Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer

develop; Fareham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A digital fitness app company in Fareham is seeking a Senior QA Automation Engineer to establish automation frameworks and strategies. This role involves leading automation efforts for mobile and web applications, ensuring product quality as the platform scales, and integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines. The ideal candidate will have senior-level experience in QA automation, strong communication skills, and a background in healthtech or app development. Flexible hybrid work arrangements are offered.

Qualifications

• Strong senior-level experience in QA automation.
• Hands‑on experience with Appium or similar mobile automation tools.
• Experience building automation frameworks from scratch.
• Solid understanding of CI/CD integration.
• Ability to operate autonomously as the first hire in this function.
• Strong communication and stakeholder collaboration skills.
• Background in healthtech or worked on an app.
• Experience within scaling product or start-up environments.
• Exposure to both mobile and web application testing.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable test automation frameworks.
• Lead and own the automation strategy across mobile and web.
• Implement and optimise automated testing using Appium.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
• Work closely with engineering and product teams to ensure high-quality releases.
• Identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement in testing processes.
• Support the wider engineering function by reducing bottlenecks and increasing release confidence.

Skills

QA automation experience

Appium or similar tools

Building automation frameworks

CI/CD integration

Communication skills

Healthtech domain

Web testing

Tools

Appium

CI/CD

Job description

Location: Hybrid – Portsmouth/Southampton – flexible on how often you need to be in the office

Permanent

A fast-growing digital fitness and wellbeing app is looking to hire its first Senior QA Automation Engineer to establish and lead automation within its product engineering function.

This is a key hire for the business. As the first dedicated automation specialist, this person will work with the test manager to define the QA automation strategy, build frameworks from the ground up, and play a critical role in ensuring product quality as the platform scales. The role will also help relieve pressure within the engineering team by reducing manual workload and improving release efficiency.

The Senior QA Automation Engineer will:

• Design, build, and maintain scalable test automation frameworks
• Lead and own the automation strategy across mobile (and web where applicable)
• Implement and optimise automated testing using Appium
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
• Work closely with engineering and product teams to ensure high-quality releases
• Identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement in testing processes
• Support the wider engineering function by reducing bottlenecks and increasing release confidence

Requirements

• Strong senior-level experience in QA automation
• Hands‑on experience with Appium or similar mobile automation tools
• Experience building automation frameworks from scratch
• Solid understanding of CI/CD integration
• Ability to operate autonomously as the first hire in this function
• Strong communication and stakeholder collaboration skills
• Background in healthtech or worked on an app
• Experience within scaling product or start‑up environments
• Exposure to both mobile and web application testing

Working Arrangements

• Open to hybrid working – flexible on how often you need to be in the office