Delivers Each Sprint
"You don't get vague promises. You get QA artifacts in Jira, dashboards, and release reports every sprint."
A prioritized testing roadmap aligned to your release schedule and business-critical flows. We document which features get tested first, which risks need coverage, and how testing effort maps to business impact and release risk.
Every user story gets acceptance criteria review, testability checks, and edge case scenarios before dev starts. No more 'how do we test this?' discussions mid-sprint or unclear definitions of done that cause rework.
Core workflows are documented, executed, and updated every sprint, so regression never gets skipped. We maintain a living test suite that evolves with your product, ensuring critical paths stay protected as features change.
We identify which flows need automated testing, when to automate them, and why. You get a prioritized plan: which tests should be automated now (high-value, stable), which should wait (still changing), and which should stay manual (exploratory, UX validation).
Pass/fail summary + known risks + rollback conditions, delivered 2 hours before go-live. Every release gets a documented go/no-go recommendation with test coverage status, open defects by severity, and a deployment readiness checklist.
No more 'waiting for test data' delays; we ensure environments and data are sprint-ready. Before every sprint starts, we verify: test environments are stable, data is refreshed, integrations are working, and testers can start executing on day one.
Before every sprint, we verify environments are stable, data is refreshed, and integrations are working so testers can start executing on day one without delays.
Real-time dashboards + weekly summaries tracking coverage, defects, flaky tests, and blockers. Your stakeholders see test execution trends, defect velocity, automation health, and release readiness, updated daily, summarized weekly.
If your automation is unreliable, we diagnose root causes and stabilize it before scaling. We audit existing tests, identify flaky patterns (timing issues, hard-coded waits, brittle selectors), fix the unstable ones, and implement stability rules before adding new automation.
Load/stress testing for critical flows to catch performance regressions early. We establish baseline response times, run load tests before major releases, and alert when API latency, page load times, or database queries degrade beyond acceptable thresholds.
OWASP Top 10 checks, auth/authorization testing, and secure data handling validation. We test for SQL injection, XSS, insecure authentication, broken access control, and sensitive data exposure, integrated into your sprint cycle.
Test plans, defect insights, and automation frameworks stay with you, with zero knowledge loss. If we part ways, you inherit fully documented test suites, automation code, environment configs, and test data management strategies. No vendor lock-in.
Download a sample to understand how we document test coverage, defect status, risk assessment, and go/no-go recommendations before every deployment.
Our Dedicated QA Team
Composition (By Scenario)
Most vendors list generic roles. We recommend team blueprints based on your actual scenario, release cadence, platform complexity, and compliance needs.
| Blueprint | Team Size | Start Timeline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
A: SaaS Agile | 3 members | 3–5 days | teams shipping weekly and struggling with regression risk. |
B: Enterprise | 5–7 members | 1 week | Multiple squads, complex integrations |
C: Mobile App | 3–4 members | 5–7 days | iOS/Android, device fragmentation |
D: Compliance | 4–5 members | 1 week | Fintech, healthcare, and audit requirements |
Tell us your release frequency and platforms so we can recommend a team in 24 hours.
Below is a complete roadmap to start working with your dedicated QA team.
"Ad-hoc testing, manual handoffs, and zero visibility into critical release paths."
Tell us your current testing state & release cadence, and we'll tailor this plan to your situation.
No ambiguity, no surprises. You get structured QA support for planning, triage, and release readiness plus consistent testing processes your team can follow sprint after sprint. Here's how we integrate with your workflow and cadence.
