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Richard Kousal
Richard Kousal

About

QA Lead | AI-Driven QA Strategy | Test Automation & Performance Testing | Playwright | k6

I lead and help build modern QA teams that keep up with the rapid pace of software development and the rise of AI.

I focus on QA leadership, quality strategy, and AI-driven testing. I enjoy exploring ways to use agent-based approaches and automation to eliminate repetitive QA work and move quality as close as possible to the start of the development process — ideally already during client communication and solution design.

I see QA as a partner to product and engineering, not a final gatekeeper. Automation and AI should handle execution and routine validation, while QA focuses on risk, overall quality, and continuous improvement across teams and products.

Although I primarily work in a leadership role, I stay hands-on where it adds value. I work with Playwright and TypeScript/JavaScript, focus on performance and load testing using k6, and have experience with CI/CD, DevOps practices, and Azure cloud environments. This allows me to connect QA strategy with real-world implementation and ensure that it does not remain just on paper, but actually works in practice.

I believe strong QA is built on clear ownership, trust within teams, data-driven decisions, and smart use of automation and AI.

Open to collaboration and knowledge sharing

Work

Experience

  1. – now

    QA & Test Automation Lead

    Etnetera Core · Prague, Czechia

    Leading QA across projects at Etnetera Core, with responsibility for QA strategy, quality standards, test automation direction, and the development of performance testing practices.

    Alongside building scalable QA processes, mentoring QA engineers, and aligning quality with product and engineering goals, I am increasingly focused on how AI can fundamentally reshape the role of QA within a modern software development lifecycle.

    My goal is not simply to automate individual testing tasks, but to move QA toward an AI-native model where the tester mindset — critical thinking, risk discovery, dealing with uncertainty, and the ability to challenge systems — becomes the foundation for orchestrating and directing AI agents.

    In this model, AI increasingly takes over routine and repeatable activities, while QA engineers evolve into roles focused on defining strategy, context, risks, quality boundaries, and validation principles — using AI as an execution layer capable of autonomously handling a significant share of testing work.

    I see this as the future of QA: less time spent manually executing routine tasks, and more focus on quality as a system, where human testers use their mindset and judgment to guide intelligent, autonomous agents across the entire SDLC.

  2. – now

    QA Engineer

    Etnetera Core · Prague, Czechia

    Designing and developing automations for new and existing projects using Playwright, with the goal of streamlining processes and accelerating delivery.

  3. –

    QA Team Lead / Test Engineer

    DODO · Czechia

    • Team Leadership: Overseeing team performance and workload.
    • Test Automation: Designing and maintaining automated tests for critical scenarios.
    • Assessment and Quality Improvement: Evaluating results and proposing quality enhancements.
    • Documentation: Ensuring proper test documentation.
    • First Level Support (L1): Providing initial user support and resolving issues.
    • Swift Incident Response: Responding to user incidents to minimize service interruptions.
    • Stakeholder Communication: Collaborating with clients and stakeholders for effective communication.

    This role also includes leadership in ensuring successful releases, along with QA and testing responsibilities.

  4. –

    QA Tester

    DODO · Prague, Czechia

    • Testing Scenarios Optimization: Updating and optimizing testing scenarios for efficiency.
    • Process Improvement: Enhancing quality through process review and optimization.
    • BE and FE Testing: Specializing in testing application's BE and FE for same-day and next-day logistics.
    • Diverse Testing: Active involvement in diverse testing types, including integration and end-to-end (E2E) testing.
    • Mobile Testing: Conducting comprehensive testing of hybrid (native & web) mobile apps on various devices.
    • Payment Gateway Testing: Ensuring smooth and reliable payments through the testing of payment functionality.
    • Team Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in knowledge and skill sharing within the team to address complex testing challenges and achieve outstanding results.
  5. –

    Customer Support PL/ENG

    Nokian Tyres plc · Prague, Czechia

    • Customer Support: Handling inquiries, complaints, and claims via phone, email, and chat.
    • Product Expertise: Providing technical product information to aid customers in tire selection.
    • Order Management: Processing and monitoring customer orders, coordinating with logistics.
    • Issue Resolution: Managing complaints and exchanges following company policies.
  6. –

    Sales Manager

    ConQuest entertainment a.s. · Prague, Czechia

    • Business Development: Identifying opportunities, securing clients, and driving growth for Nintendo products.
    • Customer Engagement: Building and maintaining retail partner relationships and customizing offerings.
    • Event Management: Planning and executing events, coordinating marketing.
    • Product Translations: Translating product information into Polish for a broader audience.
  7. –

    Managing Director

    ForHandicap s.r.o.

    • Leading and managing operations for distribution of active wheelchairs in the Czech Republic.
    • Specialized in sales of active wheelchairs, with a primary focus on communicating with health insurance companies, foundations and customers.

Education

2008 → 2012

STŘEDNÍ ŠKOLA, Lomnice nad Popelkou, příspěvková organizace

Secondary school, completed with the Maturita exam

Activities

  • Editor at Kulíšek, an internet radio station in the Krkonoše region
  • Member of the school catering committee

Languages

Czech
Native or bilingual proficiency
Polish
Native or bilingual proficiency
English
Limited working proficiency

Certifications

Skills

QA & strategy

  • QA Strategy
  • Test Strategy
  • Test Automation Strategy
  • Quality Transformation
  • Continuous Quality / Shift-Left Testing
  • Risk Management
  • Test Planning
  • Software Quality Assurance
  • User Acceptance Testing
  • Assessment and Quality Improvement

Automation & tools

  • Playwright
  • TypeScript / JavaScript
  • k6 Load Testing
  • Performance Testing
  • Test Automation
  • Test Development
  • Cypress
  • Selenium
  • API Testing
  • Backend and Frontend Testing
  • Mobile Testing
  • Payment Gateway Testing
  • CI/CD
  • DevOps

AI

  • AI in Software Testing
  • AI Agents
  • Claude Code
  • GitHub Copilot

Leadership

  • QA Leadership
  • Team Leadership
  • Mentoring
  • Knowledge Sharing
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Agile Methodologies
  • Planning and Coordination
  • Team Collaboration

Other

  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Working Under Pressure
  • Self-learning
  • Communication Skills
  • Customer Communication
  • Customer Focus
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Sales and Business Development
  • Business Strategy
  • Strategic Planning
  • Event Planning and Management
  • Communication with Public Authorities
  • Healthcare and Technical Knowledge
  • Logistics Skills

How I work

Tools matter, but in the end it's about people. A happy team with room to grow ships a better product than a team with perfect processes and bad morale. So I don't just set up processes. Mostly I make sure the team is a good place to work.

Outside work

When I close the laptop

I work at a computer, but I clear my head outside. Mountains if I can, the sea if I can't. My best ideas still show up when I'm not thinking about work.

Where I recharge

Mountains

I'm happiest in the mountains. Getting to the top and having a view that was worth it. Or putting on touring skis before dawn and going up while the slopes are empty and quiet.

Water and running

On a boat, the sun wakes me up and the first thing I do is jump in the sea. Running in the woods is my kind of meditation. I switch off and answers to work problems just show up.

When there's time left

  • Bouldering
  • DIY
  • Cooking
  • Baking
  • Mountain hiking
Apartmány Iwona

Apartmány Iwona

www.apartmany-iwona.cz(opens in a new tab)

Our family guesthouse in the Krkonoše mountains. I handle pricing, bookings and messages with guests. When needed, maintenance and cleaning too, with eco products. I want people to actually rest here.