Software Test Automation Manager

Software Test Automation Manager

Location: Lakewood, CO, US

The Software Test Automation Manager is a key leader within the Software Quality Engineering organization responsible for defining, building, and scaling a unified, global test automation capability. This role serves as the hands‑on technical leader and owner of the automation system, ensuring a single, consistent automation strategy, toolset, and framework across all sites. The Manager combines people leadership with deep technical ownership, managing a team of SDETs while actively contributing to automation frameworks, architecture, and implementation.

• Lead and manage a team of Software Automation Engineers (SDETs), providing coaching, performance management, and professional development.
• Serve as the hands‑on technical leader and owner of the automation system, defining and driving global automation strategy, frameworks, tools, and architecture.
• Establish and enforce a single, unified automation approach and toolset across all sites.
• Define and implement automation operating mechanisms, including planning, development, review, and integration into the software lifecycle.
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks, test harnesses, and supporting infrastructure.
• Lead the development and maintenance of automated test scripts that implement SQE‑defined test cases, ensuring full traceability and alignment to test strategy.
• Embed AI‑assisted development as a core practice, using AI tools to accelerate automation scripting and improve efficiency.
• Review, validate, and refine AI‑generated automation code to ensure correctness, maintainability, and compliance.
• Partner with Software Development, SQE, and Dev Ops to integrate automation into CI/CD pipelines and enable continuous testing.
• Establish and enforce coding standards, framework quality, and best practices to ensure scalable and reliable test systems.
• Analyze automated test results, drive root‑cause analysis, and ensure high‑quality defect detection and reporting.

• Support the Senior SQE Manager in defining and evolving global automation and quality engineering strategy.
• Ensure validation and compliance of automation frameworks and tools in regulated environments.
• Drive continuous improvement of automation practices, tools, and capabilities across teams.
• Contribute to organizational upskilling, particularly in automation engineering and AI‑assisted development.

Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job may be considered.

Experience
Minimum 10 years of experience in Software Test Automation, including:

• Proven understanding of all phases of the development lifecycle (scoping, design, construction, integration, and testing).
• Building and scaling automation frameworks in complex systems.
• Experience in regulated environments (e.g., medical devices, aerospace) preferred.

Skills

• Strong expertise in designing scalable automation frameworks and test infrastructure.
• Deep understanding of automation architecture, tools, and engineering best practices.
• Proven ability to define and drive automation strategy across distributed teams.
• Hands‑on coding skills in languages such as Python, C#, or C++.
• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and Dev Ops workflows.
• Ability to implement and enforce standardization of tools, frameworks, and practices.
• Experience using AI‑assisted development tools to accelerate automation.
• Strong ability to review, validate, and refine AI‑generated code.
• Understanding of SQE ownership model and alignment of automation to test strategy.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including troubleshooting complex automation issues.
• Effective leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and advancing engineering practices.

Hybrid position reporting to the Lakewood, CO headquarters a minimum of 3 days a week.

Typical office environment requirements include…