| Meeting | Frequency | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily standup | Every workday | 15-minute | Status sync, blockers, today's focus |
| Defect triage | 2x/week | 30-minute | Severity assignment, priority setting, and owner allocation |
| Sprint planning | Every sprint | 1 hour | Test planning, acceptance criteria review, and risk assessment |
| Sprint retro | End of sprint | 45-minute | Process improvements, team feedback, action items |
| Release sign-off | Every release | 20-minute | Go/no-go decision, risk review, rollback readiness |
| Weekly KPI review | Every Monday | 20-minute | Trend analysis, defect patterns, and action plan |
| Commitment | SLA | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New defect triage | Within 24 hours | Severity assigned (Critical/High/Medium/Low), initial assessment, owner identified |
| Retest turnaround | Same day / next business day | Critical/High: same day. Medium/Low: next business day |
| Daily status update | End of day | Slack/email summary: tests executed, defects found, blockers, tomorrow's plan |
| Release report | Within 2 hours of the final build | Pass/fail summary, open defects by severity, known risks, go/no-go recommendation |
| Blocker escalation | Within 1 hour | Critical path issues only (environment down, deployment blocked, show-stopper bug) |
| Test environment downtime | Within 30 minutes | Acknowledgment + estimated resolution time (or escalation to DevOps) |
| Regression cycle delivery | Within 24 hours | Full regression suite execution and results report delivered within 24 hours of final build |
| Test environment setup | Within 1–2 business days of contract start | Environments, access, and test data configured before first sprint begins. |
Slack/Teams channel: Real-time updates, quick questions, defect alerts
Jira comments: Defect details, test evidence, reproduction steps
Shared dashboard: Test execution status, defect trends, automation health
KPI summary email
Sent every Monday with trends, risks, and action items
Release sign-off report
Delivered 2 hours before deployment with go/no-go decision
Tester → Dev
Standard defects, clarifications
QA Lead → Engineering Lead
Blockers, environment issues
QA Lead → Product/CTO
Release delays, critical risks
You know when we'll respond, when reports land, and who to escalate to
Test status, defect trends, and blockers visible in your tools (Jira, Slack, dashboards)
Meetings have clear agendas, SLAs have clear timelines, and escalations have clear paths
If you work with different release cadences, different tools, and different time zones, we'll configure cadence, SLAs, and communication to fit your workflow.
Every ThinkSys engagement includes a weekly KPI dashboard covering business-level quality metrics: defect leakage rate, test execution velocity, automation coverage %, escaped bug trend, and regression cycle time. Not just a list of tickets closed.
We don't just test; we measure software quality like a business function, tracking 12 KPIs that directly connect testing activity to release outcomes.
Bugs found in production vs before release.
Why it matters: Directly impacts churn, support load, and brand trust.
Defects that fail retest after being marked fixed.
Why it matters: Indicates fix quality and clarity of requirements.
Time from fixed to verified & closed by QA.
Why it matters: Faster verification = faster releases.
Planned vs executed test cases per sprint.
Why it matters: Shows whether testing is keeping pace with delivery.
% of automated tests passing consistently in CI.
Why it matters: Low pass rates erode trust in automation and block releases.
Automation failures caused by instability (not real defects).
Why it matters: Flaky tests create false alarms and slow the pipeline.
Stories blocked due to unclear acceptance criteria.
Why it matters: Unclear specs delay testing and drive rework.
% of critical/high-priority coverage completed before cutoff.
Why it matters: Enables confident go/no-go decisions.
Where defects concentrate across modules/features.
Why it matters: Reveals risk hotspots and where to focus engineering fixes.
Patterns behind defects (spec gaps, env issues, integration breaks).
Why it matters: Prevents repeat defect classes, not just individual bugs.
Uptime of test/staging environments during work hours.
Why it matters: Environment downtime directly delays releases.
How often testing becomes the bottleneck for delivery.
Why it matters: Ensures QA accelerates releases instead of slowing them.
Download a sample report to see exactly what you will receive every Monday — no fluff, just actionable quality metrics.
Your code, your data, your IP — always. We operate under your security policies with zero ambiguity about ownership or access.
Download our Security & Compliance FAQ for details on background checks, data handling, GDPR/HIPAA compliance, and access management.
We sign your NDA before any project discussion, no exceptions. Confidentiality isn't negotiable.
Testers get role-based access, only what they need, when they need it. No blanket admin rights, no unnecessary permissions.
We follow your security policies: VPN, 2FA, SSO, audit logs, encrypted data in transit and at rest. Your infrastructure rules apply to us.
All test plans, automation code, defect insights, and documentation are yours. No vendor lock-in. If we part ways, you keep everything.
