QA Automation Architect

Job Description: Lead Automation Engineer

Full-Time

Lead Level

8–12 Years

1. Job Overview

• Job Title: Lead Automation Engineer
• Experience: 8–12 Years
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Department: Quality Engineering / Software Engineering
• Location: Hyderabad / Bangalore / Pune / Chennai
• Work Mode: Hybrid / On-site / Remote
• Open Positions: 2

2. Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced Lead Automation Engineer to lead automation strategy, framework development, and quality engineering initiatives across multiple projects. The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in test automation, programming, framework architecture, API testing, CI/CD integration, and team leadership.

The candidate will drive automation best practices, improve testing efficiency, mentor automation engineers, and collaborate with development, product, and DevOps teams to ensure high-quality software delivery.

3. Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable automation frameworks.
• Define automation strategy, standards, and best practices across projects.
• Develop and maintain UI automation scripts using Selenium or Playwright.
• Implement automation frameworks using Java, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Lead API automation using REST Assured, Postman, or Pytest.
• Integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
• Establish automation coverage for functional, regression, integration, and end-to-end testing.
• Identify automation opportunities and reduce manual testing effort.
• Review automation code and ensure quality, maintainability, and reusability.
• Troubleshoot flaky tests, framework issues, and complex application defects.
• Collaborate with developers, architects, product managers, and DevOps teams.
• Define quality metrics, automation KPIs, and reporting mechanisms.
• Mentor junior and senior automation engineers.
• Manage testing deliverables, timelines, and release readiness.
• Evaluate new automation technologies and AI-powered testing solutions.

4. Required Technical Skills

Skill

Required Knowledge

Automation Tools

Selenium WebDriver, Playwright

Programming

Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript

Frameworks

TestNG, JUnit, Pytest

Framework Design

Page Object Model, Data-Driven, Hybrid Framework

API Automation

REST Assured, Postman, Pytest

Web Technologies

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, DOM

CI/CD

Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI

Version Control

Git, GitHub, GitLab

Performance Testing

JMeter, LoadRunner

Database Testing

SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle

Reporting

Allure, Extent Reports, HTML Reports

Containerization

Docker, Kubernetes

Cloud Platforms

AWS, Azure, GCP

Test Management

JIRA, Azure DevOps, ALM

5. Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• 8–12 years of experience in software testing and automation engineering.
• Strong hands-on experience with Selenium or Playwright.
• Excellent programming skills in Java, Python, or JavaScript.
• Proven experience designing and implementing automation frameworks.
• Strong experience in API automation and backend testing.
• Experience integrating automation suites into CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of SDLC, STLC, and Agile methodologies.
• Experience leading automation initiatives and mentoring team members.
• Ability to define automation strategies and testing standards.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

6. Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Playwright using Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Knowledge of BDD frameworks such as Cucumber.
• Experience with performance testing using JMeter or LoadRunner.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-based testing environments.
• Experience with microservices and distributed application testing.
• Knowledge of security testing fundamentals.
• Experience testing AI-powered applications, chatbots, and AI-generated content.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools such as Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.
• Experience with MCP-based automation workflows.
• Knowledge of test observability and advanced automation reporting.

7. Key Competencies

• Automation strategy and technical leadership.
• Framework architecture and development.
• Strong programming and debugging skills.
• Test planning and quality engineering.
• Team mentoring and technical guidance.
• Stakeholder communication and coordination.
• Risk assessment and release management.
• Continuous improvement and innovation.

8. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Automation coverage across critical business workflows.
• Reduction in manual regression testing effort.
• Automation execution stability and reliability.
• Reduction in production defects.
• CI/CD pipeline execution efficiency.
• Framework reusability and maintainability.
• Team productivity and delivery efficiency.
• Timely completion of testing milestones.

9. Interview Process

• Initial technical screening.
• Automation framework architecture round.
• Advanced programming and automation coding round.
• API testing and CI/CD integration round.
• Test strategy and leadership discussion.
• Managerial / HR discussion.

10. Candidate Search Keywords

• Lead Automation Engineer
• Automation Test Lead
• QA Automation Lead
• Lead QA Engineer
• Lead SDET
• Senior SDET
• Test Automation Architect
• Automation Framework Lead
• Lead Quality Engineer
• Selenium Automation Lead
• Playwright Automation Lead
• Java Automation Lead
• Python Automation Lead
• Quality Engineering Lead
• Software Development Engineer in Test

11. Technical Screening Questions

• How would you design an automation framework from scratch?
• What are the key differences between Selenium and Playwright?
• How do you define an automation strategy for a large enterprise application?
• How do you integrate automation suites into CI/CD pipelines?
• How do you handle flaky tests and improve framework stability?
• How do you implement parallel test execution?
• How do you design reusable Page Object Model components?
• How do you approach API automation for microservices?
• How do you manage test data across multiple environments?
• How do you measure automation ROI and test coverage?
• How do you review automation code and maintain coding standards?
• How do you mentor and manage an automation team?
• How do you handle critical production defects during release cycles?
• How would you introduce AI-powered tools into the automation process?
• How do you establish quality gates for CI/CD pipelines?

12. Boolean Search String

Use this search string in Naukri, LinkedIn, or JobDiva:

( "Lead Automation Engineer " OR "Automation Test Lead " OR "QA Automation Lead " OR "Lead SDET " OR "Test Automation Architect " OR "Lead QA Engineer ") AND (Selenium OR Playwright) AND (Java OR Python OR JavaScript OR TypeScript) AND (API Automation OR REST Assured OR Postman) AND (TestNG OR Pytest OR JUnit) AND (Jenkins OR "GitHub Actions " OR CI/CD) AND (Framework OR Architecture OR Leadership)

13. JobDiva Recruitment Details

Field

Details

Job Title

Lead Automation Engineer

Experience

8–12 Years

Employment Type

Full-Time

Openings

2

Primary Skills

Automation Strategy, Framework Development

Automation Tools

Selenium / Playwright

Programming

Java / Python / JavaScript

Frameworks

TestNG / Pytest / JUnit

API Automation

REST Assured / Postman

CI/CD

Jenkins / GitHub Actions

Performance Testing

JMeter / LoadRunner

Database

SQL / PostgreSQL / MySQL

Cloud

AWS / Azure / GCP

Additional Skills

Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Team Leadership

Must-have skills

Selenium or Playwright, Java or Python, Automation Framework Architecture, API Automation, CI/CD Integration, SQL, Git, and Technical Leadership.

Recruitment tip

Prioritize candidates who have independently designed automation frameworks, established automation strategies, integrated automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, and led automation teams. A Lead Automation Engineer should demonstrate both strong hands-on technical expertise and the ability to guide engineers, review code, and drive quality initiatives across projects.