Lead Automation Tester (Java)

We are seeking a highly skilled **Lead Automation Tester in Java** to join our team. In this role, you will contribute to the quality and reliability of complex software systems. You will collaborate with cross\-functional teams to deliver robust solutions and support continuous improvement in testing practices.   **Responsibilities** * Design and implement comprehensive test plans, test cases, and regression suites for web, mobile, and backend platforms * Carry out multiple testing approaches, including functional, regression, integration, system, user acceptance, smoke, and sanity testing * Develop and enhance automation frameworks for Angular\-based frontend and Golang backend services * Expand and maintain automated test suites to ensure coverage of new and existing features * Build and refine regression and smoke test suites to maintain application stability * Assess API functionality using tools such as Postman, Swagger, or custom automation solutions * Evaluate backend processes, microservices, data flows, caching, and distributed system operations * Check database activities, including SQL/NoSQL schema updates, migrations, and data consistency * Partner with developers to replicate issues and determine root causes * Engage in design and architecture sessions to maximize testability * Help define quality standards and release criteria * Execute load, stress, scalability, and performance testing with tools like JMeter, Locust, Gatling, or K6 * Track logs and performance metrics using Datadog, Splunk, ELK, Prometheus, Grafana, CloudWatch, or GCP Stackdriver * Support the creation of robust CI/CD pipelines with automated quality checks * Prepare and update documentation for test plans and strategies * Champion QA best practices and foster ongoing improvements throughout the development lifecycle **Requirements** * Minimum 5 years of experience in automated testing * At least one year of experience leading and managing development teams * Deep knowledge of frontend and backend testing methodologies * Practical experience building test automation with Java * Strong skills in debugging, analysis, and problem resolution * Background in testing distributed systems, microservices, and event\-driven solutions * Effective verbal and written communication for team collaboration * Advanced English communication skills at B2 level or above **Nice to have** * Experience with Google Cloud Platform or other leading cloud providers such as AWS or Azure * Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, or similar containerized testing environments * Familiarity with contract testing tools like Pact or Hoverfly * Experience testing data pipelines, ETL processes, or machine learning and AI\-driven systems   **We offer** * International projects with top brands * Work with global teams of highly skilled, diverse peers * Healthcare benefits * Employee financial programs * Paid time off and sick leave * Upskilling, reskilling and certification courses * Unlimited access to the LinkedIn Learning library and 22,000\+ courses * Global career opportunities * Volunteer and community involvement opportunities * EPAM Employee Groups * Award\-winning culture recognized by Glassdoor, Newsweek and LinkedIn