Freelance Backend Developer Jobs in Ontario (NOW HIRING)

Company Description

Saatchi & Saatchi is an advertising agency with the belief that creativity, data, media and technology should all work together, and we use that to influence human behavior and drive success for clients. S&S is one of the world's largest agency networks with 114 offices and more than 6000 employees globally. Here in our Toronto office we work with some of the countries most valued brands including Toyota, Buckley's, and Children's Advil, as well as several under the Mondelez banner (Crispers, Oreo, and Chips Ahoy just to name a few). We're an award winning agency in both creativity and effectiveness, so it's really important for us here to convert that innovation and the great ideas into real tangible business results for the organization.

Job Description

Seeking a QA Analyst for an innovative new AI initiative. Full-time and freelance opportunities are available, with positions starting immediately. You should have 2-4 years of professional QA experience, ideally in an Agile development environment. You strive for excellence and are passionate about delivering high-quality, accessible applications. You have an ongoing desire to learn and share your knowledge, and you want to be part of a team that is driven to succeed.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for web applications, APIs, and AI-integrated features.
• Participate in project planning and sprint ceremonies, offering insight to uphold quality standards.
• Execute functional, regression, and integration testing across cloud-based applications.
• Perform accessibility audits and validation to ensure WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across all user-facing components.
• Triage and prioritize defects, working closely with developers to ensure timely resolution of critical issues.
• Conduct API testing to validate backend services, data integrity, and integration points.
• Collaborate with the development team to continuously improve testing frameworks and automation coverage.
• Document test cases, results, and quality metrics to support release decisions.
• Contribute to the definition of acceptance criteria and quality gates for user stories.
• Stay current with QA best practices and bring new ideas to planning and retrospective discussions.

Qualifications

• Requirements

  • 2-4 years of professional experience in software or web QA.
  • Strong knowledge of QA methodology, software testing standards, and the software development lifecycle.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and executing test plans with thorough documentation.
  • Experience testing web applications across multiple browsers and devices.
  • Familiarity with API testing tools (Postman, REST clients, or similar).
  • Experience with defect tracking and test management tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, or similar).
  • Understanding of accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1) and experience performing accessibility audits.
  • Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies and working in sprint-based delivery.
  • Basic understanding of cloud platforms and cloud-based application architectures.
  • Experience with Git and version control workflows.

  Required Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail with a commitment to quality.
  • Excellent communication skills for collaborating with developers, designers, and stakeholders.
  • Resourceful and self-directed problem solver.
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proactive mindset with willingness to take ownership of quality.
  • Adaptable and eager to learn new tools and technologies.

  Nice to Have

  • Experience with test automation frameworks (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, or similar).
  • Familiarity with performance testing tools and methodologies.
  • Experience testing AI/ML features or applications with intelligent automation.
  • Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and integrating automated tests into build processes.
  • Experience with analytics validation (Google Analytics, Tag Manager).
  • Familiarity with security testing basics.
  • ISTQB or other QA certifications.

Additional Information

Saatchi is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties. Accommodations are available, upon request, for all stages of the interview and employment process for those with a disability or medical need during any stage of the recruitment process. 

Salary Transparency matters to us. The salary range for this position is $78,000-$88,000 per year. Actual compensation within this range will be based on a variety of factors, including relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and applicable certifications. This range reflects what we reasonably expect to offer based on current market data.   

AI Use

We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications or analyzing resumes. These tools assist our recruitment team but never replace human decision-making. We believe in a human-first approach, where your experience and potential are recognized by people.

Employment Type: FULL_TIME