Lead SDET

Role: SDET Lead

Location: Mexico (Remote)

Primary Focus: Test Automation, Quality Engineering, Automation Frameworks and Enterprise Application Testing

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced to drive quality engineering initiatives, design scalable automation frameworks, and lead end-to-end testing strategies for complex enterprise applications.

The ideal candidate will bring strong hands-on expertise in automation development using Python/Java, Selenium, Playwright, Robot Framework along with experience in UI, API, database, integration, and SAP application testing.

This role requires a combination of technical knowledge , automation architecture, continuous integration, test strategy development, and cross-functional collaboration to improve testing efficiency, automation coverage, and release quality.

Key Responsibilities

1. Test Automation Architecture and Engineering

• Design, develop, implement, and maintain scalable, reusable test automation frameworks across enterprise applications.
• Develop automated test scripts for UI, API, database, and integration testing using Python/Java, Selenium, Playwright.
• Implement automation design patterns such as Page Object Model (POM) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
• Evaluate existing automation frameworks and identify opportunities to improve scalability, maintainability, execution efficiency, and reliability.
• Troubleshoot complex automation issues, debug test failures, and resolve technical challenges.

2. Test Strategy and Quality Engineering

• Define and execute comprehensive test strategies covering functional, integration, regression, smoke, sanity, and end-to-end testing.
• Develop risk-based testing approaches to prioritize critical business workflows and optimize validation efforts.
• Assess application requirements, identify test scenarios, and establish appropriate automation coverage.
• Lead test planning, execution, defect analysis, and release-readiness assessments.
• Ensure test traceability and alignment with functional and nonfunctional requirements.

3. Enterprise Application and SAP Testing

• Design and execute automated validation for enterprise applications, including SAP desktop and SAP Fiori workflows.
• Validate business-critical application processes across UI, API, and database layers.
• Develop automation solutions for complex system integrations and cross-platform workflows.
• Collaborate with application teams to understand business processes, system dependencies, and testing requirements.

4. CI/CD and DevOps Integration

• Integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins and GitHub Actions.
• Enable automated regression execution as part of continuous integration and deployment processes.
• Implement version control and collaborative development practices using Git, GitHub, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps.
• Establish best practices for code reviews, branching strategies, repository management, and automation maintenance.
• Improve test execution reliability and reduce manual intervention through continuous automation.

5. Technical Leadership and Team Mentoring

• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to QA engineers and automation developers.
• Lead automation framework adoption and standardization across multiple teams.
• Review automation code, recommend improvements, and promote engineering best practices.
• Manage and prioritize automation backlogs based on business impact, technical complexity, and release priorities.
• Collaborate with development, product, business analysis, and QA leadership teams to resolve quality engineering challenges.

6. Quality Metrics, Reporting, and Release Governance

• Define, monitor, and report quality engineering metrics, including automation coverage, test execution results, defect trends, and regression effectiveness.
• Develop QA dashboards and reporting mechanisms using Jira, Azure DevOps, and other test management tools.
• Conduct test impact analysis and risk assessments to support release decisions.
• Communicate testing progress, quality risks, and release readiness to technical and business stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives aimed at reducing validation effort and improving release confidence.

Required Technical Skills

Programming and Automation

• Strong programming experience with Python and/or Java.
• Hands-on experience with Selenium, Playwright.
• Experience designing automation frameworks from scratch and maintaining existing frameworks.
• Understanding of BDD, Page Object Model, and reusable automation design principles.

API and Database Testing

• Experience with REST API testing using Postman, REST Assured, or SOAP UI.
• Strong SQL knowledge for database validation and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or Snowflake.

CI/CD and Development Practices

• Experience integrating automated tests with Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
• Proficiency with Git-based source control and code review practices.
• Familiarity with Agile software development and QA processes.

Test Management

• Experience with Jira, Azure DevOps, or HP ALM.
• Strong understanding of functional, integration, regression, smoke, sanity, and exploratory testing.
• Experience with test planning, defect management, quality metrics, and release validation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with SAP desktop application automation and SAP Fiori testing.
• Exposure to mobile application testing using Appium.
• Experience with Cypress, TestComplete, or Nightwatch.
• Familiarity with cloud-based application testing and distributed enterprise systems.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot.
• Demonstrated experience leading automation initiatives across multiple teams or geographically distributed engineering organizations.

Leadership and Behavioral Competencies

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, debugging, and root-cause analysis capabilities.
• Ability to lead technical discussions and provide hands-on guidance.
• Excellent stakeholder communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to independently drive automation initiatives and resolve delivery challenges.
• Strong ownership, attention to detail, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Experience mentoring engineers and influencing quality engineering practices across teams.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in software quality assurance, test automation, or quality engineering.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing automation frameworks.
• Prior experience in a senior automation engineering, SDET, or QA technical leadership role.