SDET Automation Engineer

job summary:
We are seeking a highly experienced and technically proficient SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) Automation Engineer to join our team at a prominent Randstad client in the DC area. The ideal candidate will have over a decade of hands-on experience in designing, building, and maintaining robust automation frameworks for a wide range of applications, including web, mobile (iOS/Android), and API services.

This senior-level role requires a deep understanding of advanced Java concepts, integration with CI/CD pipelines and cloud infrastructure, and a passion for promoting a "shift-left" testing culture. The successful candidate will not only write and execute automation scripts but also act as a technical leader, mentoring other engineers, defining best practices, and collaborating closely with Dev Ops, SRE, and development teams to ensure software quality and reliability.

location:
Washington, Washington, D.C.
job type:
Contract
salary: $45 - 55 per hour
work hours: 9am to 5pm
education:
Bachelors

responsibilities:

• Create, maintain, and evaluate software automation test scripts for both UI and API, incorporating dynamic test data to ensure comprehensive test coverage.
• Provide training and guidance on automation test concepts and best practices to other team members.
• Gather and validate application requirements, including functional, performance, and load testing needs.
• Develop and maintain test plans and test cases, and manage defect reporting and tracking within JIRA.
• Execute manual and automated software testing for installation, functional, performance, load, integration, and regression testing as required.
• Document process improvements related to test automation and generate detailed test execution reports.
• Coordinate and prioritize test development activities while working with multiple development teams and software projects.
• Collaborate with Dev Ops, SRE, and engineering teams to integrate AI insights and automation into CI/CD pipelines.
• Champion "shift-left" testing practices by sharing automation expertise with development teams.

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in Automation Testing using Selenium, Cucumber, TestNG, Appium, or Webdriver IO. Previous experience with Amtrak is highly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Java, including multi-threading, POJO, and JS scripting.
• Extensive experience in building and enhancing automation frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with mobile automation testing (Android/iOS/AVD/Xcode/XCUITest/XCTest) using Appium for native and hybrid apps.
• Expertise in API automation with Rest Assured framework, including JSON/GSON objects and various HTTP protocols (GET/PUT/POST/DELETE).
• Working knowledge of integrating automation pipelines with cloud infrastructure (AWS) for automated file management.
• Experience with custom reporting tools such as HTML-based reports, BDD reports, Kibana, or other dynamic reporting solutions.
• Proficiency in web-based mobile testing, ADA testing, and PCI vulnerability testing.
• Experience in testing Mainframe applications and working with AWS applications.
• Hands-on experience with Charles Proxy servers for debugging and analysis.
• Knowledge of integrating UI automation codes with API request/response structures.
• Familiarity with Git Hub Copilot and Codium (qodo) for test automation and CI/CD optimization.
• Experience with writing SQL queries and testing stored procedures.

• Automation Framework Expertise: The ability to design, build, and enhance robust test automation frameworks.
• Java Programming: Advanced proficiency in Java, including complex concepts like multi-threading and object-oriented design.
• Mobile Testing: Hands-on experience with native and hybrid mobile app testing on both iOS and Android platforms.
• API Automation: Expertise in automating tests for APIs using frameworks like Rest Assured.
• CI/CD Integration: Strong understanding and practical experience in integrating automation into continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.
• Cloud & Infrastructure Knowledge: Familiarity with cloud services (like AWS) and integrating automation pipelines with them.
• Mentorship & Leadership: The ability to train, guide, and mentor other engineers on automation best practices.
• Analytical Thinking: The skill to gather and validate requirements, and to debug and analyze complex application issues.
• Shift-Left Methodology: A proactive approach to promoting early and frequent testing within the development lifecycle.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The capacity to work effectively with various teams, including development, Dev Ops, and SRE.