Lead QA Automation Engineer

Required Experience:We are seeking an experienced QA Lead with strong expertise in manual, API and automation testing to drive quality across our applications. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in UI, API automation, mobile automation, and frameworks like Cypress, Playwright, and Selenium, along with solid programming skills in Java and JavaScript.Key Responsibilities:- Lead and mentor the QA team, ensuring best practices in testing and delivery.- Design and execute manual and automated test strategies across web, API, and mobile platforms.- Implement automation frameworks and drive test coverage using Cypress/Playwright/Selenium.- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality releases.- Manage test plans, defect tracking, and reporting for project milestones.Requirements:- Strong hands-on experience in automation and manual testing.- Proficiency in Java, JavaScript, and automation tools/frameworks.- Experience with API automation and mobile testing.- Proven track record of team leadership and people management.Technical Skills:- Proficiency in QA and test management tools (e.g., JIRA, TestRail, Selenium).- Strong understanding of software development methodologies (Agile, Waterfall) and how they relate to quality processes.- Experience with CI/CD tools and practices, and their integration with quality processes.Process Design & Implementation:- Lead the development, documentation, and implementation of robust quality engineering processes that align with industry best practices.- Collaborate with development, product management, and operations teams to integrate quality processes into the software development lifecycle (SDLC).- Design and enforce processes for requirements analysis, test planning, test case design, defect management, and product release.Quality Assurance Leadership:- Define and monitor key quality metrics and KPIs to assess process effectiveness and product quality.- Establish and maintain standards for test environments, data management, and test automation.- Lead process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency, reducing defects, and optimizing resource allocation.- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, where applicable, by developing and maintaining appropriate documentation and process controls.Continuous Process Improvement:- Regularly review and refine quality processes to adapt to changing project needs and emerging technologies.- Conduct root cause analysis on defects and process failures, driving corrective actions to prevent recurrence.- Facilitate process audits, inspections, and reviews to ensure adherence to established quality standards.- Champion the adoption of new tools and methodologies that can enhance quality processes, such as DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks.Collaboration & Communication:- Act as a key point of contact between quality engineering and other departments, ensuring clear communication and alignment on quality goals.- Provide training and mentorship to team members on best practices for process-oriented quality engineering.- Lead cross-functional meetings to discuss process improvements, quality metrics, and project progress.Test Strategy & Execution:- Develop and implement comprehensive test strategies that incorporate both manual and automated testing approaches.- Oversee the creation and maintenance of test plans, test cases, and test scripts, ensuring they align with process guidelines.- Manage the execution of functional, integration, regression, and performance testing to validate product quality.- Ensure that testing processes are scalable, repeatable, and consistent across different projects and teams.Soft Skills:- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on process optimization.- Strong communication and leadership abilities, capable of driving process change across teams.- Detail-oriented with a commitment to delivering high-quality products.- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.