Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (Level 6) to help build next-generation in-vehicle driver experiences for a large-scale mobile platform supporting delivery and transportation operations. This is a highly visible role requiring a quality leader who can own testing strategy from inception through launch, establish scalable quality mechanisms, and drive testing initiatives across complex software and hardware ecosystems. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguous environments, takes ownership without waiting for direction, and has a proven track record of delivering high-quality products through strong automation and technical leadership.

The platform supports a nationwide network of drivers through mobile applications that integrate with advanced logistics systems, vehicle hardware, navigation technologies, mapping services, safety workflows, and predictive analytics. As a Senior QAE, you will partner closely with Software Engineers, Product Managers, UX Designers, and operational stakeholders to ensure quality is built into every phase of the development lifecycle. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving difficult problems, influencing engineering decisions, and establishing quality best practices at scale.

Responsibilities

• Own the quality strategy and testing approach for critical customer-facing features and experiences.
• Define, build, and execute end-to-end test plans in environments with evolving requirements and limited guidance.
• Serve as the quality lead for large initiatives, driving testing efforts from requirements through production release.
• Identify quality risks early and influence product and engineering decisions.
• Develop scalable automation frameworks, test harnesses, and validation mechanisms.
• Establish quality metrics, release readiness processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive defect management, root cause investigations, and long-term quality improvements.
• Mentor other QA engineers and elevate quality practices across the organization.
• Act as the single-threaded owner for quality outcomes on major projects.
• Develop comprehensive test strategies and quality plans for large-scale software and hardware-integrated systems.
• Create and maintain automation frameworks and test harnesses with a strong emphasis on Python-based automation.
• Translate business and technical requirements into effective test coverage.
• Design and execute manual and automated test cases across mobile applications, backend services, and integrated systems.
• Perform black-box, gray-box, and white-box testing.
• Debug complex issues through logs, telemetry, and system analysis.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to improve testability, observability, and release quality.
• Validate integrations between software platforms, vehicle systems, hardware test benches, and connected services.
• Drive quality-first development practices and advocate for customer-centric testing approaches.

Requirements

• 6-8 years of Quality Assurance Engineering experience.
• 4+ years of experience leading QA projects, test strategies, quality initiatives, and automation efforts.
• Demonstrated experience owning projects end-to-end with measurable business impact.
• Proven ability to define testing strategy in ambiguous or rapidly changing environments.
• Strong hands-on experience with Python and test automation development.
• Experience designing and implementing automated test frameworks and tooling.
• Strong understanding of QA methodologies, test planning, and software development lifecycles.
• Experience with both manual and automated testing approaches.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and technical leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of mobile UI automation experience.
• Experience with object-oriented programming languages such as Java, C++, or Objective-C.
• Experience testing software and hardware integration points.
• Understanding of hardware system design and end-to-end integration testing.
• Experience developing AI-powered QA tooling, agents, or automation solutions that improve test coverage, increase delivery speed, and maintain product quality.
• Proven track record of independently driving complex initiatives and influencing cross-functional teams.

Ideal Candidate Profile

We are specifically targeting a Level 6 Senior QAE with:

• 6-8 years of quality engineering experience.
• Strong ownership mentality and the ability to operate independently.
• Experience building quality strategies rather than simply executing test cases.
• Proven success leading QA initiatives across multiple stakeholders and teams.
• Deep expertise in automation and Python development.
• Comfort working through ambiguity and creating structure where none exists.
• Strong technical judgment and a history of delivering high-quality products at scale.

Location & Contract Details

Location: Santa Cruz, CA

Work Arrangement: 100% onsite, 5 days per week

This role includes hands-on software and hardware testing, including vehicle test benches, integrated hardware systems, and on-road end-to-end validation activities.

Contract: Initial 6-month contract with the potential for extension based on performance and business needs, for a total duration of up to 2 years.

Benefits

• Supplemental medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
• 401K program with company match after 12 months of tenure.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) on the HDHP plan.
• SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions.
• Corporate discount savings program and other discounts.
• On-demand training program, access to certification prep, and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars (after 6+ months of tenure).
• Certification discounts and perks for associations including CompTIA and IIBA.
• Dedicated customer service team and a certified Career Coach.