Kai Lepler

Kai Lepler

Director, Digital Transformation & Quality Expert
Luzern, Switzerland.

About

I am a highly experienced Director and certified professional with a robust track record in digital transformation, quality management, and IT consulting within highly regulated industries. I expertly lead complex initiatives, applying a systems thinking mindset and lean agile methodologies (SAFe, Scrum, Kanban) to optimize end-to-end product and process quality. I possess a proven ability to balance necessary production stability with the urgency of digital innovation across diverse technical landscapes.

As an innovation driver within the Wealth Management Frontend Applications division, I am dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and engineering excellence. My primary focus is to elevate Developer Experience (DevEx) while simultaneously raising the bar for software quality by embedding Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles as a modern DevOps standard. Whether driving our AI-First strategy or optimizing performance engineering, my goal is to empower our teams to build resilient, accessible, and high-performing digital banking solutions.

Work

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Site Reliability Engineer, Design Technology & Language Center of Excellence

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Director

Summary

Operating at the intersection of innovation and delivery, I am passionate about leveraging AI and modern engineering practices to reduce cognitive load for our developers. My key contributions include:

Highlights

Developed a Performance Engineering framework for Digital Banking: Implemented End User Monitoring, performance metrics, and a methodology to measure user satisfaction.

Co-led the AI & ML and Quality Engineering working groups: Drove the promotion and execution of the corporate "AI-First" strategy.

Defined the future AIOps stack: Modernized the testing and observability strategy to align with next-generation requirements.

Developed and established a test strategy for AI-driven maintenance of automated tests: Orchestrated the internal, group-wide rollout of the open-source tool Reportportal.io.

Served as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Software Accessibility: Ensured inclusive and accessible design across all software products.

Organized and actively participated in Code Jams and Hackathons to foster innovation and collaboration.

Held leadership roles in key employee networks: Including the Ability Network, Developer Productivity Guild, UBS Test Engineering Guild, and Accessibility Guild.

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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SRE / QA Manager / Portfolio Management / Process & Tools (Director)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Led Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) adoption and quality engineering initiatives for the Digital Banking Platform & Touchpoint streams, balancing innovation pressure with production stability.

Highlights

Invented and established the "Reliable Services Framework," covering quality aspects from user sentiment detection to engineering excellence, significantly enhancing production stability.

Contributed to the Touchpoint modern tech initiative, evaluating and integrating AI technologies, Azure Cloud migration, and GitLab for requirements and test management.

Piloted and adopted new ways of working, upskilling quality engineers in DevOps, CI/CD, IaC, Containerization, Automation, Digital Twins for AI testing, and network-virtualization.

Established Application Performance Monitoring (APM) as a common practice for all e-Banking products, integrating into UBS internal and external workbenches.

Consulted Group CTO on "1 Day to Prod" and UBS SDLC re-modeling, optimizing control frameworks to enable left-shifting and faster development with increased risk control.

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Product Quality Manager (Digital Banking)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Directed all quality aspects for digital banking products, encompassing E-Banking and Mobile Banking, driving release quality and production stability through strategic automation and process optimization.

Highlights

Ensured release quality and production stability, transitioning from yearly to monthly releases through standardization, precision planning, and automation, reducing reliance on manual testing.

Established an automation strategy based on an early warning system and API-first contract-based testing, facilitating automation for non-developers.

Developed a sustainable process for Nonfunctional Requirements testing and evidencing, sharing best practices across UBS Wealth Management technology.

Built and fostered communities for collaboration and knowledge sharing within Digital Banking, the Business Cluster, and firm-wide, enhancing organizational learning.

Nominated as a Learning Ambassador on UBS Group Level and led the WMPC Test Engineering & Management Steering Group, advancing testing knowledge certification.

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Agile Migration Coach (Digital Banking - Mobile Unit)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Coached the Digital Banking Mobile Unit through an Agile QA migration, transitioning from traditional standards to a user-centric, automated testing approach.

Highlights

Migrated QA processes from QC and ISTQB/ISO29119 standards to Jira X-Ray, successfully implementing an agile testing approach.

Adapted and established new testing processes, developing comprehensive guidance documentation and training programs for the team.

Restructured Regression Testing to focus on user-centric functionality, significantly improving relevance and efficiency.

Drove automation initiatives utilizing Gherkin, Cucumber, Jenkins, and GitHub, enhancing testing capabilities.

Established centralized testing services, including a Device Cloud (Seetest for mobile) and Selenium (for Browser Configurations), to boost manual and automated test efficiency and coverage.

