Principal QA Engineer- AI Testing (Chicago, IL)

Bunzl Distribution is seeking a Technical QA Manager with a strong data engineering mindset to lead quality across our Business-to-business (B2B) eCommerce and distribution platforms. In this role, you will build our Quality Assurance capability from the ground up — shifting from consultant-reliant testing to an AI-powered, developer-integrated, automation-first QA practice.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who can co-author unit tests, use GitHub Copilot Pro , implement AI-based testing tools, and drive performance and functional automation in a fast-paced environment. They will be embedded directly with the engineering team, participating in standups, sprint planning, and code reviews. Success in this role means taking ownership of quality at the source, writing tests alongside developers, introducing reusable QA libraries, and ensuring performance, stability, and scalability are never compromised. This is a role for someone who treats AI as a coding partner, builds tools to eliminate manual QA, and becomes a technical voice in shaping testable architectures.

This is a hybrid role out of our Chicago, IL (Morton Grove) office. Expectation is to be in the office 3-4 days per week.

Responsibilities:

• Define and implement a scalable test strategy and automation architecture across unit, API, UI, and performance layers.
• Collaborate with developers to design testable systems and write unit tests using TDD practices.
• Use AI tools like GitHub Copilot Pro , CodiumAI, or Diffblue to generate, refactor, and improve test coverage and assertions.
• Develop and maintain reusable test frameworks for both desktop and mobile applications.
• Execute performance and load testing using JMeter, k6, or AI-enhanced tools such as Tricentis NeoLoad, LoadNinja, or Predator.
• Analyze business and technical requirements to create and maintain test cases, test plans, and test reports.
• Build internal tools or libraries to reduce repetitive work and increase QA reusability and intelligence.
• Track and manage issues using bug tracking tools and report on test progress through weekly QA metrics.
• Lead QA efforts across multiple projects/releases concurrently, including integration with AS400 or ERP systems.
• Provide training and mentorship on testing best practices and AI/automation standards to other team members.
• Raise red flags early and provide strategic QA input into project risk, quality, and release readiness.

Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required
• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field 
• 8 years of QA or SDET (software development, engineer and test) experience with strong automation and coding skills
• Solid programming experience in JavaScript, Python, or Java (with knowledge of .NET a plus)
• Hands-on experience in TDD (test driven development), unit testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, JUnit, PyTest), and co-authoring tests with developers
• Experience with GitHub Copilot Pro , CodiumAI, or similar AI test coding assistants
• Test automation experience using Cypress, Playwright, Selenium/WebDriver, Postman, and RestAssured
• Experience in performance testing using JMeter, k6, or cloud-based/AI performance testing platforms
• Deep understanding of B2B eCommerce systems, distribution logic, and ERP integration (e.g., AS400)
• Strong familiarity with CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI)
• Knowledge of test data design, XML/JSON, and SQL for backend validation.

Preferred Skills:

• Built internal testing tools or reusable automation libraries
• Experience in AI/ML model validation or prompt testing
• Cloud-native testing exposure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Performance observability and root cause diagnostics

Bunzl Salary range for this role is $100,000- $130,000/year based on experience, education and location. 

The perks of being a Bunzl team member don’t stop at being part of a great team or being valued as our #1 asset. We offer a full range of benefits to help our employees take care of themselves and their families today, tomorrow and for the future.

• Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits effective the 1st day of the month after 30 days
• Paid Time Off - Vacation, Sick, Holidays and Personal Time
• 401K with generous company match
• Additional benefit information can be found on the Bunzl Careers home page under Benefits and Perks. 

Bunzl North America is a global leader in the Cleaning & Hygiene, Food Processing, Grocery, Health Care, Non‑Food Retail, and Safety industries. We have grown both organically and through acquisitions to exceed $10 billion in sales. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Bunzl operates more than 100 warehouses and serves all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean and Mexico. With more than 10,000 team members and over 400,000 supplies, Bunzl is recognized as a leading supplier across North America—and proudly certified as a Great Place to Work®. At Bunzl, you’ll find Unlimited Potential… Your Career - - Our Future!

Bunzl Distribution offers competitive salaries, a comfortable work environment, and a full range of benefits including a 401k with a company match.

Bunzl Distribution has a tradition of commitment to equal employment opportunity. It is the established policy to attract and retain the best qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex/gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status as provided by law.