QA AI Automation Staff Engineer

emagine; Portugal; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

emagine is seeking an experienced QA AI Automation Staff Engineer to define and elevate our quality strategy across a distributed engineering organization. You will mentor QA engineers, collaborate with software and data teams, and champion continuous improvement and quality ownership.

You’ll lead by example from framework design to AI-assisted validation, driving measurable improvements in coverage and efficiency while embedding quality across products and processes in a platform-led

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Quality Engineering with at least 3+ years in automation leadership.
• Strong coding and automation background in Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Java.
• Experience with AI tools and ML concepts for test generation and defect prediction.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and cloud environments (AWS).
• Excellent communication and distributed-team collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the overall QA automation and quality engineering strategy across the delivery lifecycle.
• Lead by example with hands-on framework design, test creation, and AI-assisted validation.
• Mentor QA engineers and upskill teams in automation maturity and best practices.
• Align QA innovation with product, data, and DevOps goals and define KPIs for automation adoption.
• Integrate AI capabilities into CI/CD pipelines for smarter test orchestration.

Skills

Python

JavaScript/TypeScript

Java

QA automation

AI tools

Leadership mentoring

CI/CD

Tools

Selenium

Cypress

Playwright

REST-assured

Job description

We’re looking for an experienced QA AI Automation Staff Engineer to define, drive, and elevate our quality strategy across a distributed engineering organization. This role goes beyond traditional test automation, it’s about reimagining how quality engineering operates through the intelligent use of AI-driven methodologies, guiding teams to build faster, more reliable, and more scalable products.

As a strategic yet hands‑on technical leader, you’ll mentor QA engineers, collaborate closely with software and data teams, and champion a culture of continuous improvement and quality ownership.

You’ll lead by example in both strategy and execution, from defining frameworks, standards, and metrics to writing automation code and applying AI tools for smarter, more efficient testing.

You’ll play a pivotal part in ensuring that quality is embedded at the core of our products, processes, and engineering culture as we continue to evolve toward a unified, platform-led product organization.

Your Responsibilities

Quality Strategy & Leadership

• Design and implement the overall QA automation and quality engineering strategy, embedding quality across the full delivery lifecycle.
• Lead by example through hands‑on contributions, from framework design to test creation and AI-assisted validation.
• Mentor and upskill QA engineers, introducing tools and methodologies that advance automation maturity.
• Influence across teams to align QA innovation with product, data, and DevOps goals.
• Define measurable KPIs for automation adoption, quality coverage, and efficiency gains.

AI-Driven Test Acceleration

• Investigate and apply AI/ML tools for automated test generation, defect prediction, and self-healing test suites.
• Incorporate generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to optimize test design and coverage.
• Leverage intelligent analytics to identify high-risk areas, improve test prioritization, and reduce redundant testing.
• Partner with engineering teams to integrate AI capabilities directly into CI/CD pipelines for smarter test orchestration.

Automation & Framework Evolution

• Build and maintain scalable test automation frameworks (API, UI, regression, data, and integration).
• Ensure automation best practices in version control, CI/CD, and environment management.
• Collaborate with development teams to ensure early and consistent testing practices.
• Continuously enhance test frameworks to support new technologies and system architectures.

What This Role Is Not

This is not a people management role. You will not have direct reports or formal supervisory responsibilities. The focus is on individual contribution, collaboration across teams, and driving projects forward through influence rather than authority.

What We’re Looking For:

Experience

• 8+ years in Quality Engineering, including 3+ years in a QA automation leadership role.
• Strong coding and automation background (e.g., Python, JavaScript / TypeScript, or Java).
• Deep understanding of automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, REST-assured, or equivalent.
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and cloud environments (AWS).
• Hands‑on experience leveraging AI tools (LLMs, Copilot, or custom AI frameworks) to enhance QA processes.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities, able to inspire and elevate a distributed QA team.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to operate strategically while remaining technically involved.
• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum development and modern DevOps practices.

Languages & Communication

• English: Fluent (primary working language).
• Second European language preferred (i.e. French, Spanish).
• Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to:
• Explain complex topics with clarity.
• Build alignment through open dialogue.
• Influence through transparent communication.