Automation Test Lead

The Hartford; Columbus (OH); Hybrid; USD 128,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hartford invites applications for a Senior Staff Software Engineer focused on automation test leadership. You will architect and maintain automated test frameworks, drive GenAI-enabled testing strategies, and mentor QA teams across agile environments.

This hybrid role combines hands-on testing with strategic governance to improve quality at scale. As part of a diverse IT organization, you will partner with vendors, IT leadership, and business units to align automation with IT strategy while

Qualifications

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience in Quality Engineering
• 5+ years of experience leading Quality engineering teams
• Experience with programming language - Java, JavaScript/Typescript, Python
• Experience with Test automation tools -Playwright, Karate, BDD, Selenium, Blazemeter/JMeter, Test Data Management tool
• Experience with DevOps and RE tools chain like Sonar, Nexus, Jenkins, uDeploy, Git, Splunk, Dynatrace, Terraform, AppScan, Checkmarx, CA DevTest
• Experience with cross browser testing - Browser stack, Selenium Grid, OpenShift
• Experience with Gen AI - GitHub Copilot, and Model Context Protocol (Playwright, GitHub)
• Strong experience in risk-based approach for implementing End to End test strategies
• Knowledge of Agile Scrum/SAFE methodology and effectively use collaboration tools like Rally/Jira
• Knowledge of AWS and/or GCP cloud technology - Code Build, Code Pipeline, Containers
• Nice to Have: Insurance & Financial services domain knowledge
• Experience with any of the reporting tools - Extent, Tableau, Power BI
• Ability to demonstrate creating test AI agents for Distributed Applications

Responsibilities

• Quality Engineering Strategy Execution: Adopt, evolve, and govern the Quality Engineering strategy, standards, and operating model and adopt contemporary technology to ensure consistent, scalable, and high-quality delivery.
• Test Automation Architecture & Frameworks: Design, implement, and maintain robust automated test frameworks across applications, enabling reliable and repeatable validation of complex systems.
• Hands-On Test Automation & Problem Solving: Drive test automation through hands-on creation of automated test cases, test data management, review of automation delivered by teams, and resolution of complex automation challenges adhering to software engineering best practices and meet expected quality standards.
• Quality Metrics & Outcomes: Proven ability to track, and leverage Quality and Quality Execution metrics to drive measurable improvements such as defect reduction and defect leakage prevention.
• Agile & Scaled Delivery: Demonstrated track record of testing and quality execution within Agile and Scaled Agile frameworks, including sprint-level testing, end-to-end validation, and regression, performance, security and accessibility for external facing digital applications.
• Defect Analysis & System Diagnostics: Diagnose and resolve complex defects across distributed systems and third-party integrations.
• System Testability & Reliability Engineering: Improve system testability, observability, and reliability through direct code contributions and collaboration on system and application design.
• End-to-End Quality Execution: Facilitate and manage end to end quality execution, ensuring business capabilities are delivered with high quality from ideation through production.
• Mentorship & Engineering Excellence: Mentor Quality Engineers with best practices, automation patterns, and scalable test design approaches.
• DevOps & Release support: Proficient with DevOps tools and ability to participate in production release planning, execution.
• AI & GenAI-Driven Innovation: Drive the adoption and effective use of AI and GenAI tools to improve testing efficiency, effectiveness, and overall engineering productivity.

Skills

Java

JavaScript/TypeScript

Python

Tools

Playwright

Karate

BDD

Selenium

Blazemeter/JMeter

Test Data Management

Sonar

Nexus

Jenkins

uDeploy

Git

Splunk

Dynatrace

Terraform

AppScan

Checkmarx

CA DevTest

BrowserStack

Selenium Grid

OpenShift

GitHub Copilot

Model Context Protocol

Playwright/GitHub

AWS

CodeBuild

CodePipeline

Containers

Job description

Senior Staff Software Engineer - IE07HE

We're determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies.

Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals - and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future.

