Role Overview for Engineering Manager (Automation)
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a pioneering force in the enterprise software solutions industry, a company renowned for its innovative approach to leveraging technology to solve complex business challenges. We are actively seeking a visionary and highly skilled Engineering Manager (Automation) to join their dynamic team. This pivotal role is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned leader to shape the future of automation within a forward-thinking organization, driving efficiency, quality, and speed across the entire software development lifecycle.
As the Engineering Manager (Automation), you will be at the forefront of defining, developing, and implementing the automation strategy that underpins our client’s commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and scalable products. This isn’t just a management role; it’s a chance to blend your deep technical expertise with your passion for leadership and mentorship. You will be responsible for building, guiding, and empowering a team of talented automation engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Your strategic vision will directly impact the speed of product releases, the robustness of their systems, and the overall developer experience. You will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including product management, development, quality assurance, and operations, ensuring that automation is seamlessly integrated from ideation to deployment. If you are a leader who thrives on challenges, possesses an unyielding commitment to quality through automation, and is eager to make a significant impact in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.
Key Responsibilities of Engineering Manager (Automation)
Strategic Leadership & Vision for Automation
Define, develop, and relentlessly execute a comprehensive, long-term automation strategy and roadmap that aligns with the organization’s business objectives and technological vision. Champion the adoption of cutting-edge automation principles and methodologies across the entire Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), ensuring that automation is a first-class citizen in every stage of product development.
Team Leadership, Mentorship & Development
Build, mentor, and grow a high-performing, engaged, and technically proficient team of automation engineers. Foster a psychologically safe environment conducive to continuous learning, knowledge sharing, innovation, and accountability. Conduct regular performance reviews, set clear and measurable objectives, facilitate career progression, and provide constructive feedback to cultivate a culture of excellence and personal growth.
Automation Framework & Infrastructure Architecture
Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of scalable, robust, and maintainable automation frameworks for various testing types, including unit, integration, functional, end-to-end, performance, and security testing. Oversee the development of resilient automation infrastructure that supports diverse application landscapes and technology stacks, ensuring high availability and efficiency.
CI/CD Pipeline Optimization & Management
Drive the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of efficient and reliable Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. Focus on reducing lead times, enhancing deployment frequency, minimizing failure rates, and accelerating time-to-market while ensuring stringent quality gates and security checks are integrated throughout the pipeline.
Technology & Tooling Evaluation & Selection
Proactively evaluate, recommend, and integrate best-in-class automation tools, technologies, and platforms (e.g., test automation tools, cloud services, container orchestration, monitoring solutions). Stay abreast of emerging industry trends, research new tools, and assess their potential to enhance the organization’s automation capabilities and overall engineering efficiency.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Integration
Partner closely with product management, development, quality assurance, and operations teams to embed automation early in the development lifecycle. Ensure that automation efforts are tightly integrated with overall product goals, quality standards, and release schedules, fostering a seamless and collaborative development ecosystem.
Metrics, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
Establish, monitor, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) for automation effectiveness, quality gates, release velocity, and system reliability. Utilize data-driven insights to identify bottlenecks, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and demonstrate the tangible return on investment (ROI) of automation efforts to stakeholders.
Innovation & Emerging Technologies Adoption
Champion the exploration, prototyping, and strategic adoption of emerging technologies to further elevate automation capabilities. This includes leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for intelligent test generation, predictive analytics for defect prevention, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) where applicable, and advanced observability tools to enhance system understanding and proactive issue resolution.
Risk Management & Quality Assurance Governance
Implement robust strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to software quality, release processes, and system stability. Ensure compliance with industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies through automated checks and comprehensive quality assurance governance frameworks.
Requirements for the Engineering Manager (Automation)
Extensive Professional Experience
A minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, with at least 4+ years specifically in a leadership or management role overseeing automation, quality engineering, or DevOps teams in a fast-paced, high-tech environment.
