Job Description

THE POSITION

We’re looking for a dynamic and technically savvy Software Engineering Manager – QE Automation to lead and elevate quality engineering across our Lead Platform products. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on leader who excels in fast-moving, self-direct environments and is energized by building systems and processes where they don’t yet exist.

The Lead Platform products serve as the central hub for managing and processing incoming family inquiries. These services include lead capture, routing, and tracking functionalities, ensuring that each lead is efficiently directed to the appropriate internal team allowing for the best possible family experience.

Reporting to the Director of Software Engineering – Lead Platform, you’ll be both a strategic driver and tactical executor, rolling up your sleeves to build robust test automation frameworks, while also influencing the vision, coaching engineers, and driving cross-functional quality initiatives. Your work will directly impact how we scale technology and deliver meaningful experiences to the families we serve.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in dynamic environments, brings ownership to evolving teams, and sees change as a chance to create something better.

Who you are:

You’re a builder at heart — someone who loves finding opportunity in complexity and unclear situations, and has a track record of turning undefined processes into well-oiled systems. You know how to lead with influence, bring people along through change, and create a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.

You're hands-on with modern automation tooling but also understand that people and processes are just as critical as code. You’re not afraid to ask the tough questions, push for better, and drive alignment in the face of competing priorities. And above all, you’re a team-first leader who’s passionate about mentoring others and helping engineering teams deliver great software, faster.

What you will do:

• Own and evolve the test automation strategy across internal Lead Platform applications, introducing modern frameworks and scalable best practices.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of QA engineers—guiding both automation and manual testers toward shared goals and high-impact execution.
• Bring structure and clarity to an evolving organization by defining test processes, setting standards, and continuously improving the way we build and test software.
• Roll up your sleeves and build robust, reusable automation for web, mobile, and API layers using modern tools and frameworks.
• Serve as a change agent, helping teams embrace quality as a shared responsibility and championing shift-left testing.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, and design to define testable requirements and ensure quality is built into every phase of development.
• Advocate for pragmatic, risk-based testing strategies that balance coverage, velocity, and business impact.
• Drive accountability for release readiness by defining quality gates, tracking metrics, and communicating risk clearly to stakeholders.
• Influence culture and team norms—helping the Lead Platform organization mature its engineering and delivery practices with empathy, curiosity, and grit. ****

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in software QA or test engineering, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership or management role.
• Demonstrated success building automation frameworks from scratch in environments without rigid structure or mature processes.
• Strong experience with JavaScript/TypeScript automation tools—such as Playwright, Cypress, WebdriverIO, TestCafe, Mocha, Cucumber, Appium, Selenium, Jest, and/or Vitest
• Deep understanding of API testing (REST and GraphQL)
• A working knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and how automated tests fit into fast-moving engineering environments (e.g., GitHub Actions).
• Familiarity with performance testing tools such as k6 is a plus.
• Experience with strategies for running automated testing in production environments
• Experience validating data and testing across relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Elasticsearch).
• A proven ability to navigate ambiguity, define direction, and align teams around quality goals.
• Experience working in Agile environments, with a strong grasp of SDLC and continuous delivery.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills—you inspire trust, create clarity, and drive change.
• Familiarity with AI-driven testing tools and frameworks

Compensation

• Base Salary: $140,000 to $160,000 + 20% Bonus
• Benefits:
  • 401(k) plus match
  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off

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Additional Information

A Place for Mom has recently become aware of the fraudulent use of our name on job postings and via recruiting emails that are illegitimate and not in any way associated with us. APFM will never ask you to provide sensitive personal information as part of the recruiting process, such as your social security number; send you any unsolicited job offers or employment contracts; require any fees, payments, or access to financial accounts; and/or extend an offer without conducting an interview.

If you suspect you are being scammed or have been scammed online, you may report the crime to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and obtain more information regarding online scams at the Federal Trade Commission.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

A Place for Mom uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify .