Lead QA Automation Engineer

EPAM Systems; Mexico; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Employee development programs

Global career opportunities

Job summary

EPAM Systems is seeking a Lead QA Automation Engineer to safeguard the quality of an enterprise AI platform centered on MCP Servers. You will design testing strategies and build Python-based automated suites for APIs, tools, and integrations, ensuring reliability of distributed backend components.

You will lead test efforts, collaborate with multi-national teams, embed testing in CI/CD, and guide junior testers to advance quality practices across the project.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of QA/testing experience
• Led development or QA teams for 1+ year
• Strong knowledge of MCP Server/Model Context Protocol
• Hands-on Python automation and API testing
• Experience with distributed backend systems and microservices
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows
• Excellent English communication (B2+)

Responsibilities

• Define QA strategy from product and architecture specs
• Build Python-based automated tests for MCP Servers and integrations
• Validate MCP protocol functions, tool discovery and auth
• Test agent–MCP–tool end-to-end flows and security cases
• Assess performance, scalability, and production readiness of MCP services
• Embed automated testing in CI/CD pipelines
• Investigate test failures and drive fixes with engineers

Skills

QA Automation

Python

API testing

CI/CD

Distributed systems

GenAI/LLM

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

GitHub

Kubernetes

Job description

EPAM is a leading global provider of digital platform engineering and development services. We are committed to having a positive impact on our customers, our employees, and our communities. We embrace a dynamic and inclusive culture. Here you will collaborate with multi-national teams, contribute to a myriad of innovative projects that deliver the most creative and cutting-edge solutions, and have an opportunity to continuously learn and grow. No matter where you are located, you will join a dedicated, creative, and diverse community that will help you discover your fullest potential.

We are seeking a Lead QA Automation Engineer to safeguard the quality of an enterprise AI platform centered on MCP (Model Context Protocol) Servers. This position is ideal for a technically inquisitive individual who thrives at the crossroads of quality assurance and cutting-edge AI design. You will take on a vital role in confirming the dependability and accuracy of intricate, agent-based systems. This is a fantastic chance to establish testing frameworks for a forward-thinking AI platform from the very beginning.

Responsibilities

• Examine product and architectural specifications to shape the QA approach and establish testing scope for MCP-driven AI solutions
• Build and code Python-driven automated test suites covering MCP Servers, tools, resources, APIs, and their integrations
• Confirm proper MCP protocol functioning, including tool discovery and execution, schema validation, error handling, authentication/authorization, and integration cases
• Examine agent-to-MCP-to-tool processes, addressing positive, negative, boundary, failure, and security-related test cases
• Assess the dependability, performance, scalability, and production viability of MCP services
• Establish quality checkpoints and embed automated testing within CI/CD workflows
• Spot potential quality concerns, dig into test failures, and partner with developers and architects to implement fixes

Requirements

• At least 5 years of applicable experience, demonstrating the capacity to independently manage test strategy and quality assurance
• A minimum of one year spent leading and overseeing development teams
• Thorough, practical familiarity with MCP Server/Model Context Protocol and its architectural foundations
• Solid Python-based automation expertise, including hands-on API and integration testing work
• Background in testing distributed backend infrastructure, APIs, microservices, and system integrations
• Strong grasp of GenAI/LLM and agent-based architectures, covering agents, tools, prompts, and MCP-driven integrations
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows and contemporary automated testing methodologies
• Sharp analytical thinking with the ability to convert requirements and architectural designs into thorough test scenarios
• Excellent English communication skills (B2 level or higher)

Nice to have

• Working knowledge of GitHub for handling version control, team collaboration, and organizing test automation code
• Background using Kubernetes to test and confirm the functionality of containerized applications and services

We offer

• International projects with top brands
• Work with global teams of highly skilled, diverse peers
• Healthcare benefits
• Employee financial programs
• Paid time off and sick leave
• Upskilling, reskilling and certification courses
• Unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning library and 22,000+ courses
• Global career opportunities
• Volunteer and community involvement opportunities
• EPAM Employee Groups
• Award-winning culture recognized by Glassdoor, Newsweek and LinkedIn

EPAM is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.