Lead QA Automation

About the Role: We're looking for a Lead QA Automation Engineer to own the automation strategy across a multi-surface product portfolio. You'll improve existing frameworks where they exist and build from the ground up where they don't. You'll make the architectural calls, set the quality bar, and work directly with engineering and product. You'll join an established QA team and report to QA Manager. This is a senior IC role with a path to people leadership — if you perform, you'll have engineers reporting to you within 12–18 months. What You'll Own Architecture and technical strategy Own the automation framework across the portfolio: structure, conventions, CI integration, scalability Make tooling and architectural decisions — you set the direction, you're accountable for outcomes Build new automation foundations on greenfield surfaces; raise the bar on existing ones Conduct code reviews that set the standard, not just check the box Quality bar Define what gets tested, to what depth, and with what trade-offs — across multiple product surfaces simultaneously Design coverage from requirements: decomposition, edge cases, environments, failure modes — not just automating cases handed to you When release readiness isn't there, you say so — clearly, with evidence, to whoever needs to hear it Cross-functional accountability Close requirement gaps before development begins Represent QA in sprint planning, architecture reviews, and cross-team syncs Negotiate scope and timelines with product and engineering when quality risk isn't accounted for Team and process Raise the craft of the QA engineers around you through structured code reviews and direct feedback Evaluate and improve QA and SDLC processes — if something is slow or unclear, fix it Participate in hiring as the team grows — screening candidates, conducting technical interviews, helping shape the bar