QA Automation Engineer

ZEN8 (Stealth Rebrand) / Connected Swim Training
📍 Lisbon | Full-time - Permanent 

Competitive salary based on experience, with stock options for high-impact results.

About ZEN8 Sports

In a world where cycling, running, and rowing have gone virtual, swimmers have been left behind. We’re changing that.

With over 20,000 athletes already training with our first product, we’ve proven the demand. Now we’re building the world’s first Connected Swim Training platform,  merging smart equipment, real-time performance data, and the thrill of gaming to make swim training accessible, engaging, and exciting for everyone.

We’re currently in stealth, finalizing our next-generation product and closing our Seed round to launch in the coming months. What we’re building will change how millions train, compete, and connect.

Role Overview

We’re looking for a QA Automation Engineer who will take full ownership of our testing strategy and systems. You’ll design and maintain an end-to-end automated testing ecosystem for our Unreal Engine mobile experiences, backend services, and connected training platform.

This isn’t a manual testing role — we want someone who loves building automation, scaling coverage, and embedding quality directly into the development process.

You’ll collaborate closely with engineers, designers, and product leads to:
 

• Design, execute, and maintain automated test plans for Unreal Engine 5.6 mobile builds (iOS & Android).
• Implement and extend the Unreal Automation Framework (UAT / Gauntlet) to validate gameplay, UI, and performance features.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (Perforce, source control, AWS).
• Perform device-based testing to ensure stability, frame-rate consistency, and input responsiveness across multiple hardware types.
• Identify, reproduce, and document gameplay, UI, and performance issues, ensuring clear bug reporting and regression verification.
• Create and maintain automated UI/UX validation tests on Unreal UMG and Figma to confirm menu navigation, HUD behavior, and user-flow consistency.
• Manage and validate build integrity via Perforce, including changelist validation and version control before deployment.
• Develop custom test scripts and tools (Python, Blueprint, or C++) to extend automation coverage and eliminate repetitive QA work.
• Evaluate game feel, flow, and player experience, ensuring controls, animations, camera, and feedback systems (sound, haptics, visuals) align with design intent.
• Work collaboratively in the Lisbon office at least three days per week, contributing to a fast-moving, creative, and quality-driven culture.

Key Responsibilities
 

• Own the entire QA automation strategy, building scalable frameworks and pipelines that replace manual processes.
• Ensure continuous validation of gameplay, UI, and backend systems through automated testing integrated in CI/CD.
• Design solutions for scalability, reliability, and maintainability, reducing latency and downtime in automated test execution.
• Collaborate with engineers to enforce SSDL (Secure Software Development Lifecycle) practices, embedding quality and security from design to release.
• Implement performance and stability tests that run across CloudFront, Cloudflare, and S3 Origin content paths to validate latency and delivery performance.
• Monitor test environments, detect anomalies, and automate reporting through dashboards and analytics tools.
• Use AI-assisted tools (Claude, Copilot) and automation platforms (n8n, Zapier, Make) to extend QA coverage and reduce manual effort.
• Support build verification and deployment readiness within AWS environments.
• Partner with developers, gameplay, and mobile engineers to maintain a fast feedback loop from commit to release.

Required Skills

• 5+ years in QA automation or software test engineering roles.
• Proven experience testing Unreal Engine (4/5) projects, especially mobile builds.
• Deep understanding of the Unreal Automation Framework (UAT/Gauntlet).
• Strong scripting ability in Python, Blueprint, or C++.
• Experience integrating automated testing within CI/CD using Perforce, GitHub Actions, or similar pipelines.
• Hands-on experience with AWS for build validation and test execution environments.
• Knowledge of mobile QA frameworks (Appium or Playwright Mobile).
• Experience building load / performance tests and analyzing results.
• Understanding of Cloudflare, CloudFront, and S3 Origin and how they affect latency, caching, and content delivery.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills in fast-paced, cross-functional teams.
• Apply SSDL principles across all QA automation and validation processes.

Additional Skills

• Familiarity with game telemetry, analytics, and error-tracking systems.
• Experience testing real-time multiplayer or networked systems.
• Knowledge of API automation (Postman, REST Assured, Playwright API).
• Experience with performance profiling tools (Unreal Insights, GPU Profiler, Instruments).
• Comfortable building dashboards to visualize test results and performance trends.

Nice to Have

• Passion for swimming, triathlon, or sports performance technology.
• Experience in e-commerce or subscription-based platforms.
• Exposure to IoT / connected hardware ecosystems.
• Contributions to open-source QA automation frameworks.
• Knowledge of ISO 27001, SOC 2, or game certification standards.
• Familiarity with AI / ML-based test generation or predictive QA systems.