Software Test Engineer

Role Overview Carl Zeiss IQS is a global leader in high precision machines and software for industrial quality control. Currently we are a building new team responsible for organizing and conducting testing process of our software ecosystem. We are looking for a highly skilled Software Test Engineer to take the lead in shaping and building a cutting-edge test infrastructure. As the first member of a new team, you will initially take on a broader range of responsibilities that include not only designing and implementing automated testing solutions but also overseeing aspects of test management and test execution. This is a unique opportunity to create and own the testing infrastructure, define testing strategies, and help build a strong, high-performing testing team from the ground up. Key Responsibilities: • Design & Develop Testing Infrastructure:• building and developing a modern test infrastructure and workflows for manual and automated testing, • automating our current manual testing processes, • creating and implementing comprehensive automated testing strategies for both software and hardware. • Test Strategy & Execution (Initial Phase): • defining the overall testing strategy and test plans, • collaboration with stakeholders and the software development team, • executing test cases, reporting defects, and tracking the progress of testing activities, • playing a key role in creating and managing test plans, coordinating activities, and ensuring all testing is aligned and executed according to the strategy, • reviewing and refining test cases and scripts. • Leadership & Team Building (Long-term): • assisting in interviewing candidates for the team; training and mentoring newly hired colleagues, • active role in defining team processes, best practices, and a strong testing culture within the team. • collaborating with other teams to refine test automation strategies and workflows as the team scales, • engaging with global teams to promote knowledge sharing and establish a consistent approach to testing across regions and projects. Skills & Qualifications: • Professional Experience:• 3-5 years of experience in Test Engineering, with a strong background in test automation and infrastructure design. • experience in manual testing and test case execution, • comfortable moving between different responsibilities (Test Engineering, Test Management, and Testing) when needed. • ability to take ownership of testing processes and build effective testing frameworks. • Technical Expertise: • hands-on experience in designing and implementing automated testing solutions (unit testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing). • Familiarity with test management tools, CI/CD pipelines, and the integration of automated tests into development workflows is highly desirable. • (Optional) experience with programming (C#/.NET or similar) for unit testing is a plus, and will help you integrate tests more effectively within the development cycle. • Soft Skills: • excellent communication skills, • leadership potential, with the ability to mentor and guide others as the team expands, • ability to work with software developers and other stakeholders, • Mentality: • problem-solving mindset, • detail-oriented and organized, • an exploratory mindset, seeking to improve testing methods, adopt new technologies, and streamline processes. • driven by the opportunity to shape a new team and help establish a culture of quality and continuous improvement in testing practices. We offer you:    • Diversity of tasks and modern equipment  • Flexible working hours  • Friendly work environment  • An individual development plan  • Parking space for employees  • Free technical training  • Participation in international projects