Senior Software IV/QA Engineer_Test Automation

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible. Who we are: You just found your job destination! At Thales Alenia Space , we believe in space as a new horizon to build a more sustainable life on Earth. Space-based solutions contribute to connecting people, bridging the digital divide, navigating efficiently, and monitoring our planet. If you are willing to work on exciting space programs for a leading satellite manufacturer, Thales Alenia Space, do not hesitate and apply online now! Based in Belval (Esch-sur-Alzette), Thales Alenia Space in Luxembourg is a Digital Competence Centre developing state-of-the-art digital solutions using big data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity technologies to address complex end-to-end space system challenges. What we can do together: We are looking for an experienced Test Automation Expert to join our engineering team and contribute to improving software quality, delivery efficiency, and confidence in software releases. You will act as a technical reference for test automation across software applications, services, platforms, and edge computing solutions. You will guide engineering teams in defining effective automation strategies, selecting appropriate tools and frameworks, and implementing scalable and maintainable automated test solutions. The role covers a wide range of software systems, including web applications, backend services, APIs, distributed systems, cloud-native platforms, ground segment solutions, and software deployed in constrained or edge environments. You will combine hands-on technical expertise with coaching and continuous improvement activities, helping teams increase automated test coverage, reduce repetitive manual testing, detect defects earlier, and integrate quality practices throughout the software development lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in software testing and automation, with the ability to design automation strategies, implement frameworks, analyze complex failures, and promote a strong quality culture across engineering teams. Your responsibilities will include: Act as a technical reference for test automation and provide guidance to engineering teams on automation practices and quality approaches. Define test automation strategies aligned with system requirements, quality objectives, technical risks, delivery constraints, and operational needs. Analyze existing testing processes and identify opportunities to automate relevant scenarios, improve test coverage, reduce feedback cycles, and increase delivery efficiency. Design, develop, and maintain automated test solutions for web applications, backend services, APIs, distributed systems, and cloud-native or edge computing platforms. Define test execution strategies across development, integration, validation, staging, and production-like environments. Support the creation and management of representative test environments, test data, mocks, and simulators. Collaborate with software architects and engineering teams to improve system testability, observability, interface stability, and overall product quality. Integrate automated verification activities, including relevant security checks, into the software delivery lifecycle in collaboration with cybersecurity specialists. Ensure automated tests are reliable, maintainable, traceable, and aligned with the overall verification and validation strategy. Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines to provide fast feedback on software quality, regressions, integration issues, and release readiness. Analyze test results, investigate failures, distinguish between product defects and test implementation issues, and support root cause analysis. Define and monitor test automation indicators, including coverage, reliability, execution time, defect detection, maintenance effort, and automation effectiveness. Promote consistent testing practices through documentation, workshops, demonstrations, technical guidance, and mentoring. Support project proposals, technical reviews, customer workshops, and quality assessments by providing test automation expertise. Evaluate emerging testing technologies and practices and assess their relevance, maturity, and applicability. Maintain clear documentation covering automation strategies, frameworks, test procedures, execution environments, tools, and results. About you: We are looking for an engineer with significant experience in software testing and test automation. You should have: Min.7 years of professional experience in software testing, including at least 4 years of hands-on experience in test automation. Proven experience defining and implementing automation strategies for complex software systems involving multiple components, interfaces, environments, and external dependencies. Strong understanding of software testing concepts, methodologies, test levels, test types, test design techniques, risk-based testing, and defect management. Experience designing and maintaining test automation frameworks rather than only creating individual automated test scripts. Experience automating tests for modern web applications using tools or frameworks such as Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, Robot Framework, or equivalent solutions. Experience testing APIs and services using tools or libraries such as Postman, REST-assured, Python-based frameworks, or equivalent technologies. Experience automating integration, system, regression, and end-to-end test scenarios across distributed software components. Experience with acceptance testing approaches such as Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD), Cucumber, Gherkin, Robot Framework, or equivalent frameworks. Understanding of performance and load testing concepts and tools such as JMeter, Gatling, k6, or equivalent solutions. Strong programming skills in Python for test development and automation. Experience with JavaScript or TypeScript for web test automation is highly valued. Ability to understand application code, interfaces, logs, and system behaviour in environments using technologies such as React, Go, Rust, and Python. Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD environments using GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or equivalent platforms. Good understanding of Git-based development workflows, code reviews, branching strategies, artefact management, and software release processes. Experience with containerized test environments using Docker and familiarity with Kubernetes-based environments. Experience working with SQL and NoSQL databases and preparing, querying, validating, and managing test data. Good understanding of HTTP, REST APIs, asynchronous communication, messaging systems, event-driven architectures, and distributed system behavior. Ability to perform root cause analysis on complex test failures and investigate issues across multiple system layers. Ability to assess automation return on investment and identify which scenarios should be automated, manually tested, or covered through alternative verification approaches. Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to audiences with different levels of technical expertise. Strong coaching and knowledge-sharing skills, with the ability to promote continuous learning and a strong testing culture. Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with software developers, architects, validation engineers, DevSecOps teams, product teams, and customers. Customer-oriented and results-driven mindset, balancing quality objectives, delivery constraints, and maintenance effort. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French. ISTQB certification or an equivalent recognized software testing qualification. Additional