Lead QA Engineer

Lead QA Engineer – AI TeamChicago, IL – hybrid work from home: 3 days onsite in the loop, 2 days WFHThe Lead QA Engineer will lead a team of 3-4 QA Engineers, and all automated AND manual testing efforts for web applications on the newly created AI team. You'll work closely with DevOps and Product teams to drive end-to-end testing frameworks in a CI/CD environment.You'll be very hands on, while leading the team and leading projects – we use Playwright extensively for web testing, so strong Playwright experience is a must have. You'll also be conducting performance and load testing using tools like JMeter, LoadRunner and Selenium.We are a Microsoft shop, so any experience working in an Azure environment, specifically with Azure DevOps for test case tracking and test plan execution, would be a bonus.While the focus of this role is leading the testing efforts, we do expect our Lead QA Engineer to also have scripting/programming experience – this team primarily uses JavaScript, Typescript and Python.What you'll be doingDesign and execute comprehensive test plans and test cases directly from business and technical requirements.Develop and maintain automation frameworks supporting functional, regression, load, and performance testing.Build and automate test scripts using Playwright and integrate them seamlessly into Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines.Collaborate with product, development, and DevOps teams to define testing goals, acceptance criteria, and release standards.Own the QA process end-to-end, ensuring thorough coverage and consistent execution across all stages of development.Define and track key quality metrics to measure test effectiveness and product stability.Investigate and resolve test failures through root-cause analysis and coordination with developers.Maintain clear and detailed test documentation, including test plans, test cases, automation logic, and defect reports.Continuously evaluate and implement new tools and methodologies to enhance QA practices and automation efficiency.Promote a proactive, quality-first approach to development by embedding testing early in the software lifecycle.Skills we're seeking7+ years of QA EngineeringMust have both Automated AND Manual Testing experience3+ years of experience with Automated TestingMust have strong Playwright experience2+ years of experience leading QA Engineering or SDET teams/projects2+ years of experience with scripting and/or programming using JavaScript, Typescript, Python or something similarExperience leading QA efforts in Agile, CI/CD environmentsNice to havesExperience with Azure DevOpsExperience creating AI-generated test casesExperience testing AI-focused web applicationsExperience with YAMLCertifications in QA or automation such as ISTQB or CSTEBachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, or an IT related field