Lead Guidewire PolicyCenter Software Development Engineer Test (SDET) - HYBRID

American Family Insurance; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) plan

Pension plan

Annual incentive

Holidays & PTO

Student loan repayment

Paid-family leave

Job summary

American Family Insurance seeks a leader to own the Guidewire PolicyCenter functional and automation strategy across its insurance tech applications. You will drive testing innovations, set standards for frameworks, environments, and ROI, and mentor QA teams to solve complex problems for quality and speed.

The role focuses on large-scale automation initiatives, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic testing alignment with enterprise goals.

Qualifications

• Experience with Guidewire PolicyCenter and integrated systems.
• Experience delivering customer-driven solutions or services.
• Extensive automation or software engineering experience in insurance tech.
• Experience leading automation strategy in large systems.
• Subject matter expert in one or more automation frameworks.
• Knowledge of cloud-based CI/CD and test environments.
• Ability to align testing initiatives with organizational goals.
• Experience evaluating new tools and technologies.
• Experience architecting scalable test solutions.
• Experience analyzing mockups for test design changes.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience with test data management and validation.
• Experience mentoring others.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Guidewire PolicyCenter functional & test automation strategy across applications.
• Establish quality standards for framework design, versioning and test environments.
• Negotiate and build consensus on complex technical decisions and testing objectives.
• Lead manual, automated, and performance testing across multiple systems.
• Research, evaluate, and implement innovation in testing tools and methods.
• Align regression coverage metrics and reporting on automation ROI to leadership.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to QA teams to drive improvements.
• Participate in other assignments or projects as needed.

Skills

Guidewire PolicyCenter

Test automation

QA leadership

Automation strategies

CI/CD

Mentorship

Automation frameworks

Cloud technologies

Tools

Playwright

Selenium

Karate API

Coding/Scripting

Job description

This position will act as a thought partner in defining, owning, and overseeing the Guidewire PolicyCenter functional and automation strategy, tooling, and architecture across assigned insurance technology applications. Interpret internal business challenges to recommend and drive improvements to our testing tools and processes. By championing innovation and leading others to solve complex problems, this role will ensure test engineering aligns with enterprise goals for quality and delivery speed. This role will use functional policies to provide technical leadership and mentorship to drive continuous improvement, team development, and successful execution of large-scale automation initiatives.

Position Compensation Range

$113,000.00 - $194,000.00

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Compensation may vary based on the job level and your geographic work location. Relocation support is offered for eligible candidates.

Primary Accountabilities

• Define, execute, and evolve the Guidewire PolicyCenter functional & test automation strategy by interpreting business challenges and recommending innovative solutions to ensure alignment with enterprise Quality Assurance goals.
• Establish quality standards and best practice for framework design, versioning, and test environments that align to enterprise objectives
• Negotiate and build consensus with cross-functional teams and leadership on complex technical decisions, quality standards, and strategic testing objectives.
• Lead the manual/automated/performance test execution, readiness, and risk communications across multiple systems (e.g. policy, sales & service, billing, claims, data).
• Research, evaluate, and implement innovation across testing tools and methodologies.
• Partner with QA team members and to align regression coverage metrics and reporting on automation health and ROI to leadership
• Provides technical leadership and guidance to QA teams in solving complex system and environment issues, using sophisticated analytical thought and code quality and standards to identify innovative and lasting solutions
• May be required to complete other assignments or participate in projects based upon skills, achievements, or experience.

Specialized Knowledge, Skills, And Education Requirements

• Demonstrated experience with Guidewire PolicyCenter and integrated systems
• Demonstrated experience providing customer-driven solutions, support, or service.
• Extensive experience in automation or software engineering including in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry’s technology landscape
• Extensive experience leading automation strategy in large, integrated systems
• Subject matter expert in one or more automation frameworks
• Extensive understanding of cloud-based CI/CD, test environments, coding/scripting languages
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and align testing initiatives with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating and implementing new tools and technologies
• Extensive experience architecting scalable test solutions
• Extensive experience analyzing mockups and providing recommendations for changes to requirements or test case designs
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Extensive experience in test data management and data validation
• Demonstrated experience providing professional mentorship and training to others

Additional Specialized Knowledge And Skills

• Experience with automation tools, such as: Playwright, Karate API, Selenium and similar technologies.
• Completion of Guidewire PolicyCenter certifications is preferred but not required.

Additional Job Description Details

• In this hybrid role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month from the office. Candidates should reside within approximately 50 miles of the following office locations: Madison, WI 53783

Travel Requirements

• Up to 10%

Licenses

• Not applicable.

Physical Requirements

• Work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Working Conditions

• Not applicable.

Additional Information

• To ensure a strong start, all employees participate in our New Employee Orientation during their first week. This experience is held in person at our Madison, WI Headquarters or one of our AmFam core locations to help you connect with our mission, meet key team members and build relationships that support your growth. At times, sessions may be delivered virtually based on scheduling and availability.
• Offer to selected candidate will be made contingent on the results of applicable background checks
• Offer to selected candidate is contingent on signing a non-disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions
• Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless specified in the posting

We provide benefits that support your physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing. You will have access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and wellbeing benefits that enable you to take care of your health. We also offer a competitive 401(k) contribution, a pension plan, an annual incentive, 9 paid holidays and a paid time off program (23 days accrued annually for full-time employees). In addition, our student loan repayment program and paid-family leave are available to support our employees and their families. Interns and contingent workers are not eligible for American Family Insurance Group benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non-discrimination, non-harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

American Family Insurance is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please email [e-mail] to request a reasonable accommodation.