Lead Software Developer in Test - QA

A leading financial services organization is investing heavily in modernizing its cloud-based technology platform and is seeking a Lead Software Engineer in Test (SDET) to drive the next generation of quality engineering. This is a highly visible role where you’ll lead the design and implementation of scalable automation frameworks, integrate AI-powered testing capabilities, and help establish engineering best practices across multiple development teams., * Architect and develop enterprise-wide automation frameworks for web, API, and backend applications

• Lead the technical direction of the QA Automation practice across multiple Agile engineering teams
• Build scalable Java-based automation solutions that improve software quality and release velocity
• Integrate AI-powered tools to accelerate test creation, maintenance, defect analysis, and regression testing
• Develop automated API, UI, integration, and end-to-end test suites
• Design cloud-native testing strategies supporting microservices and distributed applications
• Partner closely with Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Product Managers, and Architects throughout the SDLC
• Implement quality gates within CI/CD pipelines to support continuous delivery
• Improve test reliability, execution speed, reporting, and overall automation coverage
• Mentor engineers, perform code reviews, and establish automation engineering standards
• Evaluate emerging QA technologies and continuously improve engineering practices

Tech Breakdown

• 40% QA Automation & Test Framework Development
• 25% Java Software Engineering
• 20% Cloud, DevOps & CI/CD Integration
• 15% AI-Driven Test Engineering & Innovation

Daily Responsibilities

• 75% Hands-On Development & Automation Engineering
• 15% Technical Leadership & Mentorship
• 10% Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 8+ years of experience in Software Quality Engineering, QA Automation, or Software Development in Test (SDET)
• 3+ years leading automation initiatives or serving as a technical lead
• Expert-level Java programming skills
• Experience building automation frameworks from scratch using Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or similar technologies
• Strong API automation experience using REST Assured, Postman, or equivalent tools
• Experience testing cloud-native applications within AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, design patterns, and object-oriented programming
• Experience with Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or similar DevOps platforms
• Strong SQL skills and experience validating relational databases
• Excellent communication and leadership skills

Desired Skills & Experience

• Financial services, banking, fintech, asset management, or capital markets experience
• Experience with AI-assisted testing tools including GitHub Copilot, Claude, OpenAI APIs, or AI-powered test generation platforms
• Experience building automated regression, integration, performance, and end-to-end test suites
• Experience with containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes
• Familiarity with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or event-driven architectures
• Experience with test data management and service virtualization
• Knowledge of performance testing tools such as JMeter, Gatling, or k6
• Experience mentoring QA engineers and developers on automation best practices
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future. No sponsorship is available for this position.

The Offer You will receive the following benefits:

• Competitive base salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off and company holidays
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development and certification reimbursement
• Opportunity to help define the future of AI-enabled software quality engineering within a leading financial services organization