Lead Automation QA Engineer

Ciklum is looking for a Lead Automation QA Engineer to join our team full-time in Ukraine. We are a custom product engineering company that supports both multinational organizations and scaling startups to solve their most complex business challenges. With a global team of over 4,000 highly skilled developers, consultants, analysts and product owners, we engineer technology that redefines industries and shapes the way people live. About the role: As a Lead Automation QA Engineer, become a part of a cross-functional development team engineering experiences of tomorrow. Responsibilities: Test management and Test Automation processes:Set up QA processes, approaches, frameworks, tools, and team composition from scratch Develop and maintain a Test Automation Strategy for different projects/products Architect test automation frameworks (UI/API) from scratch Develop automated functional UI tests & API/Service-level tests Integrate automated scripts into the CI/CD process Develop, maintain, and expand automated testing infrastructure Devise and document test frameworks, coding standards, preferred design patterns, and development methodologies Ensure code quality with peer reviews to ensure guidelines and standards are followed Define Quality Metrics and implement measurements to determine test effectiveness, testing efficiency, and measure the overall quality of the Product as a part of the test automation process Make a conclusion and report about the quality of the product under test Manage, analyze, and mitigate testing risks Collaborate with other members of the QA team to automate the manual test processes Partner with cross-functional engineering and product stakeholders to embed continuous testing into the development lifecycle, align on quality initiatives, and drive collaborative tooling solutions Define requirements, evaluate, and drive the roll-out of GenAI-powered testing tools across teams to optimize QA workflows Talent and team management:Participate in the hiring/interviewing process Onboarding of new team members Participate in the grading of AQA team members Mentor AQA team members, build and support their professional development Define team composition and seniority pyramid Technical advice for the testing teams Requirements: 6+ years of professional experience in Automation QA of Web and backend API testing 2+ years of experience in leading and managing the Testing teams across the account Knowledge of testing specifics for different application types (Web, backend, mobile,SaaS, etc.) Experience with different business domains (Travel, Fintech, Retail, Automotive, eCommerce, etc.) Strong experience in the creation of automation frameworks from scratch Deep understanding of SOLID principles and design patterns, hands-on experience applying them in test frameworks Coding proficiency in Java Experience with BDD, TDD, ATDD Solid experience with test automation tools like Selenium (or similar) and grids Exposure to various web technologies such as REST, gRPC, SOAP, and OData Hands-on experience with API testing frameworks (e.g., Rest Assured) or raw HTTP clients Experience with different test runners Experience of working with version control systems (e.g., Git) Strong experience with continuous integration processes and tools (GitLab, Jenkins, TeamCity, or similar). CI tools setup, tuning, and configuration Experience with cloud services (e.g., AWS), including integrating automated tests with cloud components Strong skills in defect investigation within complex microservices architectures, utilizing observability tools (e.g., Datadog) Hands-on experience with AI coding tools (e.g., Amazon Q, Kiro, GitHub Copilot, or similar) within a test automation lifecycle, combined with an understanding of GenAI capabilities and advanced architectures like RAG pipelines and autonomous agents Experience of working in an Agile Scrum/Kanban development environment, understanding of the process of building a high performing team BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline Good English skills – Upper-Intermediate or higher Desirable: Experience integrating test reports Virtualization environment management skills Development of the mock/stub services Experience working with DB (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, etc.) Experience with message brokers/queues: SQS, SNS, Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc Experience with Kotlin Personal skills: Self-motivated to continually learn and adopt the latest industry innovations and technology Self-disciplined and result-oriented, able to work with minimal supervision Strong communication and problem-solving skills Good team player, motivated to solve complex tasks Good analytical skills Strong attention to details and accuracy What`s in it for you? Strong community: Work alongside top professionals in a friendly, open-door environment Growth focus: Take on large-scale projects with a global impact and expand your expertise Tailored learning: Boost your skills with internal events (meetups, conferences, workshops), Udemy access, language courses, and company-paid certifications Endless opportunities: Explore diverse domains through internal mobility, finding the best fit to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies Flexibility: Enjoy radical flexibility – work remotely or from an office, your choice Care: We’ve got you covered with company-paid medical insurance, mental health support, and financial & legal consultations About us: At Ciklum, we are always exploring innovations, empowering each other to achieve more, and engineering solutions that matter. With us, you’ll work with cutting-edge technologies, contribute to impactful projects, and be part of a One Team culture that values collaboration and progress. As one of Ukraine’s largest IT companies and a top employer recognized by Forbes, we’ve spent over 20 years delivering meaningful tech solutions. We proudly support diverse talent and military veterans, recognizing their unique skills and perspectives they bring to shaping the future. Explore, empower, engineer with Ciklum! Interested already? We would love to get to know you! Submit your application. We can’t wait to see you at Ciklum. #LI-AD1 Apply To This Job