QA Engineer (EdTech product for US market)

About the Project
A school scheduling platform built by former educators who lived the problem firsthand. The school schedule is one of the most consequential decisions a district makes - it shapes how staff and students spend their time, what positions are needed, and how resources are allocated across schools. With AI-powered optimization and hands-on support, the platform helps school and district leaders build schedules that reflect their academic, staffing, and budget priorities - while saving hundreds of hours in the process.
Tech Stack: Python 3.11, pytest, pytest-asyncio, pytest-xdist, pytest-mock, httpx, Faker, Jest 30, React Testing Library, jest-axe, Docker, Docker Compose, GitHub Actions, Terraform, Terragrunt, AWS (ECS, Batch, EKS), Bandit, OWASP ZAP, k6, Locust, Playwright

Responsibilities:
Own and establish QA processes from the ground up — no existing framework in place, you'll define, introduce, and drive adoption yourself
Understand product objectives of the core scheduling application and translate those into comprehensive test plans that the team and automation can leverage. Ensure testing is inclusive of data flows from ingestion to database to optimization algorithm depending on priority/bandwidth
Conduct detailed exploratory testing and opportunistic testing on major features continuously
Establish and manage data fixtures for effective testing
Own the process of automating common tests and speeding up the QA cycle
Leverage AI to accelerate both testing efforts and the identification/correction of issues
Collaborate with engineering and product teams to integrate quality practices into the development lifecycle

Requirements
Technical Skills
4-5+ years of experience in quality assurance or software testing
Experience with test automation frameworks and tools
Ability to quickly learn new product areas and develop a strong, detailed understanding of the nuances of complex products to inform robust testing strategies
Strong understanding of software development lifecycles and quality assurance methodologies
Ability to design and implement effective test plans and data strategies
Strong communication and coordination skills: from understanding product/technology concerns, to proactively partnering with teammates on project goals and timelines, to providing effective feedback and updates on your areas of ownership.
Proactive in identifying process improvements and leveraging new technologies (like AI) to improve testing efficiency
Comfort operating in a fast-paced startup environment
Prior experience in EdTech is a plus

Experience & Soft Skills
Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
Upper-intermediate level of English proficiency (B2 or higher)
Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail

Soft skills that will be a plus
Proactivity: advocating for improvements to product quality, security, and performance.