Automation QA Engineer

Job Role: Automation QA Engineer

Job Location: San Diego CA (Onsite)

Summary

We are hiring an Automation QA Engineer to test software systems used in genomics and life sciences workflows. This is a quality engineering role, not a bioinformatics pipeline development role: you will design, build, and execute automated and manual test coverage for platforms that process genomic and laboratory data, and you will validate that results align with real wet lab and dry lab processes. Strong Python-based test automation skills are essential; genomics/BioE domain knowledge is what separates a good tester on this platform from a great one.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test suites (Python-based) for applications supporting genomics, sequencing, and life sciences data workflows.
• Build and execute test plans, test cases, and regression suites covering functional, integration, and data-validation testing - no pipeline-building responsibility; the focus is verifying pipeline/application outputs, not authoring bioinformatics pipelines.
• Validate software behavior against genomic science concepts (e.g., sequencing data types, variant calling outputs, sample-to-result traceability) to confirm results are scientifically and technically correct.
• Coordinate directly with wet lab and dry lab teams to understand sample lifecycle, instrument outputs, and data handoffs, and translate that understanding into test scenarios.
• Test integrations with LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems), ensuring sample tracking, chain-of-custody, and result reporting behave correctly end-to-end.
• Identify, document, and track defects; partner with engineering and product teams on root-cause analysis and resolution.
• Contribute to test strategy for healthcare/life sciences compliance considerations (e.g., data integrity, audit trail, traceability) in partnership with QA leadership.
• Continuously improve automation frameworks, CI/CD test integration, and test data management practices.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Bioengineering, or a closely related field.

Experience & Technical Skills

• 3+ years of experience in QA / test automation, with hands-on Python scripting for test frameworks (e.g., pytest, unittest, Robot Framework).
• Working knowledge of genomics science fundamentals - sequencing concepts, sample-to-data lifecycle, common file/data formats used in genomics.
• Demonstrated experience in Life Sciences or Biotech software environments (not general enterprise QA alone).
• Direct exposure to wet lab and/or dry lab environments, with the ability to coordinate testing activities against real lab processes and instrument/data outputs.
• Experience testing or interacting with LIMS platforms.
• Comfortable working without owning pipeline construction - this role validates genomics data/software outputs, it does not develop bioinformatics pipelines.

Preferred / Bonus Qualifications

• Prior experience specifically as an Automation QE within a Bioinformatics organization.
• Familiarity with cloud-based genomics platforms or data lakes used in life sciences software.
• Exposure to regulatory/compliance frameworks relevant to healthcare and life sciences software (e.g., HIPAA, CLIA, CAP, 21 CFR Part 11) - awareness level, not ownership.
• Experience with API/automation testing tools (Postman, Selenium, or similar) in addition to Python-based frameworks.