Senior QA Automation Engineer (f/m/d)

<h3>Description</h3> <p>Founded in 2020, Kaiko Systems is a tech company driving digital innovation in the global maritime industry. Our mission is to make shipping safer, smarter, and more collaborative by transforming manual processes into actionable intelligence. </p> <p>With our products, ship crews can collect reliable vessel data on the job, while our AI-powered analysis generates actionable insights for technical teams onshore. These insights help predict incidents, reduce downtime, and enhance safety and efficiency, empowering shipping companies to operate at their best. </p> <p>At Kaiko Systems, we’re not just building technology — we’re delivering solutions that make a real difference in people’s work lives and their professional environment. Join us as we navigate the future of maritime together.</p> <h3>Your mission</h3> <p>As we scale, we're looking for a <strong>Senior QA Automation Engineer</strong> who is passionate about building robust systems and improving quality, and driving test automation. This role is perfect for someone who has seen teams and products grow, understands how to test for scale, and wants to have a meaningful impact on both product and process.</p> <p><strong>What you’ll do: </strong></p> <ul> <li>Design, implement, and maintain <strong>automated test frameworks</strong> for backend (Python/Django) and frontend (HTMX/Tailwind) components</li> <li>Develop <strong>comprehensive test plans</strong> covering functional, regression, integration, and system testing</li> <li>Collaborate with developers early in the sprint to define <strong>clear acceptance criteria</strong> and ensure testability of new features</li> <li>Lead <strong>manual exploratory testing</strong> where needed and guide the team on how to test complex workflows effectively</li> <li>Contribute to the CI/CD pipeline with <strong>automated quality gates</strong>, working closely with DevOps to maintain a stable delivery pipeline</li> <li>Monitor and report <strong>quality metrics</strong>, helping the team make data-driven decisions</li> <li>Advocate for <strong>QA best practices</strong> across teams and foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and customer focus</li> <li>Participate in <strong>Agile ceremonies</strong> and help identify risks and edge cases early in the development cycle</li> </ul> <p><strong>Our current tech stack:</strong></p> <ul> <li><strong>Backend</strong>: Python, Django, Celery, PostgreSQL</li> <li><strong>Frontend</strong>: HTMX,  AlpineJS, TailwindCSS</li> <li><strong>DevOps</strong>: Docker, GitLab CI, Sentry</li> <li><strong>Other Tools</strong>: Figma, Shortcut</li> </ul> <p><strong>Your skillset to navigate success:</strong></p> <ul> <li>5+ years of experience in a QA or Software Testing role, preferably in a <strong>startup or scale-up</strong> environment</li> <li>Experience with <strong>automated testing frameworks</strong> (e.g., Pytest, Playwright, or similar)</li> <li>Solid understanding of backend testing (APIs, databases) and frontend testing</li> <li>Experience working with <strong>CI/CD pipelines</strong> and contributing to quality gates in delivery workflows</li> <li>Ability to write and debug basic scripts in Python (or willingness to learn)</li> <li>A <strong>risk-aware mindset</strong> – you think ahead, identify edge cases, and help the team build solid, scalable software</li> <li>Comfortable working in Agile teams and contributing to <strong>product development processes</strong> from a quality perspective</li> <li>Excellent communication skills and a team-first mindset</li> <li>Bonus: Experience testing Django applications, PostgreSQL, or frontend components built with HTMX, AlpineJS, and Tailwind</li> </ul> <strong>Worried you don’t check every box?</strong> If this role excites you, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be exactly what we’re looking for — either for this role or another one! <h3>Why us?</h3> <ul> <li>Join a highly ambitious and diverse team with a collaborative working environment at a very exciting time in the company’s development, as we scale on the back of significant product market fit</li> <li>Be at the forefront of digitalization in a critical global industry</li> <li>Great office in the heart of Berlin as well as flexible / remote options</li> <li>Flexible and hybrid work environment that values work-life balance</li> <li>Generous vacation policy on top of bank holidays </li> </ul> <h3>Benefits:</h3> <p>🌏 Global Benefit:</p> <ul> <li><strong>OpenUp – Mental Wellbeing Support:</strong> Free, confidential access to psychologists, group sessions, and mindfulness tools for you and your family.</li> </ul> <p>🇩🇪 Germany (choose one option)</p> <ul> <li><strong>Urban Sports Club:</strong> Flexible fitness membership with access to gyms, classes, and wellness activities.</li> <li><strong>Probonio Vouchers: </strong>Monthly vouchers f