QA Automation Engineer
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Job description
QA Automation Engineer
Stanowisko: QA Automation Engineer
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About the Position
We are seeking a QA Automation Engineer to design, build, and maintain automated test suites for application quality verification.
Why Choose Us?
Collaborate with SmartWays – Spread Your Wings
What You Gain by Working with Us
- Partner-like relationships
- Knowledge and experience exchange
- Reports needed for business decision-making
- Listening to your needs
20+ people
in the team
6 years
of experience in the market
3000
satisfied clients
Who is a QA Automation Engineer and What Do They Do?
A QA Automation Engineer is a test engineer who designs, builds, and maintains automated test suites to verify application quality without manual clicking. They are responsible for converting manual scenarios into code, integrating tests with CI/CD pipelines, and reducing regression detection time from days to minutes.
On the Polish IT market, the demand for automated testers remains high – according to recruitment portal data from 2025, QA automation offers constitute over 60% of all testing job postings. Companies scaling product teams consider QA automation a condition for maintaining release pace with increasing code complexity. Recruitment for a mid-level QA Automation Engineer takes longer than for manual roles due to the required knowledge of programming languages and testing frameworks.
Key Responsibilities of a QA Automation Engineer
The scope of an automated tester combines engineering skills with quality risk thinking. The following tasks define the daily work of a mid-level specialist:
- Designing and implementing E2E, integration, and API automated tests in a chosen framework (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, REST Assured)
- Converting test cases from manual documentation into maintainable and UI-resilient scripts
- Integrating test suites with CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions
- Maintaining and refactoring existing tests to reduce flaky tests and execution time
- Reporting test results and defects in Jira along with root cause analysis
- Collaborating with developers on code reviews for testability of functionalities
- Creating and maintaining test data and mock environments
- Performance and load testing using JMeter or k6
- Defining regression and smoke test strategies for subsequent releases
- Documenting the test framework architecture and onboarding new QA team members
Required Skills and Experience
A mid-level QA Automation Engineer should combine practical code knowledge with an understanding of quality processes. The following table outlines market expectations for candidates in 2026:
| Skill | Required Level | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Programming Language | Intermediate | Java, Python, JavaScript, or C# – writing maintainable test code |
| UI Automation Framework | Advanced | Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, or Cypress in production projects |
| API Testing | Advanced | REST Assured, Postman, JSON contract and schema validation |
| CI/CD | Intermediate | Configuring jobs in Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions |
| Version Control Systems | Intermediate | Git – branching, pull requests, conflict resolution |
| Databases | Basic | SQL – data verification and fixture preparation |
| Testing Methodologies | Advanced | Test pyramid, BDD, regression, and smoke tests |
| Reporting Tools | Intermediate | Jira, Allure, TestRail, X-Ray |
| Performance Testing | Basic | JMeter or k6 – load scenarios |
| English Language | B2 | Technical documentation and communication in international teams |
Salary and Market Ranges for 2026
The salary for a mid-level QA Automation Engineer ranges from 13,000–22,000 PLN gross/month under an employment contract, with higher rates on B2B contracts. The salary range depends on several measurable factors:
- Location – Warsaw and Kraków offer 15–20% more than regional centers, with remote rates aligning with major cities
- Industry – fintech, medtech, and e-commerce pay a premium for domain-specific knowledge and regulatory requirements
- Tech Stack – experience with Playwright or mobile testing (Appium) increases the range by 1,500–3,000 PLN
- Certifications – ISTQB Advanced Test Automation Engineer enhances candidate attractiveness and negotiation position
- Experience – over 4 years in automation brings the salary closer to the upper range of the brackets
The standard benefits package includes private healthcare, a sports card, a training budget of 3,000–6,000 PLN annually, flexible working hours, and remote or hybrid work. Increasingly, employers provide co-funding for ISTQB certification and access to training platforms like Udemy or Pluralsight.
How Smartways.io Recruits an Automation Tester Step by Step
The headhunting process for a QA Automation Engineer at Smartways.io is based on technical verification and alignment with the client's stack. It is carried out in the following steps:
- Needs Analysis and Briefing (2–3 days) – we determine the testing stack, seniority level, cooperation model, and the ideal candidate profile
- Search and Sourcing (5–7 days) – we actively reach out to passive candidates from our database and industry channels
- Initial Technical Verification (3–5 days) – screening of competencies in frameworks, CI/CD, and programming languages
- Candidate Presentation (2–3 days) – we provide 3–5 matched profiles along with a competency report
- Support in Finalization (3–5 days) – coordination of technical interviews, offer negotiations, and assistance with onboarding
We typically close the QA automation recruitment process within 3–4 weeks from briefing to contract signing. Covering each candidate with a replacement guarantee ensures the client's recruitment investment is protected.
FAQ – Common Questions About the QA Automation Engineer Position
How Does a QA Automation Engineer Differ from a Manual Tester?
A manual tester executes test scenarios manually, while a QA Automation Engineer codes these scenarios in a chosen framework, integrates them with CI/CD, and runs them automatically with every code change. Automation reduces regression detection time and frees up the QA team for exploratory testing.
How Long Does the Recruitment of a QA Automation Engineer Take Through Smartways.io?
The standard time from briefing to contract signing is 3–4 weeks. We usually present the first matched profiles in the second week of cooperation.
What Are the Salary Ranges for a Mid-Level Automation Tester in 2026?
For the mid-level, the range is 13,000–22,000 PLN gross/month under an employment contract. On B2B contracts, rates can be higher depending on the stack and project location.
Is It Worth Hiring a QA Automation Engineer Instead of Expanding the Manual Team?
For projects with frequent releases, automation pays off within a few months by eliminating repetitive regression tests. The optimal model is a hybrid team where the automation engineer handles regression, and manual testers focus on exploratory scenarios.
What Technical Skills Are Most Important When Headhunting for QA Automation?
Key skills include practical knowledge of programming languages (Java, Python, or JavaScript), experience with a UI framework, and the ability to integrate tests with CI/CD pipelines. The ISTQB Advanced Test Automation Engineer certificate is an additional asset.
Does Smartways.io Recruit Related IT Roles?
Yes, besides QA automation, we also recruit for positions such as AWS Engineer, Cybersecurity Specialist, and Senior Java Developer, allowing us to comprehensively staff the product and infrastructure team.
Our specialists are ready to join your team.
SmartWays Sp. z o.o. - 2026 - All rights reserved.
© SmartWays Recruitment. This job description was sourced from the employer's public career page. TheJob is not the employer — we index the posting and route candidates to the source. All content rights and hiring decisions belong to the employer.
IT,Finance,Sales,Purchasing,Other industries
About the Company SmartWays Recruitment offers bespoke and scalable recruitment solutions tailored to the evolving needs of businesses across various industries. The company focuses on recruitment within EMEA markets but delivers projects globally. Their services include direct search, contracting, body leasing, executive search, recruitment process outsourcing, and HR on-demand services. Products, Services & Tech Stack Core Solutions: Direct Search Contracting Body Leasing Executive Search Recruitment Process Outsourcing HR on-demand Project Scope & Target Clients Client Base: IT Finance Sales Purchasing Other industries Engineering Scale: Projects for large corporations, small businesses, and start-ups.