Senior Qa Automation Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sr. QA Automation Engineer - Contract or CTP - Remote - $55.00 - $60.00
The final salary or hourly wage, as applicable, paid to each candidate/applicant for this position is ultimately dependent on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's/applicant's qualifications, skills, and level of experience as well as the geographical location of the position.
The end client is unable to sponsor or transfer visas for this position; all parties authorized to work in the US without sponsorship are encouraged to apply.
Our client is seeking a Sr. QA Automation Engineer for a Remote Opportunity.
Role Description
The Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer is an experienced quality professional responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that ensure the reliability, performance, and quality of systems. This role applies strong technical expertise in test automation frameworks, CI/CD test integration, and performance testing to support efficient, repeatable validation of system quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
Role Summary
Work on Playwright-based testing across learning applications
Develop and maintain automated test scripts (end-to-end, smoke, etc.)
Ensure full test coverage through automation (all tests automated)
Automation & Quality Ownership
Perform code reviews for automation script changes
Enforce automation standards
Return scripts for rework when standards are not met
Enablement & Training
Spend time learning and advancing Playwright capabilities
Train and support other QA Engineers on Playwright usage
Design, create, execute, and maintain automated regression test suites to ensure ongoing system quality and stability.
Develop and enhance automated tests across functional, integration, API, UI, and data validation layers.
Translate business requirements, user stories, and architectural specifications into effective automated and manual test scenarios.
Contribute to test strategy development with an emphasis on automation-first principles and test coverage.
Analyze and optimize existing automation code to improve reliability, maintainability, and execution efficiency.
Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, supporting reliable execution, reporting, and failure triage.
Interpret and communicate test results, defects, and quality risks to project teams and stakeholders.
Participate in peer reviews, including code reviews of automation scripts, to ensure adherence to standards and best practices.
Support performance testing efforts by designing, executing, and analyzing performance and load tests, and collaborating with Engineering on results and remediation.
Maintain automation documentation, standards, and testing artifacts to support consistency and knowledge sharing.
Escalate risks, defects, and impediments with appropriate judgment and recommended mitigation approaches.
Define and maintain test metrics and quality signals in test management and tracking tools.
Mentor and support junior and mid-level QA engineers through technical guidance and knowledge sharing.
Contribute to technical discussions related to system design and testability, advocating for quality considerations.
Skills & Requirements
5 years of professional quality assurance and test automation experience, including 3 years' experience working with modern automation frameworks and CI/CD environments.
Critical Skills
Hands-on experience designing and maintaining automated test frameworks and regression suites.
Advanced UI automation experience using Playwright with C# or similar automation technologies.
Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and supporting reliable execution and reporting.
Strong understanding of test automation patterns, framework design, and maintainability practices.
Experience with API testing and tools such as Postman.
Working knowledge of relational databases and SQL for test data validation.
Experience with version control systems and code review workflows (e.g., Git, pull requests).
Strong debugging, failure analysis, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to interpret and communicate test results and quality risks clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong understanding of software quality assurance principles and testing methodologies.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with performance testing tools such as JMeter or equivalent.
Exposure to CI/CD platforms such as Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or similar tools.
Experience or interest in AI-assisted testing approaches to improve automation efficiency and failure analysis.
Mobile application testing experience is a plus.
Awareness of accessibility, security, or observability concepts is a plus.
Education
Four-year degree in Computer Science or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Physical Requirements
General office demands
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Benefits/Other Compensation
This position is a contract/temporary role where Hays offers you the opportunity to enroll in full medical benefits, dental benefits, vision benefits, 401K and Life Insurance ($20,000 benefit).
Why Hays?
You will be working with a professional recruiter who has intimate knowledge of the industry and market trends. Your Hays recruiter will lead you through a thorough screening process in order to understand your skills, experience, needs, and drivers. You will also get support on resume writing, interview tips, and career planning, so when there's a position you really want, you're fully prepared to get it.
Nervous about an upcoming interview? Unsure how to write a new resume?
Visit the Hays Career Advice section to learn top tips to help you stand out from the crowd when job hunting.
Hays is committed to building a thriving culture of diversity that embraces people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better we serve our candidates, clients, and employees. We are an equal employment opportunity employer, and we comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, creed, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, HIV-positive status, as well as any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. One of Hays' guiding principles is 'do the right thing'.
We also believe that actions speak louder than words.
In that regard, we train our staff on ensuring inclusivity throughout the entire recruitment process and counsel our clients on these principles. If you have any questions about Hays or any of our processes, please contact us.
In accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, Hays will attempt to reasonably accommodate those individuals unless doing so would create an undue hardship on the company. Any qualified applicant or consultant with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job should call or text .
Drug testing may be required; please contact a recruiter for more information.
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