Junior QA Engineer (Manual Testing Focus) (US-based Company)

Work Arrangement: Fully remote, overlapping EST working hours.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, with core hours between 9 AM – 6 PM EST

Locations: Remote, open to candidates globally.

About Pearl Talent

Pearl works with the top 1% of candidates from around the world and connects them with the best startups in the US and EU. Our clients have raised over $5B in aggregate and are backed by companies like OpenAI, a16z, and Founders Fund. They’re looking for the sharpest, hungriest candidates who they can consistently promote and work with over many years. Candidates we’ve hired have been flown out to the US and EU to work with their clients, and even promoted to roles that match folks onshore in the US.

Hear why we exist, what we believe in, and who we’re building for: Watch here

Why Work with Us?

At Pearl, we’re not just another recruiting firm—we connect you with exceptional opportunities to work alongside visionary US and EU founders. Our focus is on placing you in roles where you can grow, make an impact, and build a long-term career. We believe in creating environments where your potential is recognized, your voice matters, and your success is tied to meaningful work—not short-term perks. Joining Pearl means stepping into opportunities that challenge you, support you, and set you up for lasting success.

About the Company

Our partner is a fast-growing SaaS event platform operating in a complex, high-impact industry. Backed by top-tier investors and trusted by leading enterprises, they are reshaping a traditional market through modern technology and smarter operations. The team combines startup agility with technical depth, offering an ambitious and collaborative environment where quality and innovation go hand in hand.

Role Overview

Our Partner Company is looking for its first dedicated QA Engineer to help ensure the quality and reliability of their platform that connects people through live events.

You’ll play a key role in testing new features, finding bugs, and maintaining consistent QA processes as we continue to scale. This is a hands-on, manual testing role (around 80% manual testing) with opportunities to grow into automation over time.

You’ll collaborate closely with product, design and engineering teams — working directly with the Head of Engineering — to test new features, write detailed bug reports, and establish QA best practices from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

• Participate in daily stand-ups and collaborate with product, design, and engineering to understand new features and define test plans.
• Execute manual web and mobile testing (React / React Native) across multiple environments and devices.
• Create detailed and consistent test plans and test cases for each new feature.
• Log and track bugs and issues using our ticketing system, following clear and reproducible steps.
• Contribute to the structure and documentation of QA processes as the company’s first QA hire.
• Collaborate with developers to clarify bugs and verify fixes in subsequent releases.
• Assist in basic API testing and learn about performance monitoring tools like Grafana.
• Gradually develop exposure to test automation frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium) as the team evolves.

Tech Environment

• Frontend: React, React Native, TypeScript
• Version control: GitHub
• CI/CD: CircleCI and GitHub Actions
• Monitoring: Grafana
• Ticketing & collaboration: Jira

Must-Have

• 1–2 years of experience in software quality assurance (manual testing, internships, or QA projects count).
• Strong attention to detail, curiosity, and a proactive mindset — someone who spots issues before they become problems.
• Excellent written communication in English (bug reports must be clear and professional).
• Comfortable working independently and owning testing outcomes with minimal supervision.
• Familiarity or interest in test automation tools such as Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium.
• Eager to learn about CI/CD pipelines, API testing, and performance testing.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience in fast-paced startup or product environments is a plus.

KPIs & Success Metrics

Within the first 3 months:

• You’re actively contributing to manual test plans and logging clear, reproducible bugs.
• You’re participating in daily stand-ups and helping improve testing coverage.

Within 6 months:

• You’ve helped stabilize QA processes and begun exploring automation for repetitive test cases.

Reporting Structure

You’ll report directly to the Head of Engineering and work closely with a team of five senior engineers/developers.

This is a great opportunity for a motivated QA professional to build foundational QA practices in a growing engineering organization.

Compensation Package

• Competitive Salary: Based on experience and skills
• Remote Work: Fully remote—work from anywhere
• Generous PTO: Ample paid time off to rest and recharge
• Direct Mentorship: Grow through guidance from international industry experts
• Learning & Development: Ongoing access to resources for professional growth
• Global Networking: Work and connect with professionals around the world
• Work-Life Balance: Flexible hours that support a healthy work-life balance

Our Recruitment Process

1. Application
2. Screening
3. Internal Top-grading Interview
4. Internal Assessments and Video Presentation
5. Client Interview
6. Client Technical Interview
7. Job Offer
8. Client Onboarding

Ready to Join Us?

If this role aligns with your skills and career goals, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now to take the next step in your journey with Pearl.