Lead Automation Tester in Java

We're looking for a Lead Automation Tester skilled in Java to shape and drive the test automation strategy within our squad, guaranteeing confident releases across backend services, integrations, and UI workflows. This position requires hands-on development and upkeep of automated test suites, coaching functional QAs in automation adoption, and championing quality engineering standards throughout the delivery process. Responsibilities Take ownership of the squad's test automation strategy and continuously improve it, covering the test pyramid, automation coverage goals, risk-based prioritization, and quality gates Establish and enforce quality standards for the Definition of Done, including automation requirements, regression testing scope, and non-functional validations Set up and track quality metrics like automation pass rates, flaky test incidents, defect leakage, and trend analysis Build, implement, and sustain automated testing for RESTful APIs using JUnit Verify API contracts, handle versioning and backward compatibility, test negative and error scenarios, and validate authorization patterns Develop solid integration test coverage for microservices and integration workflows, accounting for retries, error handling, and data consistency Confirm data persistence and integrity through SQL queries against Microsoft SQL Server Create and maintain dependable UI automation for key user journeys Partner with engineers to troubleshoot API and UI interaction problems Plan and carry out performance and load testing, including developing workload models, establishing baselines, and measuring throughput and latency Embed automated test suites within CI/CD pipelines and enhance their speed and reliability through parallelization and smart test selection Guide functional QAs toward automation proficiency via pairing sessions, code reviews, training, and defined contribution pathways Requirements At least 7 years of hands-on experience as an Automation QA, with demonstrated ownership of automation efforts within a squad or team Solid proficiency in Java-based test automation with JUnit Significant experience automating APIs using RestAssured or Karate Hands-on UI automation experience with Playwright, along with knowledge of CI execution best practices Hands-on performance testing background using Apache JMeter, covering test plan creation, execution, and results analysis Practical experience with Git and Azure DevOps for CI/CD workflows, including pipeline setup, gating, and reporting Strong SQL capabilities with experience verifying data in Microsoft SQL Server Excellent mentoring and teamwork abilities, capable of elevating QA maturity across both functional and technical testing domains English language skills at B2 level or above Native or fluent Greek speaker Nice to have Working knowledge of Agile methodologies Hands-on experience with Azure DevOps Experience in Quality Architecture Skilled in using REST Assured