Staff Engineer QA AI Automation

About Us

At Nextlane, we don’t just develop software solutions – we create the future of the automotive industry.

We are a company that combines advanced technology with a clear vision: simplifying and digitizing every step of the automotive customer journey, empowering manufacturers and dealerships to thrive in a constantly evolving market.

Our products sit at the operational core of the European automotive ecosystem. We support mission‑critical processes for manufacturers and dealer networks across multiple markets, where reliability, scalability, and disciplined engineering execution directly impact revenue, margins, and customer experience.

Nextlane is a European automotive SaaS group backed by private equity, operating a broad and complex product portfolio across Dealer Management Systems (DMS), CRM, platform capabilities, and cloud‑native solutions. We are in an active multi‑year transformation—modernizing our technology stack, simplifying a fragmented product landscape, strengthening CI/CD and cloud adoption, and building scalable, reusable product and platform capabilities.

Engineering plays a central role in this journey. Technical decisions directly influence cost‑to‑serve, delivery velocity, system reliability, and customer satisfaction. Success requires strong engineering foundations, quality‑driven execution, and alignment across Product and Engineering.

We believe in the value of every team member and in creating an environment where you can grow, innovate, and contribute to solutions with global impact.

So… What does it mean to be a #Nextlaner?

• Be part of a growth‑oriented culture.

• Collaborate with colleagues from all over the world.

• Believe in the power of ideas and the diversity of thought.

• Learn, grow, and contribute to projects that are transforming the automotive industry.

Your Responsibilities

As a key member of our Engineering organization, you will be responsible for:

Quality Strategy & Leadership

• Design and implement the overall QA automation and quality engineering strategy across the delivery lifecycle.

• Lead by example through hands-on contributions: framework design, test creation, AI‑assisted validation.

• Mentor and upskill QA engineers, driving maturity in automation and quality engineering.

• Influence across teams to align QA innovation with Product, Data, and DevOps initiatives.

• Define measurable KPIs to track automation adoption, quality coverage, and efficiency improvements.

AI‑Driven Test Acceleration

• Investigate and apply AI/ML tools for automated test generation, defect prediction, and self‑healing automation.

• Use generative AI and LLMs to optimize test coverage and design.

• Apply intelligent analytics to identify high‑risk areas, enhance prioritization, and eliminate redundancy.

• Partner with engineering teams to embed AI capabilities into CI/CD pipelines for smarter test orchestration.

Automation & Framework Evolution

• Build and maintain scalable test automation frameworks (API, UI, regression, integration, and data).

• Ensure automation best practices in version control, CI/CD integration, and environment management.

• Collaborate with development teams to ensure early and continuous testing.

• Continuously evolve frameworks to support new architectures and technologies.

What This Role Is Not

This is not a people‑management role.
You will not have direct reports.
The impact comes through technical excellence, collaboration, and influence—not line management.

What We're Looking For

Experience

• 8+ years in Quality Engineering, including 3+ years in a QA automation leadership or staff‑level role.

• Strong coding background (Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Java).

• Expertise with automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, REST‑Assured, or similar.

• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and cloud environments (AWS preferred).

• Hands‑on experience leveraging AI tools (LLMs, Copilot, or custom AI frameworks) to enhance QA processes.

• Strong mentoring and leadership capabilities across distributed teams.

• Excellent communication, analytical thinking, and problem‑solving skills.

• Familiarity with Agile/Scrum and modern DevOps practices.

Languages (Interview conducted in English)

• English: Fluent (primary working language).

• A second European language (French, Spanish…) is preferred.

Communication

Exceptional ability to:

• Explain complex topics clearly

• Build alignment through open dialogue

• Influence without authority

Technical Skills

• Test automation frameworks

• Programming skills

• CI/CD integration

• AI‑assisted QA tools

• Cloud environments (AWS)

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong ownership and accountability

• Structured, analytical mindset

• Ability to collaborate in diverse, distributed teams

• Passion for quality, automation, and continuous improvement

Our Recruitment Process

• 15‑minute introductory call with our Talent Acquisition Specialist.

• 45‑minute discussions with Engineering VP and Directors to evaluate alignment and technical match.

• Technical study presentation with real-case evaluation.

What We Offer:

We understand that flexibility and trust are essential for our teams. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• Remote Work: Up to 3 days a week!

• Work-life balance: We have flexible entrance and departure time.

• Summer schedule on Fridays: Start early your weekends!

• Referral Bonus: €1500 for every talent you refer (after 6 months).

• Flexible Remuneration: COBEE platform.

• ️ Private Medical Insurance: Adeslas.

• Continuous Learning: Access to our internal platform for continuous development.

• Vacation: 23 vacation days plus an intensive schedule in July and August.

• Teambuilding: Our afterworks and activities are memorable!

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

At Nextlane, we are committed to creating a space where everyone feels valued and respected. We firmly believe that diversity in experiences and backgrounds strengthens our culture and drives innovation.

• Support for people with disabilities. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know so we can provide the best possible experience.

• Equal opportunities for all: We welcome applications regardless of age, gender, origin, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Join Nextlane and become part of the technological revolution in the automotive industry.

Discover why we are a great place to develop your talent!