Principal, SW Quality Engineer

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Principal, Quality Engineering to lead its Corporate Applications testing team in Chicago. You will define and execute the overall quality strategy across agile squads, drive automation-first testing, and strengthen release governance to support frequent deployments.

The role requires strong leadership, deep banking domain knowledge, and a track record of delivering large-scale enterprise transformation programs.

Qualifications

• 14-18 years of overall experience in software quality engineering
• 8+ years in quality engineering
• 5-8 years of experience leading teams of employees/contractors
• Experience in multi-tiered, complex system design & architecture

Responsibilities

• Thought leadership, consultation, mentoring & guidance for test automation
• Advance product quality via testing innovations and process improvement
• Collaborate with BAs, Architects & Developers in designing testable applications
• Technical roadmaps & plans for implementing enterprise/program test strategies
• Design & manage technical proof-of-concept and feasibility studies
• Resolve technical issues, anticipate risks and ensure timely management escalation
• Develop & extend test automation frameworks for UI, Micro services & API
• Establish enterprise dashboards and quality scorecards using Azure DevOps and reporting platforms

Skills

Java

Selenium

Playwright

BDD (Cucumber/JBehave)

TestNG

Eclipse/IntelliJ

ServiceNow ATF

DevOps CI/CD

QA processes

Leadership

Education

BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology

Tools

Azure Devops

Selenium with Java

Playwright

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service. Principal, quality engineering Chicago - USA. For more than a century, Northern Trust has worked hard building our legacy of outstanding service, expertise and integrity. From a Chicago-based bank founded in 1889, we now have more than 20 international locations and 18,500 employees globally. We serve the world’s most-sophisticated clients – from sovereign wealth funds and the wealthiest individuals and families, to the most-successful hedge funds and corporate brands. We burnished our reputation as a global leader delivering innovative investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions enabled by sophisticated, leading technology. And through it all, we continually laid a solid, forward-looking foundation on which future generations can continue growing and achieving greater.

Principal, Quality Engineering (Corporate Applications)

We are looking for a Principal, Quality Engineering to join its Corporate Applications testing team. This leader will be responsible for establishing and executing the overall quality strategy across multiple agile teams, driving automation-first testing, strengthening release governance, and building continuous quality signals that provide confidence for frequent deployments and releases. The ideal candidate combines strong leadership, banking domain expertise, technical depth in modern Quality Engineering practices, and a track record of leading large-scale enterprise transformation programs. This role requires close partnership with Product, Engineering, Architecture, Risk, Operations, and Business stakeholders to ensure quality is embedded across the software delivery lifecycle.

Location

Chicago, IL, USA

Experience

14 - 18 Years (Minimum 8 years in Quality Engineering and 5 years in leadership role)

Business Domain

Banking, Risk, Compliance

Tools

• Azure Devops


• Selenium with Java


• Playwright


• DevOps concepts

Good to have

• Service Now ATF


• Exposure to AI based QE solutioning

Job Description and Principal Responsibilities

• Thought leadership, consultation, mentoring & guidance for test automation


• Advance product quality via testing innovations and process improvement


• Collaborate with BAs, Architects & Developers in designing testable applications


• Technical roadmaps & plans for implementing enterprise/program test strategies


• Design & manage technical proof-of-concept and feasibility studies


• Resolve technical issues, anticipate risks and ensure timely management escalation


• Utilize analytical skills in determining the root cause of defects & issues


• Influence and communicate effectively with both technical & non-technical audiences


• Analysis, optimization, improvement & maintenance of current test automation suites


• Master enterprise/program high-level business workflows


• Mentor junior SDETs to improve technical ability and effectiveness


• Promote and support implementation of automated CI/CT/CD pipeline


• Develop & extend test automation frameworks for UI, Micro services & API


• Guarantee compliance to automation framework, standards & best practices


• Facilitate automated, on-demand test automation metrics


• Ensure automated tests are run early & often providing quick feedback to the team


• Seek stakeholder feedback via test automation demos


• Accelerate test development process by leveraging existing assets, standards & best practices; Add new functions/methods to the libraries for continuous improvement


• Develop release confidence frameworks to support go/no-go decision making.


• Evaluate and implement AI-enabled Quality Engineering solutions to improve productivity, coverage, and defect prevention.


• Establish enterprise dashboards and quality scorecards using Azure DevOps and reporting platforms.

Experience / Skills

• BS in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology or equivalent


• 14-18 years of overall experience with at least 8 years in quality engineering


• 5-8 years of experience implementing test automation


• 5-8 years of Experience in leading team of employee/contractors


• Experience in multi-tiered, complex system design & architecture


• Proven experience managing large globally distributed teams across multiple vendors and partners.


• Experience in Banking, Financial Services, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, or Corporate Applications

Required Skills

• Excellent knowledge of SDLC and Agile development practices


• Lead level exposure to Java, Selenium/LeanFT, BDD (Cucumber/JBehave), TestNG, Eclipse/IntelliJ, ServiceNow ATF , Playwright


• Experience with Devops/CICD toolset - Bamboo/Jenkins/Concourse, Maven, Git, BitBucket


• Expert in QA process, techniques & methodologies


• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills


• Both attention to detail & ability to rise above details to see broader implications & recommend strategic solutions


• Self-starter; Positive & adaptable; Multi-task in a continually changing environment


• Ability to work independently and with a team


• Proven interpersonal and communication skills with technical & business partners

Preferred / Recommended Skills

• Experience leading enterprise quality transformation initiatives.


• Experience building automation operating models and continuous testing capabilities.


• Exposure to AI-enabled software testing and next-generation Quality Engineering solutions.


• Experience presenting executive leadership and influencing strategic technology decisions.


• Proven ability to lead and collaborate in global, cross functional teams


• Familiarity with Banking/Financial domain


• Experience in leading large program


• Experience supporting one or more of the following:

• ServiceNow IRM / GRC Platforms


• Risk & Control Management Solutions


• Regulatory Compliance Platforms


• Corporate Risk Technologies


• Payment and Financial Processing Systems

Salary Range

$114,700 - 194,900 USD

Benefits

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve. Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.