QA Automation & Manual Engineer, Contract

About the role

As a Principal Engineer, you are a technical anchor for the craft. You design the global quality standards that allow DEPT® to move faster without breaking things. You stay ahead of "what is next"—like AI-driven testing tools—to keep our agency at the forefront of technology.

Responsibilities

• Architect scalable, multi-platform automation frameworks that can be used across the agency.
• Lead performance and load testing strategies using JMeter or similar enterprise tools.
• Partner with DevOps to optimize the testing infrastructure and environment management.
• Define the "Definition of Ready" and "Definition of Done" for large-scale transformations.
• Provide high-level technical oversight for QA across multiple client accounts.

Requirements

• Expert-level mastery of test automation architecture and design patterns.
• Extensive experience with performance, security, and accessibility testing.
• Exceptional leadership skills and the ability to influence technical roadmaps.
• A "move further" mindset that identifies gaps in quality before they become risks.
• 4-8 years of experience in both manual and QA automation.
• Proficiency in automation tools such as Cypress, JMeter, and Postman.
• Strong knowledge of TypeScript, Python, SQL/DB, and Jira.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring abilities.
• Superior problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience with task management in fast-paced environments.

Benefits

• 3 month contract.
• Must be able to W2 with DEPT.

Pay

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $80-$100 hourly. Rate is based on a range of factors that include relevant experience, expertise, and organizational impact. This is based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. Keep in mind, we're flexible.