Lead SDET / QA Automation Engineer

Kismet Search; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity opportunity

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k)

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Job summary

Kismet Search is seeking a Lead QA Automation Engineer / Principal Software Engineer in Test (SDET) to design and scale automated testing for an AI-driven SaaS platform in healthcare. You will lead automation strategy, partner with Eng, Product, QA, and DevOps, and shape testing frameworks using Playwright, TypeScript, Python, Docker, and Kubernetes.

Ideal candidates bring 7+ years of QE experience, expert Playwright/TypeScript, strong API testing, CI/CD, GitHub Actions, and a track record

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science or related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of software quality engineering or test automation experience with leadership.
• Expert-level Playwright and TypeScript experience with framework design.
• Strong programming in TypeScript, Python, and Node.js.
• Experience testing REST and GraphQL APIs.
• CI/CD and modern development workflow experience.
• GitHub Actions or similar CI platforms experience.
• Git, Jira, and modern test management tools familiarity.
• SQL and NoSQL databases experience.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and Azure.
• Experience using AI tools and LLMs to boost automation.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evolve scalable automation frameworks for web apps and APIs.
• Lead automation strategy and establish testing best practices.
• Drive quality throughout the SDLC in an Agile environment.
• Collaborate with Eng, Product, QA, and DevOps to improve release quality.
• Build and maintain automated UI and API tests with Playwright and TypeScript.
• Develop automation to improve test coverage, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Mentor engineers and conduct code reviews for high-quality automation code.
• Define and track automation metrics like coverage, flake rate, and ROI.
• Leverage AI/LLMs to enhance automation, accelerate test creation, reduce debugging.
• Continuously evaluate new tools and testing methodologies.

Skills

Playwright

TypeScript

Python

Node.js

REST APIs

GraphQL

CI/CD

GitHub Actions

Docker

Kubernetes

Azure

AI tools

LLMs

SQL

NoSQL

Education

BS or MS in Computer Science

Tools

Playwright

TypeScript

Python

GitHub Actions

Job description

We're looking for a Lead QA Automation Engineer / Principal Software Engineer in Test (SDET) to help build and scale the automated testing strategy for an innovative AI-driven SaaS platform transforming clinical research.

You’ll lead the evolution of our automation strategy and ensure the quality, reliability, and scalability of a sophisticated AI platform. You'll partner closely with Engineering, Product, QA, and DevOps to build modern automation frameworks, leverage AI-powered development tools, and help deliver software that customers trust.

This is an opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies including AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Playwright, TypeScript, Python, GraphQL, Azure, Docker, and Kubernetes, while helping shape the future of software quality in a company that's making a tangible difference in healthcare.

If you're excited by challenging technical problems, modern automation, AI-driven engineering, and building technology that helps improve and save lives, we'd love to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

• Design, build, and evolve scalable automation frameworks across web applications and APIs.
• Lead the automation strategy and establish best practices for testing, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Drive software quality throughout the SDLC within an Agile development environment.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Product, QA, and DevOps to identify opportunities for automation and improve release quality.
• Build and maintain automated UI and API test suites using Playwright and TypeScript.
• Develop automation solutions that improve test coverage, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Mentor engineers and conduct code reviews to ensure high-quality, maintainable automation code.
• Define and track automation metrics including test coverage, flake rate, execution reliability, and ROI.
• Leverage AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) to improve automation workflows, accelerate test creation, and reduce debugging time.
• Continuously evaluate new tools, technologies, and testing methodologies to improve engineering efficiency.

Qualifications

Required Skills

• BS or MS in Computer Science or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of software quality engineering or test automation experience, including technical leadership responsibilities.
• Expert-level experience with Playwright and TypeScript, including automation framework design and debugging.
• Strong programming skills in TypeScript, Python, and Node.js.
• Extensive experience testing REST and GraphQL APIs.
• Experience designing and maintaining automated testing frameworks from the ground up.
• Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing within modern development workflows.
• Experience with GitHub Actions or similar CI platforms.
• Experience using Git, Jira, and modern test management tools.
• Experience working with SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud environments such as Azure.
• Experience using AI tools and Large Language Models to improve engineering productivity and software quality.

Preferred

• Experience with performance, load, or stress testing.
• Data analysis or analytics experience.
• Experience working in SaaS, healthcare technology, or other regulated software environments.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong technical leadership and mentoring skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• A proactive, hands‑on approach to solving complex engineering challenges.
• High attention to detail with a passion for software quality.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative environment with changing priorities.
• Passion for continuous learning and adopting emerging technologies.

Compensation

In addition to base salary, this position includes a meaningful equity opportunity.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Life insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage