Lead Software Engineer in Test

Creating a world where pets live longer, healthier lives, from their very first meal.   Learn more about our brands. We’re Looking For A(n): Lead Software Engineer in Test Location: Remote or Hybrid (El Segundo, CA and/or Burbank/North Hollywood, CA) What You’ll Be Doing:  The Lead Quality Engineer is a hands-on technical leader owning test automation strategy. This person designs scalable automation frameworks, integrates testing into CI/CD pipelines, mentors, and directly influences the organization’s ability to ship frequently, reliably, and with confidence. The role balances strategic test architecture with day-to-day leadership. *Occasional off-hours availability may be required to support business needs. Test Strategy & Architecture Own the end-to-end test automation strategy across unit, integration, acceptance, and non-functional testing layers Design and maintain scalable automation frameworks for APIs, web, and mobile platforms Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines for rapid feedback Leverage AI-powered tools to accelerate test creation, expand coverage, and reduce test maintenance burden Engineering Quality Culture Champion a culture where quality is a shared responsibility across engineering Lead exploratory and usability testing practices throughout the delivery process Advocate for testable, loosely coupled architecture in design reviews and technical planning Analyze application logs, monitoring data, and production incident patterns to inform and expand test coverage strategy Reduce change failure rate and shorten lead time by improving test coverage and feedback speed Identify and eliminate testing bottlenecks that slow the delivery pipeline Report quality trends and risk to engineering leadership; serve as escalation point for QA matters Provide technical leadership through code reviews, framework design guidance, and best-practice documentation Foster a learning culture: run knowledge-sharing sessions, stay current on testing tools, and drive adoption of AI-assisted test generation to multiply the team’s output Qualifications (Note: We strongly encourage you to apply even if you don’t tick ALL of these boxes.): Technical depth with strategic thinking — Can architect frameworks and also zoom out to align testing strategy with business delivery goals Quality ownership mindset —  Views quality as a system-level outcome; advocates for building quality in rather than inspecting it out Coaching & influence —  Elevates the testing capability of QA engineers through pairing, mentoring, and clear documentation Cross-functional collaboration —  Works effectively across Development, DevOps, Product, and Security to embed quality throughout delivery Data-driven decision making —  Uses metrics (coverage, defect trends, pipeline health) to prioritize improvements and communicate quality posture Continuous improvement orientation —  Relentlessly improves processes, tools, and test suites; never satisfied with the status quo Communication —  Translates technical quality concepts into business-relevant language for stakeholders at all levels Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience) Preferred Education: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience) Required Experience: 5+ years in QA/test engineering, with 3+ years in a lead or senior IC automation role. Hands-on experience designing and building automation frameworks (not just writing scripts). Strong proficiency in at least one programming language (Typescript, Javascript, Python, Java, C#) Expertise with modern test frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Jest, Selenium, Cypress, Appium, RestAssured). Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI). Demonstrated experience using AI-powered tools (e.g., LLM-based code assistants, AI test generators) to create, maintain, or expand automated test suites Experience using observability tools (logs, monitoring, APM) to identify production issues and inform test strategy Strong understanding of TDD and BDD practices. Proven ability to mentor engineers and influence testing culture across an organization. Preferred Experience: 7+ years in QA/test engineering, with 3+ years in a lead or senior IC automation role Load testing experience Microservices and distributed systems testing Security testing integration (shift-left security). Experience in regulated environments or with compliance requirements Golden Perks & Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare coverage – We cover  100% of premiums  for medical, dental, and vision plans for employee-only plans. Annual bonus We match up to  3.5% of your 401k contributions , ensuring your retirement savings grow alongside your career. 6 paid sick and mental health days,  an Employee Assistance Program, free weekly yoga and meditation classes, and additional mental health benefits, because we take a holistic approach to your well-being. Invest in your future with our  Employee Stock Ownership Plan , where company contributions fund your retirement plan with company stock.  Learn more. Reimbursements for a portion of personal cell phone and internet usage  for eligible employees. Professional development   opportunities  with mentorship, continuous learning programs, and performance-based pay increases, empowering you to progress and excel in your career. Through our charity sponsorships, you can make a positive impact on communities worldwide. We’ve donated over  $9 million  to date. Potential for quarterly KPI bonuses. The base salary range is $124,000-$155,000, plus bonus potential. The posted salary range in this job posting reflects data based on California's cost of labor analysis. This salary range is subject to change per sta