Principal QA Engineer

Bauer Media Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading media company as a Principal QA Engineer, where you will influence the quality across digital platforms. This fully remote opportunity offers flexibility and the chance to shape innovative audio experiences for millions of listeners. With a focus on quality assurance, your expertise will guide teams in developing scalable, secure code while enjoying a collaborative environment, flexible working hours, and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Enhanced holidays

Private healthcare

Personal development budget

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading QA efforts across multiple platforms.
• Strong automation skills and the ability to guide others.
• Experience managing test strategies in Agile or cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Act as the technical authority and mentor across embedded QA teams.
• Champion automation, scalability, and security across multiple product streams.
• Collaborate with Product, DevOps, and Engineering to embed QA in everything we do.

Skills

Automation skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Security practices

Load testing

Negotiation

Tools

Playwright

TypeScript

AWS

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Principal QA Engineer

Location: Remote (UK-based only)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

Team: Bauer Technology - QA

Help Shape the Future of Digital Audio at Bauer

We're on the hunt for a Principal QA Engineer to become the glue, the guide, and the guardian of quality across our digital platforms. This is a rare opportunity to influence the shape of QA within one of the UK's most influential media brands - spanning web, mobile, platform, and voice-connected products.

At Bauer, we don't just ship code. We ship experiences that reach millions of listeners. From the streaming audio in your headphones to the backend systems powering entire platforms - your quality bar will set the tone for it all.

What You'll Be Doing

Act as the technical authority and mentor across embedded QA teams

Work with engineers on Android (Kotlin), iOS (Swift), Web (TypeScript/Playwright), and Backend/Platform

Champion automation, scalability, and security across multiple product streams

Translate high-level goals into scalable QA processes - hands-on and in the detail

Own cross-platform initiatives, from flattening manual processes to optimising test coverage

Collaborate with Product, DevOps, and Engineering to embed QA in everything we do

Lead by influence - with authority, empathy, and negotiation

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who can command a room - but also read it. You'll be a confident technical leader who's as comfortable diving into Playwright tests as you are coaching a team through change.

Must-Haves:

• Proven experience leading QA efforts across multiple platforms
• Strong automation skills and ability to guide others (Playwright, TypeScript, etc.)
• Familiarity with CI/CD, cloud infrastructure (AWS), Docker/Kubernetes
• Working knowledge of load testing, security practices, mocking & stubbing
• Experience managing test strategies in Agile or cross-functional teams
• UK-based and able to attend quarterly team strategy sessions in London

Bonus Points For:

• Background in media, streaming, or connected audio products
• Exposure to QA strategy, OKRs, or change initiatives across multiple teams

What Success Looks Like

In 6-12 months, you'll have:

Flattened inconsistencies in QA approaches across teams

Uplifted automation quality across mobile, web, and backend

Created a standard for scalable, secure, and testable code

Become a go-to advisor for quality best practice and tooling

Represented QA with clarity and conviction in product discussions

Why Join Bauer?

We're not just a media company, we're building the next wave of audio innovation. Join a team that thrives on creativity, collaboration, and craftsmanship.

We offer:

Fully Remote (UK-based)

Flexible working hours

Work on products used by millions

Be part of a collaborative, cross-functional team

Personal development & L&D budget

Private healthcare + wellness perks

Enhanced holidays + pension contribution

About Bauer Media Group

We are a media business focused on creating content that matters to millions of people across Europe. Our offering extends from print and online publishing to audio broadcasting and entertainment, alongside investments in other media related sectors. With more than 500 million copies sold each year, we are one of Europe's largest Publishers. From women's and celebrities' magazines to TV listings to food and special interest, we own some of the most popular publishing brands in Germany, UK, Poland and France - both digital and print. But not only that. Reaching over 61 million listeners weekly, we operate over 150 radio and podcast brands in nine countries, spanning the UK, Ireland, Poland, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Portugal. Family-owned in the 5th generation, Bauer Media focuses on the long-term, with a consumer-first mindset that guides us across our diverse portfolio. Our workforce of 12,000 shares a common purpose: to deliver content and services that enrich people's everyday lives.

What's in it for you

• You'll have 25 days holiday, bank holidays & 2 volunteer days to use.
• Your development matters, so access to our internal training provider - Bauer Academy, is a huge win.
• We have enhanced Maternity/Adoption, Paternity and Shared Parental Leave Pay.
• You'll have the opportunity for flexible working.
• And much more! Find the full details of our benefits here

Please Note: We are actively seeking this position. You should hear from us within 48 hours of the expiry date. Please note on some occasions the role may be closed before date shown or need to be extended.

If you have any feedback regarding our UK recruitment process, please email [e-mail] we would love to hear from you.

Date: 17 Jun 2025

Location: