Principal Engineer & AI Lead, Quality Engineering\"

CarMax; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CarMax is seeking a Principal Engineer, Quality to lead the Quality Engineering strategy, build automated testing frameworks, and mentor teams across Agile streams. You will drive AI-powered testing and automation innovation, ensuring scalable, reliable software releases for CarMax’s in-store and online experiences.

The role requires 7+ years in quality engineering, strong automation and AI capabilities, and collaboration across multiple teams to implement advanced testing strategies and

Qualifications

• BS in CS or related field with 7+ years experience; or MS with 5+ years.
• 8+ years in Quality Engineering with automation framework expertise.
• Strong knowledge of IT systems, design, databases, and programming basics (HTML, JS/TS, Web Services).
• Proficiency in modern test automation tools.
• Experience architecting AI/ML or generative AI in production testing.
• Experience with LLMs, agentic architectures, APIs (Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, Copilot).

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor organization-wide test automation efforts, ensuring best practices and scalability.
• Create and implement test strategies for multiple teams, focusing on automation and efficiency.
• Drive modern testing methodologies to shift testing left and improve development workflows.
• Develop and report key quality metrics to stakeholders for transparency and accountability.
• Design and build testing infrastructure and integrations for regression and integration testing.
• Manage bug triage processes, prioritize issues, and oversee resolution of critical defects.
• Evaluate and introduce new tools and methods to enhance automation productivity across the enterprise.
• Serve as a key contributor to the AI engineering vision and roadmap for Quality Engineering, helping architect how agentic and generative AI capabilities are embedded across the test automation ecosystem enterprise-wide.
• Architect and productionize AI-driven testing systems—including autonomous test generation, self-healing automation frameworks, intelligent defect triage, and predictive quality/risk analytics that materially reduce manual test maintenance and accelerate release velocity.
• Direct cross-functional integration of LLM- and agent-based systems into CI/CD and QE workflows, setting technical direction for engineering and data partners.
• Define enterprise governance, evaluation, and risk frameworks for AI adoption in testing—covering model reliability, data privacy, hallucination mitigation, and human-in-the-loop validation—and represent QE in enterprise AI governance forums.
• Evangelize and upskill the broader engineering organization on AI-augmented quality practices, positioning CarMax's QE function as an internal center of excellence for applied AI in software delivery.

Skills

Quality Engineering

Test automation

AI testing/automation

Mentoring teams

Agile testing

Communication

Education

BS in Computer Science or related field

MS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

HTML

JavaScript/TypeScript

Web Services

NodeJS

Playwright

C# .NET Core

Azure

Job description

8448 - Virginia - Remote CES - Remote, Richmond, Virginia, 23218

CarMax, the way your career should be!

Position Overview

As a Principal Engineer, Quality, you will serve as a Quality Engineering lead within CarMax's Product and Technology organization, driving CarMax's quality engineering strategy to ensure only thoroughly tested, high-performing software reaches production. This role is critical to delivering a flawless customer experience and driving innovation across CarMax's in-store applications. You will design robust automation frameworks, mentor teams, and influence quality practices across multiple Agile development streams, while also serving as a key contributor driving AI-powered testing and automation innovation across the organization. This position ensures scalable and efficient testing solutions that align with CarMax's commitment to excellence.

Why CarMax

At CarMax, we are the nation's largest retailer of used cars with stores from coast to coast, and we are still growing. We're rethinking the way people buy cars – and it's our associates that help us do just that. We believe work should feel meaningful and rewarding, with opportunities to make an impact every day. This is where innovation meets passion – be inspired and supported to take us to the future.

