Automation Test Lead

Role & responsibilities

We are seeking a technically strong and experienced Automation Test Lead to join our dynamic product testing team based in Chennai (India). This team is part of a bigger global R&D team.

This role is a unique blend of technical leadership, people management, and hands-on testing. You will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing test strategies, mentoring the QA team, and ensuring delivery of high-quality software products and features.

You will work across firmware, APIs, and GUI layers, owning the quality process end-to-end from test strategy to automation implementation and result analysis with a focus on performance, accuracy, and reliability. You will work as part of a global R&D team supporting HBM Genesis High Speed, LanXi and Fusion products. HBK products contribute to a variety of applications across technology sectors such as: Automotive, Electric Drives & Generator, Aerospace, Energy / High-Voltage, Material Testing and Service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and evolve test guidelines, quality standards, and best practices for the solution area.
• Own and drive end-to-end test strategy, test planning, and execution across projects and feature releases.
• Drive automation initiatives and continuously evaluate feasibility for automation enhancements
• Lead and mentor a team of QA engineers by providing technical guidance, career coaching, and performance feedback.
• Guide the team in setting up and maintaining test environments for new features and projects.
• Review and validate test scenarios, test cases, automation scripts, and test coverage for completeness and alignment with business requirements.
• Involve in hands-on testing activities, including functional, regression, integration, automation and system testing.
• Foster a high-performing team culture through skill development and continuous learning.
• Monitor test execution progress and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with release timelines and project goals.
• Track and report on key quality metrics, such as test coverage, defect trends, leakage, and testing efficiency.
• Identify risks, provide mitigation plans, and communicate quality status and escalations to leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement in QA processes and testing frameworks.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Development, and Release teams to plan and prepare testing for releases.
• Make or contribute to release decisions in alignment with Product Management (PM).
• Be the primary QA point-of-contact for customer support teams on production issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of QA experience with at least 2 years in a Automation Test Lead or similar leadership role.
• Proven experience in test planning, execution, and quality management across multiple projects.
• Strong hands-on skills in functional and automated testing tools and frameworks.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, version control systems, and test management tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to collaborate across technical and business teams.

Preferences:

• Experience in Agile/Scrum environments.
• Experience with automated UI testing of desktop applications (Windows-based) and tools like Pywinauto, AutoIt, WinAppDriver, or similar.
• Solid understanding of firmware testing, embedded systems and communication protocols
• Experience in Project Management

We offer Freedom with responsibility is the framework for HBKs employees. This allows for a good balance between work and family life and for constant development of professional and personal skills in an international and enjoyable working environment. You'll have the space to innovate, architect, and mentor helping shape the future of embedded QA at HBK.

One company HBK

On 1 January 2019, Brel & Kjr and HBM merged their activities into a new company called HBK (Hottinger Brel & Kjr). With more than 3,500 employees worldwide and production facilities in Denmark, Germany, the UK, the USA, China and Portugal and presence in 80 countries, HBK is a leading player in the test and measurement area. For further info please visit

HBK is a division of Spectris plc, a UK-based productivity-enhancing instrumentation and controls company serving leading aerospace, automotive, medical, and other customers. Spectris plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange.