Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

We are looking for a full-time, remote Senior QA Engineer with 5+ years of experience, who plays a critical role in driving a quality-first, insight-driven approach throughout the software development lifecycle. This position is part of an experimental initiative to evaluate the effectiveness of Rapid Software Testing (RST) practices within the organization. The ideal candidate is a strong tester first—capable of investigating complex systems, adapting testing strategies to context, and clearly communicating risk—while being able to contribute to automated checks using existing frameworks when appropriate. The position emphasizes skilled exploratory testing, critical thinking, and risk analysis to provide meaningful insights into product quality and release confidence. Automation is used intentionally to support testing where it delivers clear value; however, testing skill and judgment are the primary focus of this role, not tool ownership. Our client provides integrated software and marketing solutions for the hospitality industry, specializing in short-term rental management. Their platform provides vacation rental companies with a Property Management System, integrates with booking, guest communications, and financial reporting systems, and it is built with partner organization integration in mind. Responsibilities Lead testing efforts for large-scale, web-based, and SaaS systems using Rapid Software Testing and context-driven testing principles Design and execute exploratory testing sessions to identify critical risks, edge cases, and unexpected system behavior Continuously assess what testing is most valuable based on product context, constraints, and evolving understanding Apply testing heuristics (e.g., SFDPOT, HICCUPPS, RCRCRC) and system modeling techniques to guide test design and coverage Perform deep investigation of defects to understand root causes and systemic risk, not just surface symptoms Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering teams to clarify requirements, challenge assumptions, and improve testability. Act as a quality advocate by surfacing risk early and supporting informed decision-making Participate in design, refinement, and technical discussions to provide testing insight and risk-based feedback Communicate findings clearly and concisely, focusing on risk, impact, coverage, and unknowns, rather than pass/fail metrics Contribute automated tests using existing automation frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Karate) when automation meaningfully improves feedback or reduces risk Maintain and extend automated coverage for stable, repetitive, or high-risk scenarios Evaluate and articulate when automation is appropriate and when exploratory testing provides greater value Collaborate with automation-focused engineers to ensure automated checks complement exploratory testing efforts Plan and perform functional, E2E, and regression testing with an emphasis on learning and discovery Provide test summaries that communicate quality signals, risks, mitigations, and confidence levels to leadership Support high-confidence releases with minimal production risk and customer impact Mentor and coach QA Engineers on exploratory testing, critical thinking, and Rapid Software Testing practices Contribute to the evolution of testing practices by sharing insights, heuristics, and effective investigative techniques Required Experience Excellent English communication skills 5+ years of experience in Quality Assurance or Software Testing for web-based and/or SaaS applications Strong hands-on experience with exploratory testing and context-driven testing approaches Demonstrated ability to assess risk, model system behavior, and adapt testing strategies as understanding evolves Experience explaining testing coverage and quality risk without reliance on exhaustive scripted test cases Experience using and extending existing automation frameworks; framework ownership is not required Working knowledge of Playwright, Karate, Selenium, or similar tools sufficient to add or maintain automated checks Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and how automated checks fit into release workflows Solid understanding of REST APIs, backend validation, and SQL for data verification Desired Experience Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or some type of technical engineering Proficiency in at least one programming or scripting language (Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, or Python) Self-directed, curious, and proactive in identifying risks and improvement opportunities Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-changing environments Passionate about testing as a skill and discipline, not just tool execution Success in this Role Success is measured by the quality of insights and risk identification provided to the team, not by the volume of test artifacts or automation output. This role is expected to improve visibility into product risk, support informed release decisions, and demonstrate the value of Rapid Software Testing in a real-world production environment Additional Information Knowing your ideas are heard and matter think big You get to own your job and be recognized for your contributions Work with smart and creative people Making mistakes is human. Lets learn from them. Be transparent We recognize you as an individual no presumptions or judgment. Be the extraordinary you 15 days Paid Time Off (PTO), 1 floating day, 3 sick days, and designated national holidays Start: ASAP About Velozient We are a privately held, nearshore software development company providing outsourced development resources to North American companies. Our mission is to offer development talent that enjoy taking on challenging work, want to grow their skills and experiences building software, and excel in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment. We are focused on providing world-class remote resources to work as valued client team members. If this type of opportunity excites you, then consider joining our team