Lead Test Automation Engineer - Join One of NI's Most Forward-Thinking Tech Teams
Are you ready to own the automation testing strategy at a company that truly values quality engineering?
Want to manage and mentor a global QA function while shaping the future of test tooling and frameworks?
How about leading greenfield automation initiatives that you design and implement from scratch?
The Role
You'll join a modern, delivery-focused engineering team as their Lead Test Automation Engineer. You'll take full ownership of the company-wide testing strategy - building frameworks, selecting tools, and mentoring both local and offshore QA engineers.
This is a greenfield opportunity where the current stack includes TypeScript and Playwright, but you'll have the autonomy to define and introduce new technologies as the team scales. You'll work cross-functionally with engineering, product, and infrastructure to embed testability into everything they do.
What's In It For You?
- Very competitive salary
- 15% bonus
- 30 days annual leave + 6 stats
- Private medical, dental & optical cover (for you and your family)
- Flexible hybrid working (1-3 days in office, no mandated days)
- Pension plan
- Enhanced parental leave
- Online learning platforms and engineering certification programmes
- High-trust, autonomous culture with a focus on engineering excellence
- One of the best retention rates in the NI tech scene
Technical Skills Required
- 8+ years' experience in software engineering or QA automation
- Strong coding skills in a modern language (e.g. TypeScript, Java, Python)
- Hands-on experience with UI and API test tools (e.g. Playwright, Cypress, Postman, Selenium)
- Proven experience leading test strategy and automation initiatives
- Strong CI/CD pipeline integration knowledge
- Experience managing or mentoring QA teams
- Deep understanding of software testing principles and lifecycle
- A third-level degree in a related IT or Computer Science field
Bonus Points For
- Experience with performance/load testing tools (e.g. k6, JMeter)
- Familiarity with cloud-based test environments (AWS preferred)
- Knowledge of observability tools (e.g. Datadog, Grafana)
- Background in test data strategy and test isolation techniques
- Contributions to internal or open-source test frameworks
- Experience building quality-first engineering cultures
About You
You're a great fit if:
- You want to step up into a role where you set the testing direction for the org
- You enjoy mentoring teams and building scalable frameworks from scratch
- You've worked with distributed or offshore teams and know how to lead remotely
- You're passionate about using the right tool for the job - and excited to help pick them
Why People Join
This is a company where engineers are trusted to do what's right - no micromanagement, no red tape. With zero redundancies, strong product-market fit, and one of the best team retention rates in Belfast, it's the ideal place to take the next step in your QA leadership career.
