Lead QA (Python Automation)

Lead QA– UI Automation

Experience
7- 10 years of experience in Software Testing, with strong hands-on experience in UI automation using Python.
Job Location
Kochi

We are looking for experienced and technically strong QA Leads to join our testing team. The ideal candidate should have strong experience in functional testing, UI automation using Python, test planning, defect management, and leading QA activities.

The candidate will be responsible for driving the overall testing activities, building and maintaining automation frameworks, mentoring QA engineers, and ensuring high-quality software releases.

Key Responsibilities

Lead QA activities across multiple application modules/projects.
Understand business and technical requirements and prepare test strategies, test plans, test scenarios, and test cases.
Design, develop, and maintain UI automation scripts using Python.
Strong hands-on experience with automation frameworks such as Playwright/Selenium with Python.
Identify suitable test cases for automation and continuously improve automation coverage.
Develop and maintain a scalable and reusable automation framework.
Integrate automated test suites with CI/CD pipelines such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar tools.
Perform functional, regression, integration, system, and end-to-end testing.
Review test cases and automation scripts developed by team members.
Analyze automation execution results and investigate failures.
Work closely with developers, product owners, business analysts, and other stakeholders to resolve defects and quality issues.
Participate in defect triage and ensure defects are tracked through closure.
Identify testing risks, dependencies, and gaps and communicate them to project stakeholders.
Mentor junior and mid-level QA engineers and provide technical guidance.
Contribute to QA process improvements, automation strategy, and testing best practices.
Prepare and communicate QA status, metrics, risks, and release readiness to stakeholders.
Support production validation and troubleshooting when required.

Required Technical Skills

Automation
Strong hands-on experience in Python-based UI automation.
Good experience with Playwright and/or Selenium using Python.
Experience in developing automation frameworks from scratch or enhancing existing frameworks.
Good understanding of Page Object Model and reusable automation components.
Experience with data-driven and parameterized testing.
Experience handling dynamic web elements, waits, pop-ups, iframes, multiple windows, and browser interactions.

Testing
Strong understanding of STLC and SDLC.
Excellent knowledge of functional, regression, integration, system, and end-to-end testing.
Experience in test planning, test estimation, test execution, and defect management.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Experience with API testing is an advantage.
Good knowledge of SQL/database validation is an advantage.

Tools & Technologies
Python
Playwright / Selenium
Pytest or similar Python testing frameworks
Git / GitHub
Jenkins / GitHub Actions or other CI/CD tools
Jira or similar defect management tools
API testing tools such as Postman/REST Assured is an advantage
SQL and database testing

Leadership Responsibilities
Lead a QA team and distribute testing activities effectively.
Provide technical guidance and mentoring to QA engineers.
Review test strategy, test cases, automation scripts, and execution results.
Track QA deliverables and ensure testing milestones are met.
Coordinate with development and business teams.
Drive automation adoption and improve regression testing efficiency.
Identify opportunities to reduce manual testing through automation.
Ensure adherence to QA processes and quality standards.

Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
7+years of experience in software testing/QA.
Strong hands-on experience in Python UI automation.
Previous experience in a QA Lead / Senior QA / Automation Lead role is preferred.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to work independently and lead a QA team.

Good to Have
Experience with Playwright + Python.
API automation/testing experience.
CI/CD pipeline experience.
Cloud testing experience.
Performance testing knowledge.
Experience testing AI/ML or AI-enabled applications.
Experience with Agile/Scrum methodology.

What We Are Looking For
The ideal candidate should be a hands-on QA Lead, not just a people manager. The candidate should be comfortable writing and reviewing Python automation scripts, designing automation frameworks, troubleshooting automation failures, and leading the QA team.

Key requirement: Strong hands-on UI automation experience using Python, preferably with Playwright.