Lead QA Engineer Test Automation

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 releases.
• 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.