Balsam International is looking for a Principal Quality Engineer to help shape the future of test automation, driving innovation in testing frameworks and ensuring scalability, efficiency, and reliability across all efforts. This role requires deep expertise in Playwright, modern automation tools, and industry best practices. You’ll be architecting, implementing, and optimizing automation frameworks, mentoring engineers, and working cross-functionally to embed automation into our CI/CD pipeline and DevOps strategy, while also influencing the QA automation roadmap to align with company-wide engineering standards. This role reports to the Director, QE and DevOps.

What you’ll be doing:

Test Automation Strategy & Framework Architecture

Designs and implements scalable, reusable automation frameworks, focusing on Playwright for end-to-end (E2E) testing.
Leads the evolution of test automation architecture, ensuring best-in-class design patterns, performance, and maintainability.
Defines and enforces automation standards, establishing a center of excellence for test automation practices.
Conducts research and evaluation of cutting-edge tools to improve automation coverage, performance, and efficiency.

Leadership & Mentorship

Acts as a subject matter expert (SME) in Playwright and automation best practices, mentoring junior and mid-level engineers.
Provides strategic guidance on test automation adoption across teams, influencing company-wide QA strategy.
Conducts code reviews and establish best practices for automation test development.
Leads training initiatives for manual QA engineers transitioning to automation roles.

Automation Development & CI/CD Integration

Develops, maintains, and optimizes highly efficient automated test scripts for functional, regression, performance, and API testing.
Ensures seamless integration of automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline, enabling continuous testing and deployment.
Implements parallel execution, distributed testing, and cloud-based automation solutions to improve test efficiency.
Collaborates with DevOps and Engineering teams to enhance test execution strategies and reporting.
Writes non-functional test scripts and executes, with good understanding of performance testing.

Software Quality Assurance & Governance

Defines and tracks automation KPIs, ensuring measurable improvements in test coverage, execution time, and defect detection.
Establishes and maintains test data management strategies for automated testing.
Drives adoption of shift-left testing, ensuring early-stage automation within the SDLC.
Implements AI-driven automation techniques to optimize test selection and execution.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partners with Software Architects, Developers, Product Managers, and DevOps to drive quality-first development.
Actively participates in Agile ceremonies, advocating for automation-driven testing approaches.
Drives strategic initiatives that align automation efforts with business and technology goals.
Advocates for and champion a culture of automation-first testing across engineering teams.
Provides training for manual test engineers on automation tools and processes. Helps them to transition as an automation engineer.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Performs other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

What we’re looking for:

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of fourteen (14) of experience in QA Automation.
Must have experience in test automation tools such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, WebdriverIO, Typescript, etc.
Must have a solid understanding of software testing principles, methodologies, design patterns, software testing processes, best practices, and be accustomed to Agile Development.
Must be familiar with CI/CD concepts and tools and performance testing and security testing.
Must be able to work a flexible night shift schedule (typically 8pm-4am PHT, adjusting to 8pm-5am PHT after Daylight Saving Time ends).

Location: The Principal Quality Engineer position is a remote working position for Balsam International Unlimited Company - Philippine ROHQ in Manila. Team members in the Philippines are located within Metro Manila, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, and Tarlac areas only.

Our must-haves:

Must attend occasional in-person meetings.
Must have a fast, reliable DSL, Fiber, or Broadband connection (not mobile or broadband stick) as the primary internet connection with a minimum actual speed of 50MBPS.

Note: An online assessment will also be part of the recruitment process.

Status: This is a full-time, permanent position with benefits.

Hardware Provision: Company-issued Laptop will be provided on your first day.

At Balsam International, we strive to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. For permanent, full-time team members, this includes:

Government-mandated Benefits (SSS, PAG-IBIG, PhilHealth)
13th Month Pay
Paid Leaves. We use time off to rest, go on vacation, or just sleep in! Our paid time off is flexible to our needs.
Internet Subsidy. With internet allowance, we are set up for success.
Healthcare Coverage (+ 2 dependents). We worry less about rising medical costs with flexible quality healthcare benefits.
Maternity, Paternity, and Solo Parent Benefit. We make sure parents are supported while they navigate work and family life.
Continuous Learning and Professional Development Benefit. Our professional and personal development are fully supported. Whether it be online courses, workshops or books!
Mental Health Support. We manage work and life's challenges through Mental Health Day breaks, 24/7 professional counselling, and curated webinars.
Company Incentive. An additional cash-based perk for all our Brandits based on company's performance.
Meeting and Team Building Allowance. Happy tummies make our meetings more fun and productive!
Shutdown Week. We can spend more time on things that matter with an additional one-week paid time off on top of paid leaves.
Volunteer Time Off. With two paid days off, we are able to volunteer for advocacies we believe in.
Bereavement Leave. We get additional paid leaves when a loved one passes to grieve and provide immediate support to our families.