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Portfolio Management (Legal Technology Unit)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Led overall portfolio management activities across business lines, ensuring efficient portfolio delivery, adherence to standards, and optimized budgeted spend.

Highlights

Led overall portfolio management activities across business lines, ensuring budgeted spend was within tolerance.

Managed portfolio review meetings, business metrics, and reporting, ensuring accurate tracking and reporting of key project milestones.

Accountable for senior management reporting and acted as a stand-in project manager when required.

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Line Management (Legal Technology Unit)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Headed the testing team, defining and implementing a global location and vendor strategy while building internal staff and managing cross-locational teams.

Highlights

Defined and implemented a location and vendor strategy aligned with group technology goals.

Built up internal staff, successfully replacing and internalizing vendor resources.

Managed a team of 8 testers across Zurich (CH) and Singapore (SGP), collaborating with stakeholders in Zurich, London (UK), and Weehawken (USA).

UBS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AG
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Information IT Architecture and Strategy (Legal Technology Unit)

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Accountable for Agile Transformation, toolset standardization, and compliance, driving delivery process improvement and agile methodology adoption within the Legal Technology Unit.

Highlights

Designed the program intake and agile project change processes, ensuring compliance with UBS governance while supporting agile methodology.

Implemented Jira & Confluence solutions, enhancing business collaboration and delivery team efficiency.

Developed an agile test automation strategy for IGCS and vendor COTS software, successfully deployed in the Legal matter and spend management tool Passport.

Represented Legal Technology interests as an official delegate in company-wide governance bodies, including QA & Testing Expert Group and Group SDLC Design Board.

Contributed to IT architecture solutions and ensured compliance with UBS governance processes within the Legal Technology context.

BBV SOFTWARE SERVICES AG
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Expert Test Manager / Principal Consultant

Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

Summary

Headed the testing community, establishing offshoring capacities, driving business development, and leading training initiatives in agile testing methodologies.

Highlights

Established offshoring capacities and participated in business development & sales initiatives.

Responsible for training and further education of testers through bbv Academy and apprenticeships, focusing on agile methods in testing.

Developed and partnered with testing communities in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (Context Driven Community, ISTQB Community, HP Community).

Responsible for leading trend campaigns in test automation, model-based testing, usability, mobile, and security testing.

BBV SOFTWARE SERVICES AG
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Test Manager / Crowd Test Manager / Methods Coach (Raiffeisen project Rainbow)

Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland

Summary

Interfaced between business and IT on a core banking platform transformation project, focusing on payments, cards, and insurance products.

Highlights

Successfully interfaced between business and IT during the core banking platform transformation project (migration to Avaloq).

Provided expertise on the business side for critical payments, cards, and insurance products, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.

EPAM SYSTEMS GMBH
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Software Testing Team Lead

Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Summary

Led software testing for the regulatory transformation project 'Too Big To Fail' at UBS AG, providing end-to-end testing support for business-critical processes.

Highlights

Served as Test Analyst for Business Process End-To-End tests in the regulatory transformation project 'Too Big To Fail' at UBS AG.

Provided comprehensive testing support to business units, covering test analysis, design, management, execution, and reporting.

Conducted functional acceptance testing for a complex European cross-border regulatory transformation project.

Analyzed system and business requirements to implement mostly automated business process end-to-end testing.

Supported business and IT units with end-to-end tests for business-critical processes, ensuring compliance and functionality.

SIEMENS AG
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Technical Test Analyst (Industrial Division)

Renningen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Summary

Specialized in testing security features and network virtualization, leading test automation and managing nearshoring projects for the Industrial Division.

Highlights

Specialized in testing security features, including computer forensics and security testing.

Specialized in network virtualization, utilizing Shunra software to model diverse network environments and reproduce test loads and failure domains.

Led test automation initiatives and managed nearshoring projects, optimizing testing efficiency and coverage.

SIEMENS AG
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Head of Software & Release Testing (ePS & RTS Automation SW GmbH)

Renningen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Summary

Managed a team of 5 software and release test engineers, overseeing project planning, execution, and reporting for system testing, compatibility, and customer support.

Highlights

Managed a team of 5 Software & Release Test engineers, ensuring high-quality project delivery.

Led project planning, execution, and reporting for system testing, compatibility checking, development testing, and customer support.

Responsible for ePS testing systems, encompassing planning, consulting, operations, and resource management.

