{"id":2533387,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ioco-test-automation-engineer-iii","title":"Test Automation Engineer III","company":{"id":57386,"name":"iOCO","domain":"ioco.tech","url":"https://alion.io/company/ioco","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Simplify","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":86,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.75,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":16,"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"QA","role_family":"QA","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Stellenbosch, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Appium","optional":false},{"name":"AWS","optional":false},{"name":"BrowserStack","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"HarmonyOS","optional":false},{"name":"Shift-Left","optional":false},{"name":"Shift-Left Security","optional":false},{"name":"WebDriverIO","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-14T13:34:17Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-14","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T15:59:29Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"To serve as a senior technical specialist in test automation, architecting and driving the implementation of scalable, enterprise-grade automation solutions across multiple product lines and complex systems.\nTo define automation strategy and standards, evaluate and introduce cutting-edge tools and frameworks and act as the technical authority on automation best practices, mentoring and developing automation engineers across the team, ensuring consistent quality and technical excellence in all automation deliverables.\nWhat you'll do:\n1. Automation Architecture and StrategyArchitect and design enterprise-level test automation frameworks that are scalable, maintainable, and reusable across product lines\nDefine and drive the automation strategy in alignment with organisational goals and technology roadmaps\nEvaluate, recommend, and implement new automation tools, technologies, and methodologies\nEvaluate and define the mobile app automation toolchain (e.g. Appium, WebdriverIO, cloud device farms such as BrowserStack) as part of the overall automation strategy, ensuring native/mobile testing is architected with the same rigor as web/API automation\nEstablish coding standards, design patterns, and best practices for all automation development\nDrive the adoption of shift-left testing practices and integration of automation into CI/CD pipelines\nConduct proof-of-concepts for emerging automation technologies and present findings to leadership\n\n2. Advanced Automation Development and OptimisationDevelop and maintain complex automation solutions for critical business systems\nOptimise existing automation frameworks for performance, reliability, and execution speed\nImplement advanced testing patterns: parallel execution, containerised testing, cloud-based test infrastructure\nDesign and implement comprehensive API and service-level automation testing strategies\nArchitect and maintain native mobile app automation solutions across iOS and Android using Appium-based frameworks integrated with WebdriverIO, including cross-platform device/gesture handling and app-specific quirks (deep links, biometrics, OTP/push flows, app state resets)\nDesign and manage cloud-based device testing strategy (e.g. BrowserStack device farms), including parallel multi-device execution, device/OS coverage matrices, and real-device vs. simulator/emulator trade-offs\nDrive test data management strategies and implement automated data provisioning\nEnsure automation solutions integrate seamlessly with version control, CI/CD, and reporting tools\nConduct code reviews of automation scripts ensuring quality and adherence to standards\n\n3. Quality Metrics and ReportingDefine, implement and track automation coverage metrics and KPIs\nDevelop automated reporting dashboards for test execution, coverage and defect trends\nAnalyse test results to identify systemic quality issues and recommend preventive measures\nReport on automation ROI and efficiency gains to senior stakeholders\nDrive continuous improvement through data-driven decision making\n\n4. Technical Leadership and MentorshipServe as the technical authority and escalation point for complex automation challenges\nMentor and develop Level I and Level II automation engineers\nConduct technical training sessions and knowledge-sharing workshops\nParticipate in hiring and technical assessment of automation candidates\nCollaborate with development leads and architects on testability requirements\nRepresent the automation function in cross-team technical forums and architecture reviews\n\n5. Defect Prevention and Process ExcellenceDrive defect prevention strategies through root cause analysis and trend identification\nImplement automated quality gates in CI/CD pipelines\nDefine and enforce test automation standards across teams\nCollaborate with development teams on improving software testability and quality\nLead post-mortem analysis of production defects that escaped automation\nPerform manual testing when required\n\nQualifications:Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field plus Test Automation Certification\nRelevant certifications such as AWS and DevOps Certification\n Your Expertise:5-8 years' hands-on experience in automation testing, including designing and implementing automation frameworks at scale\nExperience developing advanced automated test solutions across complex systems\nExperience architecting and scaling native mobile app automation frameworks (Appium, WebdriverIO) across iOS and Android, including cloud device farm strategy (e.g. BrowserStack)\nAdvanced analytical skills\nCommunication skills (technical and non-technical audiences)\nExperience working with data-driven and integrated systems, including databases and event-driven environments\nInterpersonal and relationship management skills\nExperience implementing and optimising CI/CD pipelines and automated testing within delivery workflows\nNumerical reasoning skills\nExperience with API and service-level testing in distributed architectures\nAdvanced problem-solving skills\nExperience designing and executing non-functional testing (e.g. performance, resilience)\nCoaching and mentoring skills\nExperience managing and provisioning test data in complex environments and working within cloud-based and containerised environments\nNegotiation skills\nExperience mentoring and developing automation engineers\nStrategic thinking\nTechnical leadership\nAdvanced knowledge of automation frameworks, patterns, and scalable design practices\nStrong understanding of programming/scripting concepts for test automation\nKnowledge of mobile app testing considerations: platform fragmentation (iOS/Android/Harmony OS), device/OS version coverage, native app lifecycle and permissions, and mobile CI/CD app build/distribution pipelines\nDeep understanding of data management, database concepts, and validation techniques\nStrong knowledge of system integration, APIs, and event-driven architectures\nKnowledge of cloud platforms and distributed system design principles\nUnderstanding of CI/CD practices and DevOps principles\nKnowledge of performance, load, and non-functional testing concepts\nUnderstanding of test data strategies and environment management\nKnowledge of quality engineering principles, standards, and best practices\nOther information applicable to the opportunity:\n\nContract position\nLocation: Stellenbosch\nWhy work for us?\nWant to work for an organization that solves complex real-world problems with innovative software solutions? At iOCO, we believe anything is possible with modern technology, software, and development expertise. We are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovative solutions across multiple industries using an array of technologies.?\nYou will be part of a consultancy, working with some of the most knowledgeable minds in the industry on interesting solutions across different business domains.?\nOur culture of continuous learning will ensure that you will have all the opportunities, tools, and support to hone and grow your craft.?\nBy joining IOCO you will have an open invitation to developer inspiring forums. A place where you will be able to connect and learn from and with your peers by sharing ideas, experiences, practices, and solutions.?\niOCO is an equal opportunity employer with an obligation to achieve its own unique EE objectives in the context of Employment Equity targets. Therefore, our employment strategy gives primary preference to previously disadvantaged individuals or groups","description_format":"text","description_chars":7483,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Continuous learning","Equity"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["IT Consulting & Digital Transformation","Managed IT Services (MSP)","Custom Software Development"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-14T13:34:17Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":16,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ioco-test-automation-engineer-iii","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ioco-test-automation-engineer-iii.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-15T17:06:00Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25848,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-16T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":57386},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=57386"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fioco-test-automation-engineer-iii"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fioco-test-automation-engineer-iii"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fioco-test-automation-engineer-iii"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ioco-test-automation-engineer-iii\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fioco-test-automation-engineer-iii"}]}