Tell me about a time you identified a critical defect just before a major launch.

During a critical pre-launch phase, I discovered a significant defect that threatened the stability of the system. I immediately initiated a triage process, collaborating with engineering and product management to assess the defect's severity and its potential impact on users. We then worked with engineering to estimate the time required for a fix, including development, testing, and release. Based on this analysis, if the defect posed a risk to the launch timeline, I would convene a stakeholder meeting. In this meeting, I would clearly communicate the defect's nature, its potential consequences, the estimated resolution time, and the likely delay. My recommendation would be to postpone the launch until the defect was resolved and thoroughly tested, ensuring we had stakeholder alignment on the revised plan.