QA Lead - Remote

Phase 1 — MVP (Contractor)
- Continuous QA (dev integration) - Validate features immediately after they merge to the dev environment. Test core flows continuously during development, not in a batch at the end. Work closely with engineers while the change is still fresh in their head.
- Manual QA - Run functional and regression testing across web and mobile flows. Identify bugs and edge cases early — especially the ones a child or a non-technical parent would actually hit. Verify fixes quickly so engineers can keep moving.
- Task & delivery support - Push back when a task is unclear or untestable before work starts. Track bug lifecycle end to end (open → fix → retest → close). Coordinate closely with engineers during sprints; participate in planning and standups.
- Release & UAT validation - Push back when a task is unclear or untestable before work starts. Track bug lifecycle end to end (open → fix → retest → close). Coordinate closely with engineers during sprints; participate in planning and standups.

Phase 2 — Post-MVP (Full-time QA Lead)
- Automation-driven QA — design and build the automated test suite (API, end-to-end, regression). Decide what to automate, what to keep manual, and what is not worth testing at all.
- QA process ownership — define how bugs are tracked, how releases are gated, how UAT works, and how the team measures quality over time.
- QA leadership — as we grow, hire and mentor additional QA engineers. Set the bar and the culture for the function.
- Cross-functional voice — represent quality and the user experience in product and engineering conversations, not just defect counts.

Must-haves
- Solid QA experience on web and/or mobile applications shipped to real users.
- Strong understanding of QA inside the development lifecycle — you know how to test alongside engineers, not after them.
- Comfort working closely with a small engineering team in a fast-paced, high-change environment.
- Sharp eye for edge cases, broken UX, and bugs that automation will miss.
- Strong written communication — clear bug reports, clear test plans, clear retrospectives.
- Comfortable working remotely with a high degree of self-direction.
- Good English communication skills.

Good to have
- API testing experience (Postman, Insomnia, REST Client, or similar).
- Familiarity with CI/CD workflows — running tests in pipelines, gating merges, basic environment management.
- Exposure to automation tools such as Playwright, Cypress, Detox, or Appium. We do not expect you to be an SDET on day one — we expect you to grow into automation as the role evolves.
- Experience writing or maintaining test plans for safety-sensitive or compliance-bound products.
- Background in education, kids' products, or any consumer product with a high care-bar.

- Receive 100% salary from the onboarding date.
- Participate in company activities: Teambuilding, travel and other activities.
- Work with large and advanced systems, have the opportunity to develop comprehensive technology skills with complex problems, requiring high accuracy.