Quality Assurance Specialist

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada .

full-time . September 18, 2026

Description

Quality Assurance Specialist - NEXIA

Location: Cambridge, Canada

Type: Full-Time

Who We Are

Since 1992, Powerhouse Controls has been on a mission to be recognized as a world-class, single-source drive and automation systems integration supplier.

We bring exceptional technical and engineering experience to the table, but what really sets us apart is an unsurpassed level of passion and commitment. We listen, question, collaborate, analyze and assess until we’re completely convinced that our recommendation is the best solution possible.

Powerhouse Controls is on the hunt for individuals who embody the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and integrity. We're not just seeking employees; we're searching for trailblazers who share our passion for shaping the future of control systems and automation. If you're fueled by the fire of creativity, if you're driven by a desire to collaborate with a diverse community of experts, and if your commitment to ethical excellence is unwavering, then you're exactly who we're looking for.

Position Overview

Ensuring the quality of our NEXIA software releases is essential to delivering reliable, high-performing solutions to our users. This role plays a pivotal part in safeguarding that standard by rigorously testing bug fixes, new features, and major initiatives—both manually and through automation. By developing regression test suites for critical system modules, this position helps prevent disruptions and ensure long-term stability. The creation of clear test documentation and UAT hand-off guides, empower cross-functional teams, and streamlines the release process. From shaping requirements to defining acceptance criteria and supporting final deployment, this role is deeply embedded in every phase of the software development lifecycle, making it a cornerstone of our product excellence.

Why Join Us?

You will be joining an amazing team with an awesome culture! Below are more perks to joining us!

• Health/Dental Benefits
• Increased Vacation
• Profit Sharing
• Birthdays off with pay
• Flexible work hours
• Fitness incentive
• Career development
• Social and Team building events
• Charitable donation matching
• RRSP/401K Matching
• AAA/CAA Basic membership coverage

Testing & Quality Assurance

• Test all existing and future NEXIA software, largely built on the .NET framework — creating and independently maintaining detailed test plans, cases, protocols, and procedures.
• Validate business logic and data integrity at the API and database level (e.g., REST/SOAP endpoints, SQL queries, data flow and ETL checks).
• Perform comprehensive manual testing of features and bug fixes with minimal oversight.
• Build and run automated regression tests for ongoing and new software projects.
• Troubleshoot automation software and performance issues.
• Plan and prioritize testing activities across releases.
• Review bug reports, highlight problem areas, and recommend solutions.
• Identify risks in testing and present alternatives to resolve them.
• Assist with ticket writing in the issue tracking system.

• Create and implement a new QA Automation framework — building this largely from the ground up rather than extending an existing one.
• Proactively recommend new features and improvements to optimize test automation and coverage.
• Create and maintain system metrics to track test results.

• Understand the intricacies, relationships, and dependencies of NEXIA systems to test the applications effectively.
• Identify and raise risks or gaps early — in the software and in our own testing process, coverage, or documentation — and drive them to resolution, comfortable operating where a defined playbook doesn't yet exist.
• Work alongside Implementation and Development teams, contributing a field-ready perspective to architecture reviews and technically sound solutions

• Collaborate with the development team, business analysts, and project managers.
• Communicate with managers, project sponsors, and users on the status of projects, features, tests, and issues.
• Work in an Agile environment and participate in daily stand-ups.

What You Bring

MUST-HAVE

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering or equivalent and/or related work experience
• 3+ years of experience in software quality assurance, with a focus on backend/integration testing (API and database layers) alongside manual and automated UI testing.
• Demonstrated experience writing test plans, test cases, and structured test documentation.
• Hands-on experience testing .NET-based applications.
• Strong experience with API testing (e.g., Postman, RestSharp, REST/SOAP) — validating functionality, data integrity, and integration points.
• Experience validating data at the database level (e.g., SQL queries, data validation, ETL testing).
• Experience with at least one test automation tool/framework (e.g., Selenium, Playwright).
• Experience using issue tracking / test management tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps).
• Comfortable operating in an Agile/Scrum environment, including daily stand-ups.
• Strong presentation and communication skills; able to work effectively across developers, engineers, business analysts, and end-users.
• Ability to apply logical/technical reasoning to define problems, gather data, and draw sound conclusions with limited supervision.
• Self-starter mindset — comfortable defining your own approach, working through ambiguity, and driving tasks forward with minimal day-to-day direction.
• Genuine interest in building deep product and domain knowledge — understanding how data flows through the business logic, not just executing scripts — and helping mature QA processes/tooling on a growing product.

• Experience with FT Optix, Ignition, Kepware, or NEXIA.
• Experience testing industrial protocols/interfaces such as Modbus, Profibus, MQTT etc.
• Experience deploying or supporting interoperability platforms, such as middleware or traffic control systems.
• Familiarity with MES, WMS, or ERP integrations.
• Experience testing products or software in the manufacturing or field-side industrial domain.
• Exposure to scripting (Python, JavaScript) for logic, data parsing, or UI/UX adjustments.

If you’re ready for Empowering industry through practical innovation and take on a pivotal role in a company that’s redefining industrial automation, we want to hear from you. Together, we can build a future were innovation and excellence drive success. Apply Today!

Powerhouse Controls is committed to providing a barrier-free interview process and accommodating applicants’ needs in accordance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Should you require accommodations during the process, please contact our recruitment team.