QA / Test Automation Lead

SUMMARY:
QA / Test Automation Lead

POSITION INFO:
Role: QA \/ Test Automation Lead Category: Information Technology Location: Johannesburg Salary: Market-related Our client is seeking an experienced and visionary QA \/ Test Automation Lead to design, build, and govern their enterprise test automation capability. In this pivotal role, you will drive quality engineering across a complex, multi-technology landscape-spanning Pega case management, PHP web applications, Azure-hosted microservices, and AS400\/5250 legacy terminal systems. Key ResponsibilitiesK Define and own the enterprise test automation strategy, architecture, and quality gates across Pega, PHP, microservices, and legacy AS400 systems. Lead the evaluation, selection, and roadmap of enterprise automation tooling (e.g., Katalon, ACCELQ, Playwright). Establish definition-of-done criteria, test coverage goals, and total cost of ownership (TCO) reporting. Lead a dedicated team of automation engineers in building functional, regression, API, and end-to-end test suites. Oversee the automation of Pega case-type workflows (credit underwriting, origination) and AS400\/5250 core-banking transactions. Integrate automated test suites directly into Azure DevOps \/ Jenkins CI\/CD pipelines for microservices and web applications. Manage test environments, data strategies, and POPIA-compliant data masking\/anonymization. Establish and track key automation metrics, including ROI, execution time reduction, and defect escape rates. Champion \"shift-left\" testing practices across development and business analysis teams. Mentor and upskill QA staff on automation frameworks and scripting best practices. Report quality risks and release readiness directly to the CIO and executive steering committees. Requirements : 8+ years in Software QA, with 3+ years in a Lead or Architect role. Platform Expertise: Hands-on experience with at least one major enterprise tool (Katalon, ACCELQ, Tricentis Tosca, UFT One); multi-platform experience is strongly preferred. Legacy Systems (Critical): Proven hands-on experience automating legacy AS400\/5250 terminal-based systems. Pega & Web Systems: Proven experience testing Pega BPM\/case management workflows and PHP web applications. API & CI\/CD: Hands-on API testing experience (REST\/SOAP) and integration with CI\/CD tools (Azure DevOps\/Jenkins). Compliance & Data: Knowledge of financial services regulatory requirements (POPIA, FSP obligations) regarding test data handling. Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent experience. Certifications: ISTQB Foundation required (Advanced \/ Test Automation Engineer preferred). Vendor certifications (ACCELQ, Tosca, UFT) are a plus.