Developed and conducted training seminars for test installation, methodology, and ePS Network-Services products, and internal training programs for software developers.

Managed and executed outsourcing of test projects in India and Hungary, achieving efficient project delivery.

Created highly flexible test automation in the industrial environment, including the innovative "Test-To-Go" automation approach.

Integrated security-relevant test features into default test methods and promoted test methodology, development, and support internally and externally.

DEBIS SYSTEMHAUS GMBH
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Management Information Systems

Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Summary

Managed workflow, groupware applications, knowledge management, and mail infrastructure, serving as the main user helpdesk for the computing center.

Highlights

Responsible for workflow and groupware applications, knowledge management, SAP2Web middleware technology, push systems (BackWeb), content management, and portals.

Managed mail infrastructure and served as the main user helpdesk for the computing center, ensuring smooth operations.

(VARIOUS CLIENTS)
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Instructor & Consultant for Intranet Technology

Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Summary

Provided instruction and consulting on intranet technology, specializing in graphic design, user training, web development, and systems administration for diverse clients.

Highlights

Provided user training on internet, intranet, general IT topics, databases, and office products including SharePoint.

Served as Webmaster, operating the Active Net computing center with HP servers, Cisco routers, and NT Dial-In servers.

Designed and implemented the UI concept for a web-based digital client advisor tool for a major German bank.

Developed web design and systems administration for Windows NT and Novell Networks, creating interactive internet presences for clients in industrial and financial services.

Contributed to creative projects for clients like Messe Stuttgart, Mercedes-Benz, and debis Systemhaus as part of the advertising agency 'Hinterm Mond'.

Education

Universität Hohenheim
Hohenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

1. Staatsexamen

Biology and Chemistry HL

Languages

German
English
French

Certificates

SAFe Agilist - Leading SAFe 4.0

Issued By

Scaled Agile, Inc.

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)®

Issued By

Scrum Alliance

Certified Scrum Master (CSM)®

Issued By

Scrum Alliance

ISTQB® Certified Tester Full Advanced Level (Test Manager, Test Analyst, Technical Test Analyst)

Issued By

ISTQB

ISTQB® CTFL-Extension, Agile Tester

Issued By

ISTQB

STB Certified Tester Foundation Level - Usability Tester

Issued By

STB

GTB Certified Automotive Software Tester (CTFL®-CAST)

Issued By

GTB

Skills

Project & Quality Management

Project Management, Quality Management, Context Driven Testing, Test Management, Test Design, Automation, Test Processes, Software Development Processes, Portfolio Management, Risk Management, Backlog Management, Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), BPMN, ITIL, UML, Test Processes Optimization, Outsourcing, Pareto Analysis, End-to-End Test, Business Acceptance Test, Rapid Software Testing, Exploratory Testing, Computer Forensics, Security Testing, Network Virtualization, Test Infrastructure, Test Data Management, Machine-oriented Test, Nonfunctional Requirements Testing.

Agile & DevOps Methodologies

Agile Transformation, Digitization, SRE (Site Reliability Engineering), IoT, Industry 4.0, Agile, SAFe, Scrum, Lean, RUP, SDLC, V-Modell, DevOps, CI/CD, IaC (Infrastructure as Code), Containerization, Kubernetes, GitOps.

Cloud & Data Technologies

Cloud Technologies, Microservice Architectures, Data Science, Jupyter Notebook, TensorFlow, Data Analysis, Azure Cloud.

Programming & Scripting

Python, R, JavaScript, CSS, Spring, SQL (Oracle, Microsoft), Shell-script, Dart, Go.

Tools & Platforms

HP products, IBM Rational products, Atlassian products (Jira, Confluence), Mind Mapping, ARIS, Shunra NV, Virtualization Solutions, Open-source Solutions, Databases (Relational, Non-Relational), Apache Kafka, Opensource Automation, Ansible, Helm, Terraform, Kubernetes, Flutter, Seetest (mobile), Selenium (Browser Configurations), Git (GitLab / GitHub), Cisco, Lotus Notes, Sinumerik, Simatic, QC, X-Ray, Jenkins.

Leadership & Coaching

Coaching, Training, Adult Education, Committee Work, People Management, Communications, Conflict Resolution, Mentoring, Knowledge Transfer, Stakeholder Management, Business Development.

User Experience & Information Architecture

Usability, User Experience, Information Architecture, Accessibility, Graphic Design, Web Design.

Unique Strengths

Dyslexic Thinking, Scientific Approach, Exceptional Process Understanding, Great Power of Comprehension.