IT Automation and Quality Engineer II - Remote Opportunity!

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with theGallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether it's KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crème de la Crème, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping it-in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, you'll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we're all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.

KinderCare's Quality Engineering team is seeking an IT Automation and Quality Engineer II to advance quality initiatives across a diverse product portfolio. In a fast-paced Agile environment, this role supports successful sprint delivery through effective testing, automation, and quality assurance practices. You will design, develop, and execute manual and automated tests for web applications, APIs, and backend systems while supporting CI/CD and release activities. The position requires a strong focus on risk-based testing, automation scalability, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to improve product quality, reliability, and user experience.

Responsibilities:

• Align Quality Engineering (QE) initiatives with business and technology objectives by developing test strategies, risk-based test plans, and quality metrics that support successful product delivery

• Design, develop, execute, and maintain manual and automated tests for UI, API, functional, regression, smoke, and integration testing, ensuring comprehensive test coverage across front-end and back-end applications

• Build, enhance, and maintain scalable automation frameworks, reusable test suites, and Gherkin feature files; integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to improve delivery speed, reliability, and quality

• Analyze test results, investigate failures, document and prioritize defects, and collaborate with engineering teams to drive timely resolution and continuous quality improvements

• Support software releases by performing validation, issue triage, and post-release verification while proactively identifying delivery risks and partnering with cross-functional teams to implement mitigation strategies

• Collaborate with developers, product owners, and stakeholders throughout the Agile software development lifecycle by participating in sprint planning, test reviews, retrospectives, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure high-quality, customer-focused solutions

• Bachelor's in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field preferred; experience testing content-managed (CMS-driven) websites is a plus

• 4+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, including manual and automated testing across web applications, APIs, and enterprise software in Agile development environments

• Proficiency in Java, C#, JavaScript, or similar programming/scripting languages, with experience developing, maintaining, and optimizing automated test frameworks and reusable test suites

• Hands-on experience designing and executing UI, API, functional, regression, smoke, and integration test automation, with working knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, Git/Bitbucket, branching strategies, and pull request workflows

• Strong understanding of SQL and relational databases (e.g., SQL Server), with the ability to validate data integrity, perform backend testing, and troubleshoot complex application issues

• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to manage testing activities, prioritize defects, assess risk, and deliver high-quality results within Agile sprint timelines