Principal Manager- Software Development Engineer in Testing

Madrona Venture Labs; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 3,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Madrona Venture Labs in Bengaluru is seeking a Senior SDET to build scalable automation for our AI-driven cloud operations platform, focusing on UI, API, and integration testing across distributed services in a fast-moving SaaS environment.

The candidate will work with engineering to embed quality early in development, develop automated test cases, and ensure robust release quality through CI/CD integration and observability-driven validation.

Qualifications

• Strong programming experience in Python (preferred) or Java/JavaScript.
• Hands-on experience with modern automation frameworks: Playwright / Cypress (UI Automation).
• Pytest, Robot Framework, or similar frameworks.
• Strong experience in API testing: REST APIs using tools like Postman/Newman, REST Assured, or Python (requests).
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI.
• Solid understanding of cloud-native architectures (microservices, containers, distributed systems).
• Experience working with Docker and Kubernetes-based environments.
• Strong understanding of SDLC and Agile methodologies.
• Experience testing cloud-based applications, preferably on AWS.
• Familiarity with contract testing / schema validation (OpenAPI, Pact, etc.).
• Exposure to observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/OpenSearch.
• Familiarity with AI-driven or intelligent test automation tools.
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks and test suites across UI, API, and integration layers.
• Collaborate with developers to embed quality practices early in the development lifecycle (shift-left).
• Develop and execute automated test cases and ensure integration into CI/CD pipelines.
• Contribute to defining and implementing test strategies for microservices-based and distributed systems.
• Perform API-first testing, including validation of REST endpoints and schema/contracts.
• Identify, debug, and track defects, working closely with engineering teams for resolution.
• Leverage logs, metrics, and traces to validate system behavior and improve production quality.
• Ensure adequate test coverage and maintain high standards for release quality.
• Contribute to improving automation frameworks, tools, and processes.
• Participate in design and code reviews to improve testability and quality.
• Support test data setup, environment configuration, and test execution in cloud environments.

Skills

Python

Java/JavaScript

Playwright

Cypress

Pytest

Robot Framework

REST API testing

Jenkins

GitHub Actions

GitLab CI

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenAPI

Pact

Prometheus

Grafana

OpenSearch

AI-driven testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field

Tools

CI/CD tools

Postman/Newman

REST Assured

requests (Python)

Job description

Role Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Software Development Engineer in Testing (Senior SDET) to contribute to the quality of our AI-driven cloud operations platform. This role focuses on building scalable, reliable, and intelligent test automation systems to ensure high-quality releases in a fast-paced SaaS environment.

The ideal candidate will be hands-on with modern quality engineering practices, including automation, API testing, and cloud-native validation, while working closely with engineering teams to ensure end-to-end product quality across distributed systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks and test suites across UI, API, and integration layers
• Collaborate with developers to embed quality practices early in the development lifecycle (shift-left)
• Develop and execute automated test cases and ensure integration into CI/CD pipelines
• Contribute to defining and implementing test strategies for microservices-based and distributed systems
• Perform API-first testing, including validation of REST endpoints and schema/contracts
• Identify, debug, and track defects, working closely with engineering teams for resolution
• Leverage logs, metrics, and traces to validate system behavior and improve production quality
• Ensure adequate test coverage and maintain high standards for release quality
• Contribute to improving automation frameworks, tools, and processes
• Participate in design and code reviews to improve testability and quality
• Support test data setup, environment configuration, and test execution in cloud environments

Desired Skills and Requirements

Must Have

• Strong programming experience in Python (preferred) or Java/JavaScript
• Hands-on experience with modern automation frameworks:
• Playwright / Cypress (UI Automation)
• Pytest, Robot Framework, or similar frameworks
• Strong experience in API testing:
• REST APIs using tools like Postman/Newman, REST Assured, or Python (requests)
• Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI
• Solid understanding of cloud-native architectures (microservices, containers, distributed systems)
• Experience working with Docker and Kubernetes-based environments
• Strong understanding of SDLC and Agile methodologies
• Experience testing cloud-based applications, preferably on AWS
• Familiarity with contract testing / schema validation (OpenAPI, Pact, etc.)
• Exposure to observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/OpenSearch
• Familiarity with AI-driven or intelligent test automation tools
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills

Good to Have

• Experience testing AI/ML-driven systems or data-intensive applications, including:
• Validating outputs for accuracy and consistency
• Understanding non-deterministic system behavior (e.g., LLM-based features)
• Experience with test data management and validation frameworks (e.g., Great Expectations)
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures (Kafka, messaging systems)
• Exposure to security testing fundamentals (OWASP)
• Experience with shift-right practices such as monitoring, logging, or canary validation

Soft Skills

• Strong collaboration and communication skills
• Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a team
• Attention to detail with a strong sense of ownership

Experience

• 5-7 years of experience in test automation / quality engineering
• Proven experience working in agile, fast-paced product environments
• Experience contributing to automation frameworks and test strategy implementation

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field