Our processes align with SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 standards, background checks, secure onboarding, and data handling protocols.
Not sure if you need a dedicated team, fully managed QA, or individual contractors? Here's how the three models compare, so you can choose the right fit for your situation.
| Factor | Dedicated QA Team | Managed QA Services | Staff Augmentation |
|---|---|---|---|
Who owns QA strategy? | Your team + our QA Lead (collaborative) | Fully us (we define & execute) | Your team (we execute) |
Who manages execution? | Our QA Lead (embedded in your team) | Our QA Manager (external, reports to you) | Your QA Manager (our testers report to you) |
Speed to scale | 3–7 days (team ready to test) | 1–2 weeks (setup + process definition) | 1–3 days (individual resources) |
Best for | Long-term partnership, product ownership | Project-based, outcome-driven delivery | Short-term capacity gaps, budget flexibility |
Cost predictability | Fixed monthly team cost | Variable (based on scope & deliverables) | Hourly/daily rates (flexible, pay-as-you-go) |
Knowledge retention | High (team stays with you) | Medium (handoff at project end) | Low (individuals rotate frequently) |
Tooling ownership | Your tools + ours (integrated workflow) | Our tools (you receive reports & dashboards) | Your tools (we adapt to your stack) |
Outcome accountability | Shared (collaborative ownership) | Fully us (SLA-driven commitments) | Your team (we support execution) |
We’ll walk through your release cadence, team structure, and testing gaps, then recommend the right engagement model.
Real teams, real products, real outcomes. Here's what happens when you embed a dedicated QA team.
Engagement
Options
ThinkSys offers three engagement models to match your release cadence and budget: a Dedicated Team for ongoing products that need embedded QA sprint after sprint, a Sprint-Based engagement for fixed-scope projects like pre-launch testing or automation build-outs, and a Hybrid Model combining a stable core team with on-demand specialists. Not sure which fits? The comparison below walks through the differences.
Monthly Retainer
Stable squad embedded in your sprints, think of them as your team. Same QA Lead, same testers, sprint after sprint.
Best For:
Commitment
Minimum 3 months (ensures team stability and product knowledge retention)
Cost Structure
Fixed monthly retainer (predictable budgeting)
Fixed Scope
Short-term burst with defined deliverables, automation setup, regression suite build, release readiness testing, or pre-launch QA.
Best For:
Commitment
4–12 weeks (scope-dependent)
Cost Structure
Fixed project fee based on deliverables (quoted upfront)
Core Team + Specialists on Demand
Dedicated core team (QA Lead + 1–2 testers) handles ongoing testing. Add specialists as needed: performance testers for load testing, security testers for pen tests, accessibility testers for WCAG compliance.
Best For:
Commitment
Flexible (core team monthly retainer, specialists billed per project or sprint)
Cost Structure
Core team (monthly) + specialists (project-based or daily rates). Specialists are billed hourly or per-sprint (no long-term commitment for surge capacity).
Pricing depends on six factors. Here’s how each one affects your investment:
We provide custom quotes based on your actual needs, not generic tier pricing that doesn’t fit anyone.
More specialized roles = higher cost. A 3-person team (QA Lead + 2 Manual QAs) costs less than a 5-person team (QA Lead + Automation + 2 Manual + Security Tester).
Multi-platform testing (web + iOS + Android + APIs) increases complexity and team size. Testing one web app costs less than testing web + mobile parity.
Weekly releases require faster turnaround, tighter SLAs, and often a larger team. Monthly releases allow smaller teams with more lead time.
Building automation from scratch (framework setup, CI/CD integration, 100+ tests) costs more upfront than maintaining an existing suite or adding 10–20 new tests.
Audit trails, test evidence collection, and regulatory workflows (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2) require additional documentation effort and specialized testers.
Mobile testing with cloud device labs (BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, AWS Device Farm) adds infrastructure costs. Testing 15 devices costs more than testing 5.
Tell us about your product, release cadence, and platforms, and we’ll send a tailored quote with role breakdown, timeline, and cost structure.