Lead QA Engineer

Boost inc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in unattended retail technology is looking for a QA Lead to drive quality assurance for innovative digital retail platforms. The role emphasizes transitioning to a fully automated QA process while mentoring a talented team. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years in software QA, expertise in test automation tools, and proficiency in Python and TypeScript. This position offers competitive compensation, private healthcare, and opportunities for personal growth within a passionate team environment.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Private healthcare

Budget for personal development

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software QA and proven mentoring skills.
• Expert-level understanding of automation frameworks and defect lifecycle.
• Experience with IoT/Embedded Systems and hardware integration.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement Quality Assurance strategy across product lines.
• Collaborate with development teams for robust testing returns.
• Drive automation and integration into CI/CD pipelines.

Skills

QA methodologies

Test automation principles

Python

TypeScript

Communication skills

Tools

Playwright

Cypress

Selenium

JIRA/Xray

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly technical QA Lead to take ownership of the quality assurance strategy and execution for our connected smart retail platforms. Based in our London hub, you will transition the QA function from a largely manual focused testing approach (at least in some teams / components in our eco-system) to a proactive, scalable, and fully automated quality engineering discipline.

This role requires a blend of deep technical skill in test architecture (with a preference for more complex, hardware-integrated systems) and proven leadership ability to define, mentor, and elevate the standards of quality across all touch points - from the customer-facing point of sale application to our unattended retail cloud.

What You'll Do

• Define, implement, and govern the end-to-end Quality Assurance strategy and roadmap across all product lines and touch points, with a strong focus on automation
• Collaborate closely with both in-house and remote development teams to release robust, well tested implementations.
• Attract, retain, mentor, and provide technical guidance to the QA team, fostering a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Act as the primary quality gatekeeper, advocating for best practices in testability, code quality, and release readiness within the Agile development cycle.
• Own and refine QA processes, including triage, root cause analysis (RCA), defect tracking (JIRA/Xray), and release certification.

At A Glance

We are seeking an experienced and highly technical QA Lead to take ownership of the quality assurance strategy and execution for our connected smart retail platforms. Based in our London hub, you will transition the QA function from a largely manual focused testing approach (at least in some teams / components in our eco-system) to a proactive, scalable, and fully automated quality engineering discipline.

This role requires a blend of deep technical skill in test architecture (with a preference for more complex, hardware-integrated systems) and proven leadership ability to define, mentor, and elevate the standards of quality across all touch points - from the customer-facing point of sale application to our unattended retail cloud.

Technical Ownership

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, multi-layered test automation frameworks (UI, API, and integration) using languages like Python and TypeScript.
• Architect the testing strategy for our connected systems, specifically focusing on integration testing with simulators but also Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing (automated retail machines, payment terminals, cameras etc).
• Oversee the development and review of complex test plans, ensuring comprehensive coverage and alignment with BDD/Gherkin syntax requirements.
• Drive the integration of testing into the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to enable rapid, high-confidence deployment in staging and production environments.
• Monitor key quality metrics (e.g., defect escape rate, automation coverage, test execution efficiency) and report on the overall health of the product to technical leadership.

What You'll Bring

Key Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in software QA, with at least 2+ years in a Lead, Senior, or Architect role defining team strategy and mentoring QA engineers.
• Expert-level understanding of QA methodologies, modern test automation principles, and the entire defect lifecycle.
• Proven experience designing and implementing test automation frameworks, with expertise in tools like Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, or similar, and API testing.
• Ideally experience in IoT/Embedded Systems: Strong background testing software that directly interfaces with physical hardware, preferably with knowledge of standard protocols (RS-232, I²C, USB) and hardware mock/simulation techniques.
• Technical proficiency in Python and TypeScript, with a track record of writing robust, maintainable, and high-quality test code.
• Familiarity with complex deployment environments, Linux systems, command-line operations, and database query languages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate technical risks to non-technical stakeholders.

Why Join Us

• Competitive compensation with private healthcare.
• Global Impact: A chance to shape the future of unattended retail technology across the globe
• Growth Opportunities: Fast‑growing team, shape our engineering culture, mentor juniors and learn new technologies.
• Collaborative Culture: Small, passionate teams, open to new ideas and tech experimentation.
• Offices in Zurich, London, and 4 other countries.
• The usual: budget for personal development, benefits for your well‐being, and some decent swag

About us

Boost inc is a global leader in unattended retail technology, redefining traditional vending by transforming it into modern, digital retail experiences. Headquartered in Switzerland, with a dedicated technology hub in the UK, our team of over 150 professionals works across Zurich, London, and offices in four additional countries.

Since our founding, we’ve empowered more than 400 customers across Europe and beyond - including vending operators, OEMs, and consumer brands - with cutting‑edge solutions designed to drive operational efficiency, business growth, and engaging consumer experiences.

Here you can find more information:

www.boostinc.com / www.boostbar.ch