Lead Quality Assurance Engineer

Lead QA Engineer Test Automation (Hybrid, North York Toronto, Canada)

Contract-to-Hire | Initial Duration: 3 to 6 Months

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Lead QA Engineer (Test Automation) to join our Fortune 500 client's Team in North York, Toronto.

This hybrid, contract-to-hire position is ideal for someone who combines technical depth in automation testing with strong leadership and mentoring skills.

The successful candidate will lead quality assurance initiatives across large-scale web and mobile retail applications, driving automation strategy, implementing scalable frameworks, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, fault-tolerant software solutions.

You will thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment, collaborating with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders to continually test, refine, and deploy innovative retail solutions

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end QA strategy and execution for large-scale applications in a hybrid agile environment
• Drive test automation initiatives using open-source tools and frameworks within a Java, BDD (Cucumber), and TestNG environment
• Design, implement, and maintain robust automation frameworks using the Page Object Model (POM) pattern to ensure scalability and maintainability
• Create, optimize, and execute test scripts across frontend, middleware, and backend layers using XPath, CSS Selectors, and related UI automation techniques
• Conduct both manual and automated testing, ensuring full coverage across all business-critical scenarios
• Plan, manage, and deliver QA milestones, ensuring timely and high-quality software release
• Lead and mentor QA engineers, fostering collaboration, ownership, and continuous learning within the team
• Collaborate closely with development, DevOps, and product teams to ensure seamless CI/CD integration and continuous testing
• Continuously improve QA processes, recommend new tools, and drive automation-first best practices
• Troubleshoot, analyze, and communicate critical defects, risks, and test progress to leadership to ensure timely resolution
• Support continuous integration and process innovation to improve delivery efficiency and product quality

Required Skills & Experience

• 7+ years of experience in Software Quality Assurance, including 3+ years in a lead or senior automation role
• Strong hands-on experience with Java, BDD (Cucumber), Selenium/WebDriver, and TestNG
• Solid expertise in Page Object Model (POM) design patterns for building reusable automation frameworks
• Deep understanding of XPath, CSS Selectors, and advanced web UI automation concepts
• Proven experience with frontend and backend testing, ideally for retail store applications or enterprise-scale systems
• Familiarity with API testing (REST Assured, Postman, or similar)
• Experience integrating automation with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps
• Thorough understanding of QA methodologies, SDLC, and defect management processes
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage priorities, and deliver results under tight deadlines
• Excellent analytical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills

Nice to Have

• Experience in Performance Testing or Mobile Automation Testing
• Exposure to cloud testing environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Prior experience in retail, POS, or enterprise application environments

Work Model

• Hybrid: Onsite presence required in North York, Toronto (approx. 2-3 days onsite per week, rest remote
• Contract Duration: 3 to 6 months, with potential to convert to full-time employment based on performance

Why Join

• Lead a high-impact QA function for a global retail technology initiative
• Work with cutting-edge tools and modern frameworks in a collaborative, agile environment
• Opportunity for long-term career growth through full-time conversion and leadership advancement