Profound Technical Acumen & Hands-On Expertise
- Programming Languages: Demonstrated proficiency and deep practical experience in one or more modern programming languages such as Python, Java, C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, or Ruby. Ability to write clean, efficient, and maintainable code.
Automation Frameworks
Extensive, hands-on experience designing, developing, and implementing robust test automation frameworks using industry-leading tools like Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, Appium, or similar. Solid understanding of unit testing frameworks such as JUnit, Pytest, NUnit, or Mocha/Jest.
CI/CD Tools & Methodologies
Deep practical experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) platforms such as Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps, CircleCI, or Travis CI. Strong understanding of modern DevOps best practices and principles.
Cloud Platforms
Strong understanding and practical experience with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including services related to compute (EC2, Azure VMs, GCE), storage (S3, Blob Storage, GCS), networking (VPCs, VNETs), serverless technologies (Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Functions), and managed databases.
Containerization & Orchestration
Expertise with Docker for containerizing applications and Kubernetes for orchestrating and managing containerized workloads at scale. Experience with Helm charts is a plus.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Hands-on experience with Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Chef, or Puppet for automating infrastructure provisioning, configuration management, and deployment.
Version Control Systems
Mastery of Git and collaborative development workflows (e.g., GitFlow, Trunk-Based Development).
API Automation
Proven experience in automating testing for RESTful and GraphQL APIs, utilizing tools like Postman, ReadyAPI, or custom-built frameworks.
Performance Testing
Familiarity with performance testing tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, or k6, and an understanding of performance bottlenecks and optimization strategies.
Exceptional Leadership & Management Skills
-
- Proven ability to build, mentor, coach, and lead high-performing, cross-functional engineering teams to achieve ambitious goals.
- Outstanding communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and advanced problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated experience managing project timelines, allocating resources effectively, and overseeing budgets within an agile environment.
- A proactive, results-oriented mindset with a strong bias for action and continuous improvement.
Methodologies & Principles
Solid understanding and practical application of Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) and a deep commitment to DevOps principles.
Educational Background
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
Bonus Qualifications
Experience with security testing automation, chaos engineering, machine learning applications in testing, or leading distributed/remote teams.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client believes in fostering a supportive and rewarding environment for their employees. As an Engineering Manager (Automation), you will be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth, personal well-being, and financial security:
Competitive Compensation
An attractive salary package commensurate with your experience and a performance-based bonus structure that rewards significant contributions.
Health & Wellness
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your family, ensuring access to top-tier healthcare.
Generous Paid Time Off
Ample paid time off (PTO), company holidays, and sick leave to ensure a healthy work-life balance.
Retirement Planning
A robust 401(k) retirement plan with significant company matching contributions to help you build your financial future.
Professional Development
Dedicated budget and opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, industry certifications, and attendance at conferences to keep your skills sharp and current.
Flexible Work Environment
Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options, to accommodate diverse needs and promote productivity.
Dynamic Culture
Be part of a dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative company culture that values innovation, creativity, and mutual respect.
Cutting-Edge Technology
Work with the latest technologies, tools, and platforms, providing an exciting environment for technical exploration and mastery.
Impactful Work
The opportunity to make a significant impact on product quality, release efficiency, and overall engineering excellence.
Employee Assistance Programs
Access to wellness initiatives and assistance programs to support your holistic well-being.
Team Events
Regular team-building events, social gatherings, and company-wide celebrations.
How to Apply
Are you ready to lead the charge in automation and elevate the engineering capabilities of a leading tech innovator? If you possess the strategic vision, technical prowess, and leadership acumen to excel in this challenging yet rewarding role, JRG Partners invites you to take the next step.
To apply for the Engineering Manager (Automation) position, please submit your detailed resume and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are the ideal candidate for this role. We are excited to learn more about your contributions to automation excellence.
Explore more about our specialized recruitment services and other exciting opportunities in technology and engineering by visiting our Technology & Engineering Recruitment practice area page. JRG Partners is committed to connecting top talent with exceptional opportunities.
