QA Automation Lead (Remote, Full-Time) EU [AS226]

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About the Role
We're looking for a QA Automation Lead to evolve our client's QA function from a heavily manual model toward a scalable, risk-based automation approach - while maintaining oversight of existing manual processes.

This is a hands-on role (approximately 60% hands-on), leading a team of 4 QA engineers. The current stack uses TypeScript, WebdriverIO, and Appium, but automation maturity is still early, and the team relies significantly on manual testing today.

The primary product is a mobile banking app, so the role is heavily mobile-focused (iOS/Android), with an emphasis on end-to-end user journey testing and strong judgment around building an effective testing pyramid across mobile, UI, API, and manual layers.

### Responsibilities

Define and drive the QA automation strategy, improving framework quality, test coverage, and overall automation maturity

Lead, mentor, and support a team of QA engineers, providing both technical guidance and hands-on contribution

Design, build, and maintain scalable UI and end-to-end automation frameworks in TypeScript using WebdriverIO and Playwright

Own and evolve mobile automation across iOS and Android using Appium and BrowserStack

Apply a risk-based testing approach to make informed decisions on test prioritisation, coverage trade-offs, and release confidence

Shape a balanced testing pyramid across mobile, UI, API/service-level, and manual testing layers

Improve and optimise automated test execution within CI/CD pipelines

Manage bug tracking, triage, and failure analysis, providing clear reporting on quality metrics and risks

Collaborate with engineering, product, and platform teams to improve testability and embed QA best practices

Support longer-term expansion into non-functional testing areas such as performance, load, and security

### Requirements

6+ years of experience in QA / Test Automation in production environments

Proven experience leading or mentoring QA engineers and owning automation direction

Strong ability to define and evolve automation strategy, not just implement individual tests

Solid manual QA fundamentals, including exploratory and regression testing

Hands-on experience building or improving UI and end-to-end automation frameworks using tools such as WebdriverIO, Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium

Experience with mobile testing and automation on iOS and/or Android in business-critical environments

Strong understanding of risk-based testing and test pyramid principles

Experience with API and service-level testing

Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines

Comfortable with defect management, failure analysis, and QA reporting

Proficiency in TypeScript or JavaScript-based automation (TypeScript preferred); Python, Java, or Kotlin also welcome

Strong collaboration skills across engineering, product, and platform teams

### Nice to Have

Experience with Appium, BrowserStack, XCUITest, or Espresso

Experience testing React Native applications

Exposure to performance, load, or non-functional testing

Experience in fintech, banking, or similarly regulated environments

Familiarity with security-focused testing practices

Broader backend or service-level testing experience beyond UI automation