QA Automation Engineer

Department: Technical

Work Arrangement: Remote

Job Type: Independent Contractor, Full Time

Work Schedule: US Time Zone (candidate expected to be flexible with the client's preference)

Locations: Philippines, LATAM, and other remote regions with excellent English communication skills

About Pearl Talent

Pearl works with the top 1% of candidates from around the world and connects them with the best startups in the US and EU. Our clients have raised over $5B in aggregate and are backed by companies like OpenAI, a16z, and Founders Fund. They're looking for the sharpest, hungriest candidates who they can consistently promote and work with over many years. Candidates we've hired have been flown out to the US and EU to work with their clients, and even promoted to roles that match folks onshore in the US.

Hear why we exist, what we believe in, and who we're building for: WATCH HERE

Why Work with Us?

At Pearl, we're not just another recruiting firm—we connect you with exceptional opportunities to work alongside visionary US and EU founders. Our focus is on placing you in roles where you can grow, be challenged, and build long-term, meaningful careers.

Role Overview

The QA Automation Engineer ensures that every product release is reliable, scalable, and user-friendly by designing, implementing, and maintaining comprehensive test automation frameworks. This role goes beyond writing test scripts—you'll architect quality assurance systems that integrate seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, leverage AI tools to optimize testing processes, and collaborate cross-functionally to maintain product excellence. Working across diverse technology stacks including web, mobile, API, and database layers, you'll apply both analytical problem-solving and creative thinking to identify real-world edge cases from a user's perspective. You'll build automated testing solutions that catch bugs early, reduce manual testing burden, and enable faster, more confident product releases.

Your Impact

Your automation expertise will directly improve product quality, development velocity, and customer satisfaction by catching defects before they reach production. By building robust test frameworks and integrating them into CI/CD pipelines, you'll enable development teams to ship features faster with confidence. Your work will reduce manual testing time by significant percentages, freeing QA teams to focus on exploratory testing and complex scenarios. Through AI-driven testing optimization, you'll accelerate testing cycles and improve coverage. Your collaboration with developers will improve code quality by identifying architectural issues early and suggesting improvements. By thinking from both technical and user perspectives, you'll ensure products not only function correctly but deliver excellent user experiences.

Core Responsibilities

Test Automation Development & Framework Design (50%)

- Design, develop, and maintain automated test scripts for web, mobile, and API applications
- Build and maintain automated test frameworks using Cypress, Playwright, Selenium, Tosca, Katalon, or similar tools
- Conduct comprehensive end-to-end testing across web, database, and API layers
- Create automated regression, integration, and functional test suites
- Optimize test automation frameworks for speed, reliability, and maintainability
- Implement test data management strategies and mock services where appropriate
- Apply version control, logging, and structured documentation for all test code
- Execute automated test suites and analyze results for defects and failures

CI/CD Integration & DevOps Collaboration (20%)

- Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or similar
- Configure automated test execution for multiple environments and deployment stages
- Build reporting and dashboard automations for test visibility and accountability
- Collaborate with DevOps teams to ensure smooth integration of QA processes
- Monitor test execution in continuous deployment workflows
- Implement parallel test execution strategies to reduce build times
- Maintain test environment configurations and dependencies

AI-Driven Testing & Quality Optimization (15%)

- Use AI tools (ChatGPT, Testim, or similar) to optimize QA processes and speed up testing cycles
- Apply user-centric testing approaches to identify real-world edge cases and usability gaps
- Leverage AI-powered test generation and maintenance tools where applicable
- Implement intelligent test selection and prioritization strategies
- Use AI for visual regression testing and anomaly detection
- Explore and integrate emerging AI/ML tools for quality assurance

Bug Tracking, Collaboration & Quality Improvement (10%)

- Identify, document, and track bugs through resolution with detailed reproduction steps
- Collaborate with developers to debug issues, verify fixes, and improve release quality
- Work with product managers to clarify requirements and define test strategies
- Participate in sprint planning, refinement, and retrospective meetings
- Suggest process improvements and contribute to culture of product reliability and excellence
- Conduct code reviews of test automation code with team members
- Mentor junior QA engineers on automation best practices

