Lead Software Developer in Test - QA

Motion Recruitment; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Annual performance bonus

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off and holidays

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development reimbursement

Job summary

Motion Recruitment seeks a Lead Software Engineer in Test (SDET) to drive enterprise automation across web, API, and backend platforms. You will architect scalable Java-based frameworks, integrate AI-assisted testing, and champion testing best practices across multiple agile teams.

You will lead automation initiatives, mentor engineers, and partner with developers, DevOps, product managers, and architects to elevate software quality and release velocity.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Software Quality Engineering, QA Automation, or SDET.
• 3+ years leading automation initiatives or as a tech lead.
• Expert-level Java programming skills.
• Experience building automation frameworks from scratch with Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or similar.
• Strong API automation with REST Assured, Postman, or equivalents.
• Experience testing cloud-native apps in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• CI/CD integration experience; DevOps familiarity.
• Strong OO design, patterns, and software engineering principles.
• Experience with Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps.
• Strong SQL and relational DB validation.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Architect and develop enterprise-wide automation frameworks for web, API, and backend applications.
• Lead the technical direction of the QA Automation practice across multiple Agile teams.
• Build scalable Java-based automation solutions to improve quality and release velocity.
• Integrate AI-powered tools to accelerate test creation, maintenance, and regression testing.
• Develop automated API, UI, integration, and end-to-end test suites.
• Design cloud-native testing strategies for microservices and distributed apps.
• Collaborate with Software Engineers, DevOps, Product Managers, and Architects across the SDLC.
• Implement quality gates in CI/CD pipelines for continuous delivery.
• Improve test reliability, speed, reporting, and overall automation coverage.
• Mentor engineers, perform code reviews, and establish automation standards.
• Evaluate emerging QA technologies and continuously improve engineering practices.

Skills

Java programming

QA Automation leadership

Automation framework design

CI/CD integration

REST API testing

Cloud testing (AWS/Azure/GCP)

SQL

Communications & leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related

Tools

Selenium

Playwright

Cypress

REST Assured

Postman

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud Platform

Git

Jenkins

GitHub Actions

Azure DevOps

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

RabbitMQ

JUnit

Job description

A leading financial services organization is investing heavily in modernizing its cloud-based technology platform and is seeking a Lead Software Engineer in Test (SDET) to drive the next generation of quality engineering. This is a highly visible role where you'll lead the design and implementation of scalable automation frameworks, integrate AI-powered testing capabilities, and help establish engineering best practices across multiple development teams.

If you're passionate about building automation from the ground up, improving software quality through engineering excellence, and leveraging emerging AI technologies to transform testing, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a significant impact.

Required Skills & Experience

• 8+ years of experience in Software Quality Engineering, QA Automation, or Software Development in Test (SDET)
• 3+ years leading automation initiatives or serving as a technical lead
• Expert-level Java programming skills
• Experience building automation frameworks from scratch using Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or similar technologies
• Strong API automation experience using REST Assured, Postman, or equivalent tools
• Experience testing cloud-native applications within AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, design patterns, and object-oriented programming
• Experience with Git, Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or similar DevOps platforms
• Strong SQL skills and experience validating relational databases
• Excellent communication and leadership skills

Desired Skills & Experience

• Financial services, banking, fintech, asset management, or capital markets experience
• Experience with AI-assisted testing tools including GitHub Copilot, Claude, OpenAI APIs, or AI-powered test generation platforms
• Experience building automated regression, integration, performance, and end-to-end test suites
• Experience with containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes
• Familiarity with Kafka, RabbitMQ, or event-driven architectures
• Experience with test data management and service virtualization
• Knowledge of performance testing tools such as JMeter, Gatling, or k6
• Experience mentoring QA engineers and developers on automation best practices
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field

What You Will Be Doing

• Architect and develop enterprise-wide automation frameworks for web, API, and backend applications
• Lead the technical direction of the QA Automation practice across multiple Agile engineering teams
• Build scalable Java-based automation solutions that improve software quality and release velocity
• Integrate AI-powered tools to accelerate test creation, maintenance, defect analysis, and regression testing
• Develop automated API, UI, integration, and end-to-end test suites
• Design cloud-native testing strategies supporting microservices and distributed applications
• Partner closely with Software Engineers, DevOps Engineers, Product Managers, and Architects throughout the SDLC
• Implement quality gates within CI/CD pipelines to support continuous delivery
• Improve test reliability, execution speed, reporting, and overall automation coverage
• Mentor engineers, perform code reviews, and establish automation engineering standards
• Evaluate emerging QA technologies and continuously improve engineering practices

Tech Breakdown

• 40% QA Automation & Test Framework Development
• 25% Java Software Engineering
• 20% Cloud, DevOps & CI/CD Integration
• 15% AI-Driven Test Engineering & Innovation

Daily Responsibilities

• 75% Hands-On Development & Automation Engineering
• 15% Technical Leadership & Mentorship
• 10% Cross-Functional Collaboration

The Offer

You Will Receive The Following Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off and company holidays
• Flexible work arrangements
• Professional development and certification reimbursement
• Opportunity to help define the future of AI-enabled software quality engineering within a leading financial services organization

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future. No sponsorship is available for this position.