Senior SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)

SavageOne Pty Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

SavageOne Pty Ltd is seeking a Senior SDET to design, lead, and implement advanced automated testing strategies and frameworks for our applications. You will mentor junior engineers, drive test automation in CI/CD, and ensure quality aligns with business objectives, with a strong focus on card/payment systems.

You will lead test planning, risk-based testing, and tool selection across multiple projects, delivering high-quality software with scalable automation and insightful reporting to

Qualifications

• 5+ years of automated software testing experience.
• Experience leading and mentoring QA teams.
• Experience with Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, Appium and CI/CD integration.
• Ability to manage risk-driven testing across projects.
• Strong understanding of card/payment systems and related testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead creation and execution of strategic, well-structured test plans and cases.
• Oversee automation test development and ensure alignment with business goals.
• Identify, prioritize, and resolve critical defects with stakeholders.
• Architect scalable, maintainable test automation frameworks across projects.
• Evaluate and select advanced test automation tools and methodologies.
• Improve test automation strategy to meet evolving business needs.
• Drive risk-driven testing and traceability to quality risks.
• Select and integrate test tools into CI/CD pipelines.
• Own test execution lifecycle across environments and platforms.
• Provide reporting on test results and quality metrics to leadership.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive process improvements.

Skills

Automation leadership

Mentoring QA teams

Risk-based testing

CI/CD integration

Payment systems knowledge

Tools

Selenium

JUnit

TestNG

Appium

CI/CD pipelines

Job description

Senior SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)

Job Openings Senior SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)

About the job Senior SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)

Purpose of the Role:

The Senior Automated Test Engineer is responsible for designing, leading, and implementing advanced automated testing strategies and frameworks to validate the functionality and performance of applications. The role involves driving the overall test automation strategy, collaborating closely with development teams, mentoring junior engineers, and ensuring that testing efforts align with business objectives and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities & Tasks:

1. Leadership in Test Planning & Execution:

• Lead the creation and execution of strategic, well-structured test plans and test cases that provide comprehensive coverage of application functionality.
• Oversee the development and execution of automation test cases, ensuring they are aligned with business goals and technical requirements.

2. Advanced Defect Identification & Resolution:

• Collaborate with senior software developers and stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and resolve critical defects in the software.
• Conduct in-depth investigations into defects, providing insights into root causes and recommending solutions that drive long-term quality improvements.
• Document and communicate high-level bug reports, and test results to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and clear action plans.
• Architect and drive the implementation of scalable, maintainable, and high-performance test automation frameworks across various projects.
• Lead the evaluation and selection of advanced test automation tools, frameworks, and methodologies to meet the specific needs of each project.
• Continuously improve the test automation strategy to ensure it aligns with the evolving needs of the business and technical landscape.

4. Risk-Based Quality Assurance Management:

• Take ownership of risk-driven testing approaches, ensuring that test suites are designed and executed to mitigate quality risks across applications.
• Review business and technical requirements to ensure they are testable and provide feedback to enhance the software development process.
• Drive traceability efforts, ensuring test cases and results are linked back to quality risks, and prioritize testing efforts accordingly.

5. Strategic Tool Selection & Maintenance:

• Select, develop, and integrate appropriate test automation tools into the continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.
• Maintain and evolve the automation test suite, ensuring scripts remain stable, scalable, and efficient in production environments.

6. Leadership in Test Execution & Reporting:

• Own the test execution lifecycle, ensuring that automation scripts are consistently executed across multiple environments and platforms.
• Provide leadership in reporting test results, analyzing trends, and providing strategic recommendations to improve quality assurance processes.
• Communicate high-level test status and quality metrics to senior management and stakeholders to facilitate data-driven decision-making.

7. Mentoring & Process Improvement:

• Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment within the QA team.
• Drive continuous process improvement by identifying opportunities to streamline testing efforts and enhance team efficiency.
• Proactively identify and implement innovative approaches to testing, focusing on improving speed, stability, and the overall effectiveness of the testing process.
• Lead the effort in root cause analysis for software failures, and provide strategic recommendations to prevent similar issues in the future.
• Drive the implementation of lessons learned and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring the QA process is continuously evolving to meet the demands of the business.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Card or Payment Experience: Senior candidates must have significant experience with card or payment systems, as this is a critical aspect of the role. Proven expertise in payment technologies is required.

Skills & Experience:

• Extensive experience (5+ years) in automated software testing, including the design, development, and execution of complex test automation frameworks and strategies.
• Expertise in leading and mentoring QA teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Strong experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, Appium) and integrating them into CI/CD pipelines.
• Proven ability to manage and prioritize risk-driven testing efforts across multiple projects.
• Experience with advanced diagnostic tools and techniques for root cause analysis and failure resolution.
• Deep understanding of payment systems and card technologies, with a proven track record in testing applications within this domain.