Principal QA Engineer - Lead QA Automation at a Leading Belfast Tech Firm Want to take ownership of quality strategy at a company known for engineering excellence? Looking to build scalable automation frameworks and mentor a growing QA team? Interested in greenfield projects using modern tooling across multiple platforms? The Role My client is one of Northern Ireland's most respected tech companies - known for their collaborative culture, low staff turnover, and a track record of delivering world-class software. They are now looking for a Principal QA Engineer with a strong focus on automation to lead testing efforts across high-impact projects. You'll play a hands-on role in designing test frameworks, defining best practices, and mentoring engineers. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to embed quality throughout the development lifecycle - from code to deployment. What's In It For You? Competitive salary + annual bonus Hybrid working (some office presence required - must be NI-based) Flexible and summer working hours 35 days holiday Private pension (8% employer / 5% employee) Private healthcare & life assurance Cycle to work scheme A high-trust environment with a strong focus on engineering autonomy and continuous learning Day-to-Day Responsibilities Test Automation (Primary Focus) Define and evolve automation strategy to ensure scalability and maintainability Build and maintain robust automated test frameworks using tools like Playwright, Postman, and JMeter Lead automation across UI, API, E2E, and performance testing Integrate tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g. GitHub Actions, Jenkins) Identify opportunities to increase test coverage across systems Performance & Load Testing Use JMeter and other tools to run performance/load tests Analyse results and provide optimisation recommendations Quality Assurance Create and maintain detailed test plans and test data Lead exploratory, regression, and integration testing Track and manage defects with clear communication to dev teams Collaboration & Mentorship Work closely with the QA Lead to align on test strategy and tooling Mentor junior QA engineers and provide technical leadership Participate in code reviews for test scripts and provide guidance Process Improvement Contribute to the evolution of QA processes, tools, and documentation Keep up with industry trends and integrate best practices Help shape a culture of continuous improvement in quality What You Need to Succeed 6+ years in QA with a strong focus on test automation Proven experience designing and implementing automation frameworks Expertise with Playwright (UI/API), Postman (API), and JMeter (Performance) Solid understanding of SDLC, Agile, and CI/CD tooling (e.g. GitHub Actions, Jenkins) Proficiency in JavaScript, Python, C#, or similar languages Strong analytical, debugging, and communication skills Experience mentoring other QA engineers and leading by example Eligibility to work in the UK without sponsorship Nice to Have ISTQB or other QA certifications Experience with cloud-based testing tools or environments Familiarity with test management tools like Xray, TestRail, or Zephyr Knowledge of non-functional testing practices and tooling Skills: QA Test Tester Engineer Automation