QA Automation Engineer - Foundational Role

We are seeking a QA Automation Engineer to build our automation capability from the ground up as we deliver brand-new software. This is a foundational role with meaningful ownership, autonomy, and influence over how quality is defined and executed across the product lifecycle.

You will work alongside a small, cross-functional team—supporting engineers, UX/UI, product, and project leadership—while helping establish testing processes, automation strategy, and long-term quality standards.

This role is ideal for someone who can run with intent, operate autonomously, and take responsibility for building systems—not just executing test cases.

What You’ll Be Working On

• Brand-new software with evolving requirements
• Building automation-first testing frameworks from scratch
• Supporting a team of:
• 4 Engineers
• UI/UX
• Product Owner
• Project Manager
• Partnering with an existing manual QA tester, not replacing them
• Defining how QA fits into a modern product development process

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement test automation frameworks from the ground up
• Define and document QA processes aligned with new product development
• Determine what should and should not be automated
• Collaborate closely with engineers and product partners early in the development lifecycle
• Support and complement manual testing efforts with scalable automation

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• Identify quality risks early and help guide the team toward prevention, not reaction
• Evaluate long-term QA needs, including whether to:
• Grow a QA team and lead it, or
• Maintain a lean structure with strong automation coverage

Required Qualifications

• Experience as a QA Automation Engineer or SDET
• Proven experience building or significantly improving automation frameworks
• Strong understanding of:
• Automated UI and/or API testing
• Modern test tooling and frameworks
• Ability to work independently and make decisions with limited direction
• Comfort operating in greenfield environments
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on new product development
• Experience defining QA processes where none existed
• Comfort partnering with product, UX, and engineering
• Interest in leadership or owning quality strategy over time

What This Role Is NOT

• Not a manual-only QA role
• Not a ticket-by-ticket execution role
• Not a large-team, highly structured environment

This role requires ownership, judgment, and initiative.

What Success Looks Like

In the first 90 days:

• Establish an automation strategy aligned to product goals
• Implement initial automation frameworks
• Clearly define QA workflows and collaboration patterns

In 6–12 months:

• Mature automation coverage
• Reduce defect leakage into later stages
• Help leadership evaluate whether and how to scale the QA function

Why This Role Is Worth It

• Build QA from the ground up
• High autonomy and trust
• Direct influence on product quality
• Fully remote
• Opportunity to shape future QA direction and leadership