Senior Quality Assurance Engineer

We are looking for a full-time, remote Senior QA Engineer (RST) 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. Your success in this role will be measured by the quality of the insights and risk identification you provide 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.The ideal candidate is a strong tester first—capable of investigating complex systems, adapting testing strategies to context, and clearly communicating risk—while also contributing to test automation 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 the tool process.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 is designed for partner organization .Responsibilities- Lead the organization's adoption of Rapid Software Testing using context-driven testing principles for large-scale, web-based, and SaaS systems - Mentor and coach QA Engineers on Rapid Software Testing practices, including exploratory testing, and critical thinking - Contribute to the evolution of test design and coverage - share effective investigative techniques that produce previously undiscovered insights through the utilization of heuristics (e.G., SFDPOT, HICCUPPS, RCRCRC), and system modeling techniques - Plan and perform functional, E2E, and regression testing with an emphasis on learning and discovery - 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 - 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 - Provide clear and concise test summaries that focus on risk, impact, coverage, unknowns, mitigations, and confidence levels rather than pass/fail metrics - 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 – contribute automation tests using automation frameworks (Playwright, Karate, etc.) as appropriate, especially for stable repetitive high-risk scenariosRequired Experience- Excellent English communication skills, written and verbal - 5+ years of experience in Quality Assurance or Software Testing for web-based and/or SaaS applications - 2+ years of direct experience using the Rapid Software Testing methodology - Strong hands-on experience with exploratory testing and context-driven testing approaches, with the ability to assess risk effectively, model system behavior, and adapt testing strategies as understanding evolves - Experience communicating test coverage and quality risk without reliance on exhaustive scripted test cases - Working knowledge of Playwright, Karate, Selenium, or similar tools sufficient to add or maintain automated checks - Proficiency in at least one programming or scripting language (Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, or ) - 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 - Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities - Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-changing environments - Self-directed, curious, and proactive in identifying risks and improvement opportunities - Passionate about testing as a skill and discipline, not just tool executionDesired Experience- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or some technical engineering - Familiarity with the hospitality industry, including reservations, bookings, and payment processingSuccess in this RoleSuccess 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 releasedecisions, and demonstrate the value of Rapid Software Testing in a real-world production environmentAdditional Information- Knowing your ideas are heard and matter, think big! - You get to own your job and be recognized for your contributions - Work with innovative and creative people - Making mistakes is human. Let's learn from them. Be transparent! - We recognize you as an individual, with no presumptions or judgment. Be the extraordinary you! - 15 days Paid Time Off (PTO), one floating day, three sick days, and designated national holidays - Start: ASAPAbout VelozientWe are a privately held, nearshore software development company providing outsourced development resources to North American companies. Our mission is to offer development talent who enjoy taking on challenging work, want to grow their skills and experiences building software, and excel in a fast-paced, dynamic team environment. We focus on providing world-class remote resources who work as valued members of client teams. If this type of opportunity excites you, then consider joining our team!