Lead Testing & Automation Engineer​/Herndon, VA | Onsite potential exten

Lead Testing & Automation Engineer

Location:

Herndon, VA | Onsite (5-Days) | Contract with potential for extension |

We are seeking a Lead Testing & Automation Engineer to drive end-to-end quality engineering across scalable, cloud-native platforms. This role requires strong expertise in Java, Spring, AWS, and API automation using Karate, combined with hands-on leadership in applying AI to transform testing practices.

The ideal candidate will not only lead automation efforts but will define, implement, and scale AI-driven testing capabilities, improving efficiency, coverage, and release confidence across complex systems.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the design and implementation of API automation frameworks using Karate for microservices-based architectures

Build and support backend services using Java and Spring Boot to enable scalable and testable systems

Develop and maintain automated test suites for REST APIs and distributed systems

Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous delivery

Own the assessment of current QA/testing capabilities, including tools, processes, and automation maturity

Define and implement a target-state testing strategy leveraging AI-driven quality engineering practices

Identify, design, and deploy AI-powered solutions across test generation, test data management, regression optimization, and defect detection

Develop and execute a phased roadmap for AI adoption in testing, from pilot to enterprise rollout

Lead implementation and scaling of AI-enabled testing solutions across teams and environments

Use AI to analyze logs, failures, and test results to accelerate root cause analysis and improve system reliability

Drive continuous improvement in test coverage, execution efficiency, and defect leakage reduction

Collaborate with engineering, product, and Dev Ops teams in an Agile environment

Mentor team members and establish best practices in automation and AI-driven testing

Required Qualifications

7+ years of experience in QA automation, testing, or SDET roles, with leadership responsibilities

Strong programming experience in Java and frameworks such as Spring Boot

Hands-on expertise with Karate for API automation testing

Deep understanding of REST APIs, microservices, and distributed systems

Experience with AWS services (e.g., Lambda, ECS, S3, Cloud Watch)

Proven experience integrating testing into CI/CD pipelines

Demonstrated experience applying AI/ML or GenAI in testing or software engineering workflows

Experience using AI tools to generate test cases, optimize test suites, or automate failure analysis

Ability to define AI-driven testing strategies and lead implementation/rollout across teams