Documentation, Reporting & Continuous Improvement (5%)

- Analyze testing results and maintain comprehensive technical documentation
- Monitor and report on test coverage, quality metrics, and automation ROI
- Define metrics for automation success (time saved, error reduction, efficiency gains)
- Continuously improve automation coverage based on defect analysis and risk assessment
- Maintain clear documentation and training guides for stakeholders and team members
- Track testing KPIs including defect detection rate, test execution time, and coverage percentages
- Contribute to continuous improvement of QA processes and tooling

Requirements

Must-Haves (Required)

- Experience: 1-3+ years in QA automation, software testing, or test engineering roles
- Programming Skills: Strong programming proficiency in Java, Python, JavaScript, or similar languages
- Automation Tools: Hands-on experience with automation frameworks (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, RestAssured, Tosca, Katalon, or similar)
- Testing Methodologies: Solid understanding of software QA methodologies, tools, and best practices
- API Testing: Experience with API automation, validation, and testing tools
- Database Testing: Proficiency in database testing including SQL queries and data validation
- Version Control: Solid understanding of Git or other version control systems
- CI/CD Knowledge: Familiarity with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI) and integration patterns
- Problem-Solving: Excellent logical reasoning, analytical skills, and attention to detail
- User Perspective: Ability to think critically and creatively, seeing from both technical and user perspectives
- Communication: Excellent written and verbal English; able to explain technical concepts clearly
- Adaptability: Fast learner with adaptability to evolving tools and testing environments
- Collaboration: Strong collaboration skills working cross-functionally with development and product teams

Nice-to-Haves (Preferred)

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- Experience in performance or load testing (JMeter, Locust, K6)
- Exposure to DevOps pipelines and advanced CI/CD integrations
- Understanding of UX testing principles or accessibility standards (WCAG)
- Experience with mobile testing frameworks (Appium, Detox, Espresso)
- Knowledge of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Familiarity with cloud testing platforms (BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, AWS Device Farm)
- Experience with visual regression testing tools
- Background in Agile/Scrum development environments
- Security testing knowledge and OWASP principles
- Experience mentoring or leading QA teams

Tools Proficiency

Must-Haves (Required)

- Automation Frameworks: Cypress, Playwright, Selenium, Tosca, Katalon, or equivalent
- API Testing: Postman, REST Assured, Swagger, or similar tools
- Programming: Java, Python, JavaScript, or similar scripting languages
- Database: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or other SQL/NoSQL databases
- Version Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket
- CI/CD: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or similar platforms

Nice-to-Haves (Preferred)

- Performance Testing: JMeter, Locust, K6, or Gatling
- AI QA Tools: ChatGPT, Testim, Mabl, or AI-assisted testing platforms
- Test Management: TestRail, Zephyr, qTest, or similar tools
- Bug Tracking: Jira, Linear, Asana, or equivalent systems
- Monitoring & Dashboards: Databox, Looker, Grafana, or custom dashboards
- Documentation: Notion, Confluence, Google Workspace for collaboration
- Mobile Testing: Appium, Detox, Espresso, XCUITest
- Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, or Azure testing services
- Containerization: Docker, Kubernetes for test environments

Benefits

- Competitive Salary: Based on experience and skills
- Remote Work: Fully remote — work from anywhere
- Generous PTO: In accordance with company policy
- Direct Mentorship: Access to global industry leaders
- Learning & Development: Continuous growth resources
- Global Networking: Work with international teams
- Health Coverage (Philippines only): HMO after 3 months (full-time)

Our Recruitment Process

1. Application
2. Skills Assessment
3. Initial Screening
4. Top-grading Interview
5. Client Matching
6. Job Offer
7. Onboarding

Ready to Join Pearl Talent?

If you're a driven professional ready to work with exceptional founders building the next generation of world-class companies, we'd love to meet you. Apply now to unlock opportunities where your growth, impact, and success are our top priorities.