QA Engineer Lead at DeARX Services (Pty) Ltd

About the Role

• We're embarking on a long-term systems modernisation programme to transform our technology landscape over the next 3-5 years. To support this transformation, were seeking a highly skilled Senior QA Engineer who can take full ownership of hands-on testing delivery while also laying the groundwork for a scalable QA function.
• This is a critical, hands-on position at the start, ideal for someone who enjoys diving deep into automation, defining standards, and partnering closely with delivery teams.
• As the modernisation matures, this role will naturally evolve into a leadership position, with the opportunity to grow into a formal QA Lead or QA Practice Manager role. 

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and operationalise a formal quality assurance function from the ground up.
• Define and implement test strategies, quality checkpoints, and scalable test frameworks.
• Execute hands-on testing (manual and automated) across SaaS and integrated systems.
• Design and maintain automated test suites and CI/CD-compatible pipelines.
• Work closely with development, DevOps, product owners, and business analysts.
• Create detailed test cases, plans, and traceability matrices.
• Track defects and quality metrics using MS DevOps or similar platforms.
• Promote QA best practices, mentorship, and continuous improvement culture.
• Participate in all Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, retrospectives, and stand-ups.

Tech Stack & Tooling Automation Tools:

• Selenium, Karate DSL, Rest Assured, Cucumber Languages: Java Management Tools: MS DevOps, JIRA, Confluence CI/CD: Azure DevOps Pipelines, Bitbucket, Jenkins
• Testing Types: Web, API, integration, regression, performance
• Methodologies: Agile, Scrum, BDD, TDD

Profile We're Looking For

• 5+ years of hands-on QA engineering experience, including automation.
• Proven success in setting up or scaling QA practices and frameworks.
• Strong grounding in Agile, SDLC, and quality metrics.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Comfortable in a player/coach role, owning testing while shaping future practices.
• ISTQB certification preferred; degree or diploma in IT or related field a plus.