As an Automation Test Lead, you will be instrumental in developing frameworks for automated testing and managing test data to facilitate the organization’s transition to Continuous Testing practices using Gen AI technologies. The role involves collaborating with multiple vendors, IT leadership, and business units to ensure automation priorities are consistent with overarching IT strategies. Additionally, you will promote the adoption of automated testing solutions and related tools across the value stream, assist in defining quality engineering standards and best practices, provide technical guidance to enhance testing efficiency, mentor scrum QA teams on established practices, and report on key performance indicators. Working closely with Scrum Masters, Software Engineers, and other Quality Leads, you will strive to increase test coverage, optimize automated test execution times for expedited release readiness, support pre and post-implementation reviews, drive root cause analysis to refine testing processes, and improve essential quality metrics.

Responsibilities

• Quality Engineering Strategy Execution: Adopt, evolve, and govern the Quality Engineering strategy, standards, and operating model and adopt contemporary technology to ensure consistent, scalable, and high-quality delivery.
• Test Automation Architecture & Frameworks: Design, implement, and maintain robust automated test frameworks across applications, enabling reliable and repeatable validation of complex systems.
• Hands-On Test Automation & Problem Solving: Drive test automation through hands-on creation of automated test cases, test data management, review of automation delivered by teams, and resolution of complex automation challenges adhering to software engineering best practices and meet expected quality standards.
• Quality Metrics & Outcomes: Proven ability to track, and leverage Quality and Quality Execution metrics to drive measurable improvements such as defect reduction and defect leakage prevention.
• Agile & Scaled Delivery: Demonstrated track record of testing and quality execution within Agile and Scaled Agile frameworks, including sprint-level testing, end-to-end validation, and regression, performance, security and accessibility for external facing digital applications.
• Defect Analysis & System Diagnostics: Diagnose and resolve complex defects across distributed systems and third-party integrations.
• System Testability & Reliability Engineering: Improve system testability, observability, and reliability through direct code contributions and collaboration on system and application design.
• End-to-End Quality Execution: Facilitate and manage end to end quality execution, ensuring business capabilities are delivered with high quality from ideation through production.
• Mentorship & Engineering Excellence: Mentor Quality Engineers with best practices, automation patterns, and scalable test design approaches.
• DevOps & Release support: Proficient with DevOps tools and ability to participate in production release planning, execution.
• AI & GenAI-Driven Innovation: Drive the adoption and effective use of AI and GenAI tools to improve testing efficiency, effectiveness, and overall engineering productivity.

Qualifications

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• BS in Computer Science or equivalent experience
• 7 + years of experience in Quality Engineering
• 5+ years of experience in leading Quality engineering teams
• Experience with programing language - Java, JavaScript /Typescript, Python
• Experience with Test automation tools -Playwright, Karate, BDD, Selenium, Blazemeter/JMeter, Test Data Management tool
• Experience with DevOps and RE tools chain like Sonar, Nexus, Jenkins, uDeploy, Git, Splunk, Dynatrace, Terraform, AppScan, Checkmarx, CA DevTest
• Experience with cross browser testing - Browser stack, Selenium Grid, OpenShift
• Experience with Gen AI - GitHub Copilot, and Model Context Protocol (Playwright, GitHub)
• Strong experience in risk-based approach for implementing End to End test strategies
• Knowledge of Agile Scrum/SAFE methodology and effectively use collaboration tools like Rally/Jira
• Knowledge of AWS and/or GCP cloud technology - Code Build, Code Pipeline, Containers
• Nice to Have: Insurance & Financial services domain knowledge
• Experience with any of the reporting tools - Extent, Tableau, Power BI
• Ability to demonstrate creating test AI agents for Distributed Applications

Work Schedule & Eligibility

This role will have a Hybrid work schedule, with the expectation of working in an office 3 days a week. Candidates must be authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship. The company will not support the STEM OPT I-983 Training Plan endorsement for this position.

Compensation

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is: $127,600 - $191,400

Diversity & Inclusion

Equal Opportunity Employer/Sex/Race/Color/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age

Company Culture

Every day, a day to do right. Showing up for people isn't just what we do. It's who we are - and have been for more than 200 years. We're devoted to finding innovative ways to serve our customers, communities and employees-continuously asking ourselves what more we can do. Is our policy language as simple and inclusive as it can be? Can we better help businesses navigate our ever-changing world? What else can we do to destigmatize mental health in the workplace? Can we make our communities more equitable? That we can rise to the challenge of these questions is due in no small part to our company values that our employees have shaped and defined. And while how we contribute looks different for each of us, it's these values that drive all of us to do more and to do better every day.