Tech Lead / Architect AQA

We are seeking a Tech Lead / Architect AQA with strong Python  and Java expertise — an engineer who can define the architecture of test automation systems, ensure scalability, maintainability, and reliability, and mentor QA teams in engineering best practices.

This is a part-time consulting role for engineers who already hold senior positions but want to shape automation strategies, establish technical standards, and guide teams on complex enterprise-grade projects.

You will focus on strategic architectural decisions, framework governance, CI/CD integration, observability, and introducing best practices across the QA organization.
 

⚙️ Tech Stack

Primary language: Python (Pytest, Playwright, requests, Selenium)
Secondary language: Java (JUnit/TestNG, Selenium/Selenide, REST Assured)
Infrastructure & CI/CD: GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, Helm
Architectures: Microservices, modular automation frameworks, async messaging (Kafka, RabbitMQ, Redis, gRPC)
Observability & Monitoring: Prometheus, Grafana (or equivalents)
Performance/Security: JMeter, k6, OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite (any acceptable)
 

🧩 Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Strategy (≈60%)

• Define, evolve, and maintain enterprise-grade automation architecture across UI, API, integration, and end-to-end layers.
• Establish unified coding standards, framework governance, and automation best practices.
• Ensure smooth integration of test automation with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• Evaluate new tools and design decisions to improve system reliability and scalability.

Team Leadership & Mentorship (≈30%)

• Guide QA teams on architecture, maintainability, and testing best practices.
• Conduct code and architecture reviews, provide feedback on complex technical designs.
• Foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and adoption of scalable solutions.

Hands-on Guidance (≈10%)

• Build proof-of-concepts, architectural templates, or reference implementations.
• Advise teams on implementing complex automation scenarios and frameworks.
   

🧠 Required Skills

• 8+ years in automation engineering, including 3+ years in architectural or Tech Lead roles.
• Strong Java automation background (JUnit/TestNG, Selenium/Selenide, REST Assured). Python automation (Pytest, Playwright, requests) for auxiliary tasks.
• Deep understanding of microservices, modular frameworks, async systems, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with Docker/Kubernetes and observability tools.
• Excellent grasp of test architecture principles, refactoring, and code review practices.
• English B2+ or higher for technical discussions.
• Proven experience in mentoring teams and leading architectural decisions.
   

🌟 Nice to Have

• Security or performance testing expertise.
• Experience with monitoring and observability integration.
• Open-source contributions to QA frameworks or automation tools.
• JavaScript/TypeScript experience for UI automation.
   

💎 Why Join Us

• Top-tier Compensation: among the top 10% in the Ukrainian market.
• Flexibility: true part-time, adaptable to your schedule.
• Remote-First: work from anywhere.
• Architectural Impact: define and lead enterprise automation architecture.
• Engineering-Focused: no presales, no bureaucracy — strategic technical work only.