Lead QA Automation Engineer - Playwright Testing

Role : Lead QA Automation Engineer - Playwright We are looking for a Lead QA Automation Engineer - Playwright with strong experience in QA Automation / Quality Engineering, automation framework architecture, API automation, CI/CD, cloud and enterprise applications, and modern AI-assisted QA practices. Key Responsibilities : - Provide technical leadership across complex QA automation initiatives and multiple applications/teams. - Design and develop scalable, reusable automation frameworks using Playwright and Selenium. - Establish reusable libraries, fixtures, utilities, reporting and test-data solutions. - Architect automation solutions for cloud, distributed and enterprise applications. - Develop and maintain advanced API automation and backend validation solutions. - Integrate automated testing into Azure DevOps / CI-CD pipelines. - Define automation patterns, coding standards, technical standards, review practices and quality gates. - Drive code reviews, pairing, technical workshops, mentoring and cross-team enablement. - Assess automation requirements and select fit-for-purpose tools and technologies. - Create and drive automation adoption roadmaps. - Evaluate and leverage Generative AI / AI coding assistants for QA activities including test design, code generation, maintenance, test data, defect triage and quality insights. - Establish appropriate human validation, secure data handling, traceability, maintainability and responsible-use practices for AI-assisted QA. - Collaborate effectively with onshore, offshore and co-sourced teams. - Communicate automation progress, risks, adoption and measurable quality outcomes to stakeholders. - Partner with QA leadership on capability priorities, investment, staffing, governance and success metrics. Must-Have Skills: - 7 - 10+ years of QA Automation / Quality Engineering experience. - Advanced hands-on Playwright and Selenium experience - framework design, reusable components, debugging, parallel execution, cross-browser testing. - Strong JavaScript/TypeScript skills plus one additional language: Java, C# or Python. - Advanced API automation - REST, OpenAPI/Swagger, Postman, service virtualization, and backend validation. - Experience architecting automation for cloud, distributed, and enterprise applications. - Strong Azure DevOps / CI-CD experience - source control, branching, PRs, quality gates, test reporting, parallel execution, environment management, and failure analysis. - Proven experience building reusable automation frameworks, libraries, fixtures, utilities, reporting, and test-data solutions. - Experience defining automation patterns, coding standards, review practices, technical standards, and quality gates. - Hands-on Generative AI / AI coding assistant experience for QA - test design, code generation, maintenance, test data, defect triage, and quality insights. - Ability to evaluate AI outputs and establish human validation, secure data handling, traceability, maintainability, and responsible-use practices. - Strong knowledge of SDLC, Agile, BDD, risk-based testing, continuous testing, and quality metrics. - Proven technical leadership across complex automation initiatives and multiple applications/teams. - Experience with code reviews, pairing, technical workshops, mentoring, and cross-team enablement. - Ability to assess automation needs, select fit-for-purpose tools, and create adoption roadmaps. - Experience working with onshore, offshore, and co-sourced teams. - Strong communication skills to report progress, risks, adoption, and measurable outcomes. - Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.