Quality Engineer Lead- Austin, Texas

ShipperHQ; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 22 days

401k Match

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Maternity/Paternity Leave

Hybrid, Austin TX ArboretumArea

Job summary

ShipperHQ is seeking a QA Lead to drive the quality strategy across the engineering org. You will mentor engineers, scale test automation, and improve development processes to deliver reliable, high-performing software.

You'll collaborate with Product and Engineering leadership to define test plans, expand automation, and integrate tests into GitLab CI/CD pipelines. This role is based in Austin and combines hands-on testing with leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or mentoring QA engineers in Agile environments.
• Strong background building automated test frameworks.
• Hands-on with Playwright, Cypress, Selenium or similar.
• Experience designing test strategies for web apps, APIs, and integrations.
• Familiarity with CI/CD platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
• Practical use of AI tools to accelerate testing and automation.
• Ability to write moderately complex SQL queries (MySQL or similar).
• Familiarity with Docker, Unix/Linux, Git and modern dev practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the QA team, promoting quality culture and continuous improvement.
• Own testing strategy, balancing manual and automated testing with automation-first approach.
• Design, build, and maintain automated test frameworks, including AI-assisted tests.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering to define test plans and coverage.
• Support and improve CI/CD pipelines by integrating automated tests into GitLab workflows.
• Document, prioritize, and help resolve defects with root cause analysis.
• Champion software quality, performance testing, and release readiness.
• Evaluate AI tools to improve testing efficiency and productivity.

Skills

QA leadership

Automated testing

Playwright/Cypress/Selenium

Test strategy

CI/CD (GitLab/Bitbucket)

AI testing tools

SQL (MySQL)

Docker/Linux/Git

Tools

Playwright

Cypress

Selenium

GitLab

Docker

Job description

ShipperHQ is looking for a QA Lead who is passionate about building a culture of quality, leading by example, and driving continuous improvement across our engineering organization. If you're excited about mentoring engineers, scaling test automation, improving development processes, and ensuring customers receive a reliable, high-performing product, we'd love to hear from you.

About ShipperHQ:

ShipperHQ is a trusted leader in the e-commerce shipping space, with over 15 years of experience helping merchants deliver better checkout experiences. Founded in 2009, we power shipping logic and checkout optimization for thousands of brands, from DTC disruptors to enterprise retailers, in 150+ countries. Based in Austin with a global team, we're a fast-moving, product-led company shaping the future of e-commerce logistics.

Position Overview

As our QA Lead, you'll own the overall quality strategy for the engineering organization while remaining hands-on with testing and automation. You'll work closely with Product and Engineering leadership to establish scalable testing practices, mentor the QA team, and continuously improve how we deliver software.

• Lead and mentor the QA team, fostering a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Own our testing strategy, balancing manual and automated testing while driving an automation-first approach.
• Design, build, and maintain automated test frameworks, including AI-assisted and dynamically generated test cases.
• Collaborate with Product and Engineering to define test plans, improve test coverage, and ensure features meet business requirements.
• Support and improve CI/CD pipelines by integrating automated testing into GitLab workflows.
• Document, prioritize, and help resolve defects while driving root cause analysis and process improvements.
• Champion best practices in software quality, performance testing, and release readiness across the engineering organization.
• Evaluate and implement AI tools that improve testing efficiency and engineering productivity.
• Navigate ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and lead quality initiatives in a fast-moving environment.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading or mentoring QA engineers in an Agile software development environment.
• Strong experience building and maintaining automated test frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with Playwright or similar browser automation tools (Cypress, Selenium, etc.).
• Experience developing test strategies for web applications, APIs, and integrations.
• Experience working with CI/CD platforms such as GitLab or Bitbucket.
• Practical experience using AI tools (Claude Code, ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.) to accelerate testing and automation.
• Ability to write moderately complex SQL queries (MySQL or similar).
• Familiarity with Docker, Unix/Linux, Git, and modern software development practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to partner effectively across Product and Engineering.
• A proactive, systems-thinking mindset with a passion for improving quality, processes, and team effectiveness.

Why ShipperHQ?

This is a highly fast-paced environment where no two days will look alike. For the right candidate, with the right attitude, there are fantastic opportunities for career progression. We are an agile, fast-moving team that likes to roll up our sleeves and solve some of the biggest issues in shipping. You will learn more at ShipperHQ in a year than you would in 3 years at other companies, thanks to our collaborative learning culture that fosters continuous growth and innovation.

Benefits and Perks:

• Collaborate with a motivated team, directly tying your results to organizational success
• 22 days of PTO plus public holidays
• 401k Match
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Maternity and Paternity Leave
• This is a hybrid, full-time position working out of our Austin, TX office in the Arboretum Area
• Compensation is based on experience

At ShipperHQ, we're proud to be a team that is as diverse as the merchants we serve. As a member of the e-commerce community, we take responsibility to empower shops large and small to grow and thrive through the power of technology to heart. With honesty, responsiveness, and innovation at the center of all we do, we remain committed to hiring the right people for the job, regardless of race, background, religion, or eccentricity