Team Overview

You'll join the Quality Engineering organization, serving as a lead contributor and trusted advisor for automation and testing best practices. This role requires collaboration across multiple teams to establish quality standards, implement advanced testing strategies, and drive continuous improvement in software delivery.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor organization-wide test automation efforts, ensuring best practices and scalability.
• Create and implement test strategies for multiple teams, focusing on automation and efficiency.
• Drive modern testing methodologies to shift testing left and improve development workflows.
• Develop and report key quality metrics to stakeholders for transparency and accountability.
• Design and build testing infrastructure and integrations for regression and integration testing.
• Manage bug triage processes, prioritize issues, and oversee resolution of critical defects.
• Evaluate and introduce new tools and methods to enhance automation productivity across the enterprise.
• Serve as a key contributor to the AI engineering vision and roadmap for Quality Engineering, helping architect how agentic and generative AI capabilities are embedded across the test automation ecosystem enterprise-wide.
• Architect and productionize AI-driven testing systems—including autonomous test generation, self-healing automation frameworks, intelligent defect triage, and predictive quality/risk analytics that materially reduce manual test maintenance and accelerate release velocity.
• Direct cross-functional integration of LLM- and agent-based systems (e.g., MCP-based agents, RAG pipelines, autonomous test agents) into CI/CD and QE workflows, setting technical direction for engineering and data partners.
• Define enterprise governance, evaluation, and risk frameworks for AI adoption in testing—covering model reliability, data privacy, hallucination mitigation, and human-in-the-loop validation—and represent Quality Engineering in enterprise AI governance forums.
• Evangelize and upskill the broader engineering organization on AI-augmented quality practices, positioning CarMax's QE function as an internal center of excellence for applied AI in software delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field with 7+ years of experience, or Master's degree with 5+ years of experience.
• 8+ years of experience in Quality Engineering with expertise in automation frameworks.
• Advanced understanding of IT systems, including system design, object-oriented concepts, databases, and programming fundamentals (HTML, JavaScript/TypeScript, Web Services).
• Proficiency in modern test automation tools.
• Strong communication and organizational skills to influence strategic initiatives across diverse teams.
• Ability to manage multiple work streams and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated track record architecting and deploying AI/ML or generative AI systems in a production software quality or testing environment (e.g., autonomous test generation, self-healing frameworks, anomaly/risk detection at scale).
• Deep fluency with LLM architectures, agentic frameworks, and APIs (e.g., Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, GitHub Copilot), including advanced prompt engineering and evaluation methodology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with NodeJS and WebDriverIO/Playwright.
• NodeJS / C# / TypeScript.
• API/Integration test automation.
• Proficiency in API and integration test automation frameworks.
• C# .NET Core, and Azure or similar cloud technologies.
• REST API testing experience.
• Experience with API design and development.
• Knowledge and passion toward the App tier/Service layer methodologies.
• Experience designing and scaling AI agents/copilots (e.g., MCP-based or similar agentic architectures) embedded directly into CI/CD and enterprise QE pipelines.
• Applied experience with RAG pipelines, vector databases, and Python-based ML tooling in a testing or quality-analytics context.
• Track record using AI/ML to drive measurable outcomes in defect prediction, test prioritization, or coverage optimization at an organizational scale.

Work Location and Arrangement: Work location is flexible if approved by the Company

Work Authorization: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Sponsorship will not be considered for this specific role.

About CarMax

CarMax disrupted the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity experience customers want and deserve. This innovative thinking around the way cars are bought and sold has helped us become the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, with over 250 locations nationwide.

Our amazing team of more than 25,000 associates work together to deliver iconic customer experiences. Along the way, we help every associate grow their career and achieve their best, at work and in their community. We are recognized for our commitment to training and diversity and are one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®.

Our Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

CarMax is committed to bringing together people from different backgrounds and perspectives, providing employees with a safe, welcoming, and inclusive work environment.

CarMax is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Annual Salary For This Position Is

$113,100.00 - $169,700.00

May be eligible for bonus and equity.

Benefits

Except as otherwise required by state law, CarMax Associates are entitled to the following paid sick, vacation, and holiday time.

Associates That Are Considered Full-time Hourly Or Commission/incentive Eligible

• To earn up to 48 hours of sick time per year accrued on a per pay period basis and between 80 hours and 200 hours per year of vacation time after a 90 day waiting period depending on years of continuous service with the Company.
• For 8 hours of pay for each of a total of 6 paid scheduled holidays per year plus 1 floating holiday. If such an Associate does work on a scheduled holiday due to business need, they are eligible for Holiday Premium Pay.

Associates considered full-time salaried are entitled to paid time away with no specified limit as needed for sick, vacation, bereavement, jury duty, holidays, floating holiday, etc. subject to manager approval.

For more details about benefits, please visit our CarMax Benefits website.

Upon an applicant's request, CarMax will consider reasonable accommodation to complete the CarMax Job Application.