Sr SDET/QA Lead
Role summary
Highspring is seeking a Senior SDET/QA Lead to provide technical quality leadership for backend and API-driven systems. This hands-on role involves owning automation design, implementation, and continuous improvement, as well as designing and refactoring test automation frameworks. The lead will mentor quality engineers, establish quality standards and culture, and coordinate quality efforts across teams. Key responsibilities include defining and implementing quality strategies, risk management, and tracking quality metrics and observability signals to drive continuous improvement in quality engineering processes and tools.
The Opportunity
Highspring is supporting a client initiative that requires a
Senior SDET / QA Lead
who is more than a traditional QA practitioner. This role calls for an autonomous, hands-on quality engineering leader with deep expertise in
backend and API quality
, strong technical ownership, and the ability to shape quality strategy across teams.
You will lead quality engineering efforts for backend and service-based systems, design or evolve automation frameworks, and establish quality practices that scale. This is a leadership role for someone who can translate modern QA principles into practical, measurable engineering outcomes.
What You'll Do
- Act as the technical quality lead for backend and API-driven systems, owning automation design, implementation, and continuous improvement.
- Design, enhance, or refactor test automation frameworks, with clear ownership of the components you personally build or improve.
- Provide concrete technical examples and guidance to demonstrate best practices in backend and API testing.
- Lead and mentor quality engineers, setting standards, fostering a strong quality culture, and driving adoption of consistent practices.
- Coordinate effectively with engineering, product, and platform teams to align on quality goals, dependencies, and release readiness.
- Define and implement quality strategies, including shift-left and shift-right practices, risk identification, mitigation, and management.
- Establish and track quality indicators, metrics, and observability signals to measure outcomes and guide decisions.
- Drive continuous improvement in quality engineering tools, frameworks, and processes.
What You Bring to the Table
- Proven experience as a Senior SDET or QA Lead with a strong focus on backend and API quality engineering.
- Demonstrated ability to take technical ownership of automation solutions and framework enhancements.
- Experience leading and mentoring teams, establishing standards, and scaling quality practices across delivery teams.
- Strong collaboration skills and experience coordinating quality efforts across multiple teams and stakeholders.
- A strategic mindset with hands-on execution, able to connect quality principles to real engineering outcomes.
Core Skills Required
- Backend and API test automation expertise
- Test framework design and improvement
- Quality strategy and risk management
- Shift-left and shift-right quality practices
- Metrics, quality indicators, and observability
- Technical leadership and mentoring
ISTQB certification or a similar qualification is considered a plus.
Our Stack
- Backend and API-driven architectures
- Automated testing frameworks for services and integrations
- CI/CD-aligned quality tooling and observability platforms
*(Specific tools and technologies vary by engagement.)*
Why Join Highspring
At Highspring, you'll work on challenging, high-impact initiatives where quality engineering is treated as a core engineering discipline-not an afterthought. You'll have the opportunity to lead, influence, and deliver meaningful outcomes while collaborating with experienced consultants and client teams who value technical excellence and continuous improvement.
Equal Opportunity Notice
Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact
HR@vaco.com
.
Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that
workplace discrimination is illegal
.
Representation Notice
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
*For residents of Ontario, Canada only:*
to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.
