
QA Engineer – Retail
VALR • South Africa
**Role & seniority: ** QA/Test Engineer (5+ years) in Retail; ownership of scalable, secure UI testing across web + mobile
**Stack/tools: ** Postman/Swagger (REST API testing); Selenium/Cypress/Playwright/TestCafe (automation); Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Python (scripting); JMeter/Gatling (performance/load); CI/CD with GitHub Actions; Git-based workflows; AI-augmented testing tools (for test creation/review/debugging); device/browser compatibility testing
**Top 3 responsibilities: **
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Test new features, enhancements, and bug fixes via exploratory, regression, integration, and E2E testing across web/mobile/backend with clear traceability
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Design and maintain automated regression frameworks and integrate test runs into CI/CD for repeatable releases
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Run performance/stress/load testing and support incident triage/on-call, contributing to root-cause analysis
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Must-have skills:
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5+ years functional + integration testing (fintech/crypto/payments/high-performance trading preferred)
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Strong automation and programming/scripting skills (Java/JS/TS/Python)
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REST API testing proficiency (Postman/Swagger or similar)
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Performance/load testing experience (JMeter/Gatling)
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QA/SDLC knowledge: defect lifecycle, risk-based testing, QA documentation/reporting
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Agile CI/CD experience and customer-facing web/mobile testing
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Ability to participate in 24/7 on-call rotation
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Responsible use of AI tools across testing li
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Full Description
About Us
- Founded in 2018, headquartered in Johannesburg, and backed by leading investors including Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures and Fidelity’s F-Prime Capital, VALR is a global crypto exchange offering a comprehensive suite of products—including Spot Trading, Spot Margin, Perpetual Futures, Staking, Lending, Borrowing, OTC services, VALR Invest, Crypto Bundles, and VALR Pay. Licensed by South Africa’s FSCA, with regulatory approval in Europe, VALR serves over 1.7 million registered users and 2,000 corporate and institutional clients worldwide. The exchange is dedicated to advancing a just financial future that upholds human dignity and the unity of mankind. For more information, visit valr.com.
Our Vision
- To establish VALR as a global institution that advances the economic life of human civilisation through a borderless, inclusive, and empowering financial ecosystem.
Our Mission
- To contribute towards a global financial system that upholds justice, fosters human dignity, and reflects the oneness of humanity, by serving the financial needs of individuals, communities, and institutions through innovative financial technologies.
Team Overview
This role sits within the Retail, taking ownership of delivering high-quality, scalable, and secure user interfaces across both our web and mobile platforms.
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in functional and integration software testing, preferably in fintech, crypto, payments, or high-performance trading environments.
- Some experience and a strong leaning towards using AI related tools and technologies to accelerate testing efforts.
- A strong drive to leverage AI tools extensively — from writing and reviewing code to debugging and architecture.
- Experience working in Agile software development teams with CI/CD and continuous deployment.
- Proficient in testing RESTful APIs using Postman, Swagger, or similar tools.
- Hands-on experience with automated testing tools such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, or TestCafe.
- Strong scripting or programming skills in Java, JavaScript/TypeScript, or Python.
- Experience with performance and load testing tools such as JMeter or Gatling.
- Solid understanding of QA methodologies, SDLC, defect lifecycle management, and risk-based testing.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and version control systems such as GitHub Actions.
- Experience testing customer-facing web and mobile applications.
- Strong analytical, debugging, documentation, and communication skills.
- Interest in crypto and blockchain technology with a commitment to staying up to date on security and industry developments.
- Willingness to participate in on-call rotations supporting 24/7 platform operations.
- Comfortable leveraging AI tools to improve test design, coverage, efficiency, and reporting.
In addition, the following functional competencies are required
*** End-to-End Testing:** Test across mobile, web, and backend layers with clear traceability to business requirements.
*** Exploratory Testing:** Proactively identify edge cases, UX gaps, and failure scenarios through scenario-based and risk-based approaches.
*** Automated Regression Testing:** Design, maintain, and improve automation frameworks to enable reliable and scalable regression coverage.
*** Performance & Load Testing:** Simulate high trading volumes, payment spikes, and extreme market volatility conditions.
*** Security Awareness:** Integrate security-conscious testing practices, including validation of authentication, authorisation, and data integrity controls.
*** AI-Augmented Testing:** Use AI tools responsibly to accelerate test creation, data generation, and defect analysis while maintaining human oversight.
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Test new features, enhancements, and bug fixes across web applications and mobile applications.
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Perform exploratory, regression, integration, and end-to-end testing to ensure product quality and system resilience.
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Design, develop, and maintain automated test cases and frameworks aligned with continuous delivery practices.
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Contribute automated tests to CI/CD pipelines to enable fast, reliable, and repeatable releases.
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Validate customer journeys, UX flows, device compatibility, and real-time trading interactions.
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Conduct performance, stress, and load testing to ensure the platform scales under high market volatility and transaction volumes.
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Collaborate closely with engineers, product managers, designers, and security teams to clarify requirements and define comprehensive test strategies.
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Produce clear, structured, and reusable test plans, test cases, and defect reports aligned with VALR’s internal QA standards.
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Monitor production releases, support incident triage, and contribute to root cause analysis during on-call rotations.
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Continuously improve QA processes, tooling, and automation coverage to enhance overall engineering velocity and product reliability.
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Innovative Work Environment
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Engage with the latest blockchain technologies and tools in a rapidly evolving industry.
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Work from anywhere with secure, stable internet connectivity, allowing you to create your ideal workspace.
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Career Development
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Benefit from an annual professional development allowance alongside scheduled company training sessions to keep you at the forefront of the crypto industry.
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Competitive Compensation
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Competitive salaries that align with industry standards.
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When you contribute to our success, you’ll be rewarded with discretionary bonuses, recognising your impact on VALR’s growth.
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Receive preferential Tier 5 trading fees on VALR, with no monthly trading volume required.
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Diversity and Inclusion
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A commitment to fostering a diverse workforce with initiatives that promote equity and belonging.
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Wellness
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Employees are encouraged to strive for coherent and wholesome lives, fulfilling their work, personal, social, physical and spiritual goals to the best of their abilities.
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Compliance with statutory leave required by individual countries, in addition to flexible leave options.
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Enjoy lunch on us when working from our Johannesburg Head Office, one of the ways we support wellbeing and connection in the workplace.
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Impact and Contribution
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At VALR, we believe in a financial system that recognises the oneness of humanity. Our mission is to break down financial barriers and promote universal values of courage, ethical integrity, and the intrinsic worth of every individual.
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Engage in initiatives that promote education and awareness about cryptocurrencies, ensuring that everyone has the tools and knowledge to participate in the evolving financial landscape.
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Dynamic Team Culture
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Open communication and teamwork across departments, fostering innovation and creativity.
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Enjoy social gatherings outside of work to strengthen team bonds and boost morale.
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Global Exposure
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Work with colleagues from around the world.
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Exposure to diverse perspectives and practices in the crypto space.
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Recognition and Rewards
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Regular acknowledgement of employee accomplishments, fostering a culture of appreciation and motivation.
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Join us for retreats that blend professional development with team bonding in inspiring locations.
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Tools for Success
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Receive a Mac laptop and a discretionary allowance to purchase all the extras needed for a productive home office—yours to keep after three years (terms and conditions apply).