QA Automation Engineer

Applaudo; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Applaudo is seeking a hands-on QA Automation Engineer to design scalable automation frameworks spanning mobile, API, cloud, and container layers. You will own the automation stack, implement Appium-based Android tests, and validate end-to-end data and services across AWS/S3 and Docker environments.

The role is on-site in Irvine, CA, under a 6-month contractor framework with potential extension. Strong collaboration with QE, Engineering, and Product teams is essential for delivering high-quality

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on Software Quality Engineering, Automation Engineering, SDET, or similar.
• Proven experience building automation frameworks from the ground up.
• Hands-on mobile automation with Appium and Android.
• REST API automation, AWS/S3, and Docker/containerized environments.
• CI/CD integration and end-to-end automation experience.
• Advanced English proficiency and effective communication with US-based stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain reusable automation frameworks and components across API, backend, cloud, container, and mobile layers.
• Develop mobile automation using Appium and Android technologies, including APK installation, device interaction, and state validation.
• Build end-to-end automation validating data and functionality across AWS services, REST APIs, Docker, and mobile apps.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and improve reliability, speed, coverage, and reporting.
• Investigate failures by analyzing APIs, cloud services, logs, and device behavior.
• Collaborate with QE, Engineering, and Product teams to identify quality risks and improve testability.
• Provide documentation, demos, and knowledge transfer for ongoing maintenance.

Skills

Automation frameworks design

Appium

Android automation

REST API automation

AWS S3

Docker

CI/CD integration

On-site collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Engineering

Tools

Jenkins

GitLab CI/CD

Azure DevOps

Job description

You are a hands-on QA Automation Engineer who enjoys building reliable, scalable automation solutions across mobile, backend, and cloud environments. You go beyond writing individual test scripts, bringing the engineering mindset needed to design frameworks, reusable components, and testing infrastructure that teams can rely on.

You are comfortable validating complex end-to-end flows across Android applications, APIs, cloud services, containers, and data layers, and you enjoy investigating failures across multiple parts of the technology stack. You bring strong technical ownership, adapt quickly to new environments, and continuously look for ways to improve automation reliability, coverage, maintainability, and overall product quality.

Note: This is an on-site role based in Irvine, California. The engagement is under a contractor framework for an initial 6-month project, with the possibility of extension.

You Bring to Applaudo the Following Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in Software Quality Engineering, Automation Engineering, SDET, or similar technical automation roles.
• Strong experience designing and building automation frameworks, reusable libraries, test infrastructure, reporting, and CI/CD integration.
• Hands-on mobile automation experience with Appium and Android APKs, including physical or virtual device validation.
• Strong experience with REST API automation, AWS/cloud services, S3, Docker/containerized applications, and end-to-end data validation.
• Ability to work on-site in Irvine, California, operate independently, communicate progress and risks clearly, and deliver against defined project milestones.
• Advanced English proficiency, with strong verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with US-based stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Experience with Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps, or similar pipeline tools.
• Experience testing restaurant, retail, IoT, or device-integrated technology platforms.
• Track record improving automation stability, test data strategy, reporting, and maintainability.

You Will Be Accountable for the Following Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain reusable automation frameworks and test components across API, backend, cloud, container, and mobile/tablet layers.
• Develop mobile automation using Appium and Android technologies, including APK installation, device interaction, synchronization, app state validation, and troubleshooting.
• Build end-to-end automation that validates data and functionality across AWS services, S3, REST APIs, Docker/containerized services, and mobile/tablet applications.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and improve test reliability, execution speed, coverage, reporting, and maintainability.
• Investigate automation and application failures by analyzing APIs, cloud services, S3 data, container behavior, logs, and device behavior.
• Partner with QE, Engineering, and Product teams to identify quality risks, improve testability, and align automation with project priorities.
• Provide documentation, demos, and knowledge transfer so automation assets can be maintained by the internal QE team after the engagement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Software Quality / Automation Engineering or SDET experience.
• Proven experience building automation frameworks from the ground up.
• Hands-on mobile automation experience with Appium and Android.
• REST API automation, AWS/S3, and Docker/containerized environments.
• CI/CD integration and end-to-end automation experience.
• Advanced English proficiency.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

About Us

We Are Engineered Different.

At Applaudo, talented people design, build, and scale meaningful, AI-powered solutions that create real business impact. As an AI-native organization, we collaborate across design, development, cloud, data, and artificial intelligence to turn ideas into scalable products that transform how companies operate, make decisions, and grow.

We are building a high-performance culture grounded in five values: Empowering Excellence, Collaborative Teamwork, Unsolicited Respect, Consistent Transparency, and Efficient Communication. These define how we work, how we support one another, and how we hold ourselves accountable.

Applaudo is a place for people who want to learn fast, take ownership, and work alongside strong teams they are proud to belong to. Joining us means being part of an organization that is evolving intentionally, investing in modern ways of working, and leading AI-native transformation at scale.