QA Automation & Manual Engineer, Contract

Role overview

A contract Principal Engineer opening focused on setting enterprise-wide quality standards and automation architecture across multiple client engagements. The role combines hands-on framework design with technical leadership, balancing manual testing expertise with a sophisticated automation strategy. It is a short-term, remote W2 engagement aimed at elevating QA maturity across a fast-moving digital environment.

Responsibilities

- Design and evolve scalable, multi-platform automation frameworks suitable for reuse across diverse accounts and tech stacks. - Define performance and load testing strategies using JMeter or comparable enterprise-grade tooling. - Collaborate with DevOps to streamline testing infrastructure, environments, and CI/CD integration. - Establish Definition of Ready and Definition of Done criteria that guide large-scale delivery transformations. - Provide senior technical oversight and mentorship for QA across multiple concurrent client projects. - Track emerging practices such as AI-driven testing and assess their fit for future adoption.

Requirements

- 4-8 years of combined manual and automated QA experience in production environments. - Expert-level command of automation architecture and design patterns. - Hands-on proficiency with Cypress, JMeter, and Postman. - Strong working knowledge of TypeScript, Python, SQL or database tooling, and Jira. - Demonstrated ability to lead performance, security, and accessibility testing initiatives. - Excellent communication, mentoring, and roadmap-influencing skills in fast-paced settings.

Nice to have

- Prior experience defining QA standards at a multi-team or agency scale. - Familiarity with AI-assisted testing tooling and emerging quality engineering trends.

Benefits and work setup

- 3-month W2 contract, fully remote. - Anticipated hourly rate of $80-$100, based on a 40-hour workweek and leveling. - Flexible compensation philosophy with potential adjustment based on experience and impact.