Key Responsibilities

1. Automation Design & Development:

• Enhance, refactor, and maintain our Python-based test automation frameworks (primarily Robot Framework), focusing on OO design, modularity, and robust error handling.
• Implement API communication with test management tools (e.g., qTest) to track test runs and coverage metrics effectively.
• Ensure scalability, reusability, and maintainability of automation suites, with a mindset of continuous improvement.

2. Collaboration & Communication:

• Serve as a clear, concise communicator—both written and verbal—to summarize complex technical scenarios, highlight risks, and propose solutions.
• Work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to review requirements, ensure testability, and provide feedback on acceptance criteria.
• Write, refine, and review Jira tasks that follow the INVEST principles (Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable).
• Formulate effective prompts for AI-assisted test generation and code refactoring in a way that ensures accuracy rather than blind adoption of AI outputs.

3. Test Strategy & Planning:

• Develop, maintain, and prioritize test plans, test cases, and test data across multiple product lines and microservices.
• Leverage your knowledge of best QA practices (e.g., defect triage and prioritization, coverage analysis, metrics/KPIs) to drive meaningful quality improvements.
• Participate actively in code reviews for test scripts and related automation code.

4. Performance & Security Testing:

• Conduct performance testing using tools such as JMeter or k6 to detect and resolve bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with security teams to ensure security testing is integrated within CI/CD (e.g., scanning APIs and services).

5. CI/CD Integration:

• Implement and maintain automated pipelines (using Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions) to ensure timely and repeatable test execution.
• Optimize build/test workflows, logging, and reporting to create timely feedback loops for development teams.

6. Mortgage Domain & Regulatory Alignment (nice to have):

• Understand the broader mortgage domain to identify risk areas, compliance considerations, and effective test scenarios.
• Keep up-to-date on industry trends and regulations to ensure test coverage aligns with evolving needs.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced Python proficiency with demonstrated experience in OO design, debugging, refactoring, and test data management.
• Hands-on experience with Robot Framework or a similar test automation framework.
• Excellent communication skills—spoken, written, and interpersonal—including the ability to synthesize complex information, facilitate discussions, and craft concise Jira tasks.
• Proven success in QA SDET roles with a strong focus on test automation and continuous improvement.
• Experience designing and executing API tests (REST, SOAP, or GraphQL), plus comfortable using test management tools (e.g., qTest).
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions.
• Strong knowledge of defect management, test coverage strategies, and metrics/KPIs.
• Proficiency in version control systems (e.g., Git) and team-based development workflows (code reviews, pull requests, etc.).
• Experience with Jira (or similar work tracking tools) and an understanding of the INVEST principles for user stories and acceptance criteria.

Preferred Skills

• Mortgage industry experience or familiarity with heavily regulated domains.

• Knowledge of performance and security testing tools (JMeter, k6, OWASP).
• Experience with observability tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog) to monitor test execution and application performance.
• Expertise in containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) for test environment setup.
• Familiarity with cloud-based testing platforms and services (e.g., AWS Device Farm, Sauce Labs).
• Experience with BDD/TDD principles.