Lead Automation Architect SDET

ShyftLabs

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Automation Architect /SDET to join our QA Center of Excellence. This role requires strong technical leadership in designing scalable automation frameworks and hands-on experience with modern tools like Playwright for Web, API, and Mobile automation. The ideal candidate will be passionate about quality, continuous testing, and mentoring automation engineers across squads while driving enterprise-level test strategy. ShyftLabs is a growing data product company founded in early 2020, working primarily with Fortune 500 companies to deliver digital solutions that accelerate business growth through innovation.

Must Have

  • Lead design and implementation of scalable automation frameworks
  • Build and maintain Web UI automation frameworks with Playwright
  • Develop and maintain API automation suites
  • Own automation strategy across multiple teams
  • Integrate automation with CI/CD tools
  • Define test coverage metrics
  • Mentor junior and mid-level automation engineers
  • 8+ years of experience in software testing
  • 2+ years in lead/architect automation role
  • Expert in Playwright for web automation
  • Strong experience in API automation
  • Excellent programming skills in TypeScript/JavaScript
  • Strong understanding of Agile methodologies
  • Strong communication and leadership skills

Good to Have

  • Exposure to performance testing tools
  • Experience in mobile automation
  • Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes
  • Background in e-commerce, retail, or pet-related industries
  • Strong understanding of SDLC and automation's role

Perks & Benefits

  • Competitive salary
  • Strong healthcare insurance
  • Benefits package
  • Extensive learning and development resources

Job Description

Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Automation Architect /SDET to join our QA Center of Excellence. This role requires strong technical leadership in designing scalable automation frameworks and
hands-on experience with modern tools like Playwright (or any relevant tools) for Web, API, and Mobile automation. The ideal candidate will be passionate about quality, continuous testing, and mentoring automation engineers across squads while driving enterprise-level test strategy.

ShyftLabs is a growing data product company that was founded in early 2020 and works primarily with Fortune 500 companies. We deliver digital solutions built to help accelerate the growth of businesses in various industries, by focusing on creating value through innovation.

Job Responsibilities:

    • Lead the design and implementation of scalable, reusable automation frameworks for Web, API, and Mobile platforms using Playwright (or any relevant tools).
    • Build and maintain Web UI automation frameworks, preferably with Playwright using TypeScript/JavaScript.
    • Develop and maintain API automation suites using Playwright or tools like REST Assured, Axios, or Postman.
    • Own the automation strategy across multiple teams, ensuring alignment with CI/CD practices.
    • Collaborate with development, DevOps, and product teams to ensure robust testing and reliable releases.
    • Set up and maintain CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab) for automated test execution.
    • Define test coverage metrics, monitor automation health, and drive test maturity across squads.
    • Conduct root cause analysis of automation failures and implement corrective actions.
    • Review and mentor the work of junior and mid-level automation engineers, ensuring coding best practices.
    • Stay current with emerging automation tools, techniques, and technologies, and drive their adoption.
    • Contribute to automation governance and tooling standards across the enterprise.

Basic Qualifications:

    • 8+ years of experience in software testing with a strong focus on automation across front-end and back-end systems.
    • At least 2 years of experience in a lead or architect-level automation role.
    • Expert in Playwright (or any relevant tools) for web automation (TypeScript/JavaScript preferred).
    • Strong experience in API automation and validation of RESTful or GraphQL services.
    • Proven experience integrating automation with CI/CD tools such as GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab.
    • Excellent programming skills in TypeScript/JavaScript. Python or Java is a plus.
    • Solid understanding of automation design patterns, reusable components, and test data strategies.
    • Hands-on with version control systems (Git), test management tools (TestRail, Jira), and Confluence.
    • Strong understanding of Agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban.
    • Experience with BDD frameworks (e.g., Cucumber, Robot Framework) and modular test architecture.
    • Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence across teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

    • Exposure to performance testing tools like JMeter or k6.
    • Experience in mobile automation using tools like Appium or similar.
    • Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, or containerized test environments.
    • Background in e-commerce, retail, or pet-related industries is a plus.
    • Strong understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) and automation’s role within it
We are proud to offer a competitive salary alongside a strong healthcare insurance and benefits package. We pride ourselves on the growth of our employees, offering extensive learning and development resources.

29 Skills Required For This Role

Team Management Design Patterns Github Kanban Software Development Lifecycle Sdlc Quality Control Agile Development Test Coverage Performance Testing Playwright Gitlab Appium Postman Testrail Ci Cd Docker Front End Graphql Kubernetes Back End Confluence Git Python Jira Github Actions Typescript Javascript Jenkins Java

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