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.