Principal QA Automation Engineer (Hybrid: Boston, MA or Remote: US)
About the position Join a high-performing, tight-knit team at a fast-growing company that is using the Internet of Things (IOT) to transform how organizations sense, monitor, and make decisions. Founded out of MIT in 2005, Smart Sense is trusted by more than 2,000 organizations, including Walmart, SpaceX, Apple, CVS Health, Coca-Cola, and the US State Department to help them make sensor-driven decisions. We have a solution that our customers rely on every day to make mission critical decisions; we are looking for team-oriented change agents to help shape the future of IOT. Principal QA Automation Engineer (End-to-End Testing Focus) What We Offer At SmartSense, we offer the chance to lead and innovate in a high-impact role that shapes the future of our QA automation strategy. You'll work with a forward-thinking team, driving shift-left testing and building scalable automation frameworks across diverse platforms including web, mobile, APIs, and system components. We value hands-on expertise and empower our engineers to influence product quality at every stage of development. Join us to take ownership of end-to-end testing solutions and be part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where your contributions directly enhance the performance and reliability of mission-critical systems. Responsibilities • Design and implement robust, scalable test automation frameworks for web, mobile, APIs, and integrated systems • Lead shift-left testing strategies by embedding quality from the earliest stages of development • Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and implement quality gates to block failing builds • Validate firmware and backend systems, ensuring seamless interaction with customer-facing applications • Drive automation-first culture by transitioning manual tests to parallel in-sprint automation • Establish test governance standards and lead triage efforts to maintain automation stability • Deliver actionable QA metrics to inform leadership and support continuous improvement • Collaborate cross-functionally and mentor engineers to enhance test effectiveness and quality mindset Requirements • 8+ years of experience in software testing automation, with deep expertise in end-to-end validation • Proven background in building test architecture, automation strategies, and governance models • Strong proficiency in Python, Pytest, JavaScript, Cypress, Docker, Kubernetes, Appium and SQL • In-depth knowledge of CI/CD, shift-left testing, TDD, and test integration workflows • Track record of mentoring and guiding QA and engineering teams toward quality excellence • Excellent analytical and communication skills, with a passion for solving complex problems • Hand-on proven experience with both web applications and native mobile applications, ensuring quality across diverse platforms. Nice-to-haves • Experience with visual and accessibility testing tools and practices • Familiarity with event-driven systems and large-scale data validation • Contributions to open-source automation tools or QA communities • Certifications in Agile, ISTQB, or advanced test automation frameworks • Experience working in IoT or mission-critical system environments Benefits • Short-term incentive program • New hire stock award • Paid parental leave • Open (uncapped) PTO • Hybrid work environment • Competitive medical, health & wellbeing and compensation offerings Apply tot his job