QA Automation Engineer
Somewhere
🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. The estimated monthly salary is R18,500 – R37,000 ZAR. This role is suited for senior-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
QA Automation Engineer
Location:Fully RemoteTime Zone Requirement:Must meaningfully overlap with the U.S. Central time zoneSalary:$1500 - $3,000/mo(Final offer depends on client's approval and overall assessment of candidate skills and experience)Department:Engineering / Quality AssuranceReports To:QA Lead / Head of Engineering
About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced QA Automation Engineer to own and advance our automated testing infrastructure. This is a hands-on engineering role with a strong emphasis on building, maintaining, and expanding end-to-end and regression test suites using modern automation frameworks. You’ll work closely with our development team to ensure our platform ships reliably and at high quality.
What You’ll Do
Test Automation (Primary Focus — ~75%)
* Design, build, and maintain automated test suites using Playwright as the primary framework
* Work with cloud-based testing platforms such as Mabl, BrowserStack, or similar tools for cross-browser and cross-device coverage
* Develop and own regression test coverage for core platform workflows
* Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and ensure tests run reliably on every deploy
* Continuously improve test reliability, speed, and coverage — reducing flakiness and expanding coverage as the product grows
* Collaborate with developers to shift testing left: contributing tests alongside feature development
* Maintain test infrastructure documentation and onboarding guides
Manual QA & Bug Triage (~25%)
* Test new features across browsers, devices, and operating systems
* Reproduce, document, and track bugs with clarity and precision
* Work with the development team to validate fixes and close the loop on reported issues
* Identify edge cases and system interactions that automated tests may not yet cove
Required Skills and Experience
* 3+ years of hands-on experience building and maintaining automated test suites in a professional environment
* Strong proficiency with Playwright (TypeScript preferred) — this is non-negotiable
* Experience with at least one AI-assisted or low-code testing platform (Mabl, Testim, BrowserStack Automate, or equivalent)
* Solid understanding of CI/CD concepts and integrating tests into build pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or similar)
* Ability to write clean, maintainable test code and follow software engineering best practices
* Experience testing web and mobile applications across multiple browsers and platforms
* Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
Nice to Have
* Familiarity with SaaS platforms, particularly time tracking, scheduling, or payroll
* Experience with accessibility testing or performance testing
* Exposure to backend API testing (REST)
* Contributions to open-source testing tooling or a public GitHub portfolio
Technical Requirements
* Reliable high-speed internet connection
* Modern computer capable of running testing tools and environments
* Ability to work overlapping U.S. business hours
* Quiet and professional remote work environment
Work Environment
* Fully remote role
* Fast-paced, product-driven environment
* Collaborative team across engineering and product
* Strong focus on quality, accuracy, and continuous improvement
Who This Role is Ideal For
* Detail-oriented professionals who enjoy problem-solving
* Analytical thinkers who focus on accuracy and quality
* Team players who collaborate well with engineers and product teams
* Self-starters who take ownership of testing processes
* Individuals who take pride in delivering reliable software
What This Role Is Not
* Not a purely manual, repetitive role — critical thinking is required
* Not isolated from product decisions — collaboration is key
* Not a low-impact position — quality directly affects user trust
Why Join
* Work on a product that directly impacts workforce efficiency and accuracy
* Be part of a growing SaaS company with a strong product focus
* Collaborate with a team that values quality and continuous improvement
* Gain exposure to real-world operational and data-driven systems
* Opportunity to grow within QA and product development
Equal Opportunity
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
At R18,500/month, this role is on par with the average South African remote salary. The USD equivalent ($1,000/mo) benefits from the favourable exchange rate.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 685 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →