Engineering Team Lead (SDET)

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Engineering Team Lead (SDET) based in the United States.** The Engineering Team Lead (SDET) will lead quality engineering, test automation, release engineering, and engineering enablement for a large-scale financial services platform undergoing incremental modernization. This hands-on role combines software engineering expertise, Agile leadership, and technical problem-solving across modern cloud technologies and complex legacy systems. You will design scalable automation frameworks, strengthen testing strategies, and improve CI/CD pipelines to support reliable, predictable software delivery. Working closely with engineering and product teams, you will help manage dependencies, improve release confidence, and establish effective quality practices. You will also champion AI-assisted engineering tools to enhance productivity, accelerate problem-solving, and streamline testing workflows. This is an opportunity to influence engineering excellence in a technically demanding consulting environment while mentoring teams and delivering high-impact solutions. ### Accountabilities - Lead Agile Team Execution: Drive Agile delivery and sprint execution, fostering team ownership, collaboration, accountability, predictable delivery, and continuous improvement. - Develop Test Automation Frameworks: Architect, build, and maintain reusable test automation frameworks, engineering tools, and quality engineering practices that support complex applications and distributed systems. - Establish Testing Strategies: Design and implement comprehensive testing approaches spanning API, integration, end-to-end, regression, and performance testing to ensure software quality and reliability. - Leverage AI-Assisted Engineering: Use Claude and other AI-powered tools to improve engineering productivity, automate repetitive tasks, strengthen testing capabilities, and accelerate technical problem-solving. - Manage Test Data: Develop strategies for discovering, generating, organizing, and maintaining test data across interconnected systems and complex application environments. - Support Releases and Legacy Integrations: Coordinate testing, release execution, validation, and troubleshooting across modern applications and challenging legacy systems, including environments with limited documentation or fragile integrations. - Improve CI/CD and Deployment Processes: Integrate automated testing into continuous integration and delivery pipelines, establish effective quality gates, and enhance deployment practices and release confidence. - Collaborate Across Engineering and Product Teams: Work with technical and product stakeholders to refine requirements, identify dependencies, plan sprints, resolve blockers, and deliver dependable software solutions. - Mentor and Develop Engineers: Provide hands-on technical guidance, promote maintainable code and engineering best practices, and help team members strengthen their technical capabilities. - Drive Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency, engineering workflows, system reliability, and delivery outcomes. - Support Knowledge Sharing and Client Success: Contribute to internal collaboration and technical knowledge sharing while representing the organization professionally, delivering value to clients, and maintaining strict client confidentiality. ## Requirements - Software Engineering Experience: At least 7 years of software engineering experience, including substantial hands-on experience in test automation. - Technical Leadership: At least 2 years of experience as an Engineering Team Lead, combining hands-on technical contributions, Agile delivery leadership, and team mentorship. - Agile Methodologies: Strong understanding and practical application of Agile principles, Scrum practices, sprint planning, team accountability, and continuous improvement. - Programming Skills: Strong programming proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, or comparable programming languages. - Test Automation Expertise: Demonstrated ability to design, develop, and maintain automation frameworks for APIs, distributed systems, and complex software integrations. - AI-Assisted Development: Proven proficiency with Claude and AI-assisted software engineering tools, including the ability to apply them effectively to testing, development, and technical problem-solving. - Cloud and Delivery Technologies: Experience with AWS, CI/CD pipelines, SQL, and modern software architectures. - Test Data and Integration Management: Experience managing complex test data and diagnosing integration issues across multiple systems. - Legacy System Troubleshooting: Ability to work effectively with brittle, poorly documented, or legacy systems without requiring prior expertise in every underlying technology. - Software Quality and Maintainability: Strong understanding of software engineering principles, quality engineering, automated testing, and maintainable code. - Problem-Solving and Initiative: A proactive, self-motivated approach to identifying problems, evaluating solutions, and taking ownership of outcomes. - Adaptability and Learning: Ability to learn new technologies and concepts quickly, navigate ambiguity, and remain resourceful when solving technically challenging problems. - Communication and Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with team members, technical stakeholders, and clients. - Professional Integrity: Strong attention to detail, high ethical standards, a commitment to quality, and a collaborative mindset focused on team success. - Location and Working Hours: Must be based in the United States and able to work during U.S. Eastern Time business hours. - Employment Eligibility: Full-time employment only; contractor-to-contractor (C2C) arrangements and visa sponsorship are not available. ## Benefits - Base Salary and Incentive Pay: Total stated compensation of $182,500, comprising a $160,000 base salary and $22,500 in standard incentive pay. - Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, including family coverage. - Disability Insurance: 100% company-paid individual short-term and long-term disability coverage. - Retirement Savings: A company contribution of 3% to the 401(k) plan. - Paid Time Off: 15 days of PTO annually, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 20 days. - Company Holidays and Personal Days: Eight company holidays and two personal days each year. - Professional Development: Ten training days annually to support continued learning and technical growth. - Performance-Based Incentives: Individual quarterly cash incentives based on performance, plus an annual cash incentive combining individual and company performance. - Transportation Support: Public transit reimbursement. - Remote Work: Fully remote opportunity for candidates based in the United States. - Working Schedule: U.S. Eastern Time working hours. - Occasional Travel: Short-duration travel may be required for in-person project or team sessions. - Employment Type: Full-time position; C2C arrangements are not accepted, and visa sponsorship is unavailable.