QA Automation Engineer Team Lead, Charles River Development , AVP

Who we are: Charles River Development (CRD) is the FinTech division of State Street. Together with State Street’s Middle and Back-office services, Charles River’s cloud-based Front Office technology forms the foundation of the State Street Alpha® Platform, the first front-to-back solution in the industry. Our vision is to be the world’s leading investment platform, shaping the future of the industry and driving new levels of technology-led innovation, resiliency, efficiency and growth for investors and the people they serve. CRD Engineering organization is innovating and transforming the platform by moving away from monolithic software to utilising next generation cloud-based technology that leverages Microsoft Azure, Kafka, Snowflake, etc. Industry momentum has seen CRD grow over 135% in headcount over the last 5 years, and we continue to grow. We are expanding our presence in the EMEA region and are actively hiring. Job Summary We are looking for a hands-on QA Team Lead with strong automation expertise to lead and actively contribute to the QA team. This role requires a balanced mix of leadership and deep technical execution, with a primary focus on driving automation strategy, implementation, and scalability, along with manual testing where needed. The ideal candidate should be capable of coding, reviewing automation frameworks, and leveraging AI-enabled testing practices to improve efficiency and quality across the lifecycle. Key Responsibilities Lead and manage the QA team while remaining actively involved in automation design and development Own and drive automation strategy, including framework design, tool selection, and scalability Design, develop, review, and maintain robust automated test suites across UI and API layers Ensure high automation coverage with optimized and maintainable scripts Work closely with product owners and developers to understand user stories and translate them into automated and manual test scenarios Perform hands-on test execution (automation + manual) for complex and critical areas Champion AI enablement in QA, including AI-assisted test case generation, self-healing automation, intelligent test selection, and defect analysis Integrate automation suites with CI/CD pipelines to support continuous testing Establish best practices for coding standards, test design, and framework governance Track and improve QA metrics such as automation coverage, execution efficiency, and defect leakage Drive continuous improvements in frameworks, tools, and QA processes Required Skills & Qualifications B.S. degree (or foreign education equivalent) in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, and Physics or other technical course of study or Business with an MIS background. MS degree strongly preferred. 10+ years of QA experience with strong hands-on automation expertise. Proven experience in building and scaling automation frameworks from scratch and enhancing existing ones Strong programming skills with ability to write, review, and optimize automation code: Java / Python / JavaScript Deep experience with modern automation tools/frameworks: Selenium / Playwright / Cypress Strong expertise in API automation testing (Rest Assured, Postman, or equivalent) Demonstrated experience in automation integration with CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, etc.) Strong understanding of software testing fundamentals (STLC, SDLC, test design techniques) Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments Nice to have: Exposure to AI-driven QA practices (test generation, self-healing scripts, intelligent test optimization) Experience with test management and defect tracking tools (JIRA, Xray, or similar) Proven ability to mentor teams on automation best practices and coding standards Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholder management skills Experience in financial services or similar domain preferred About State Street What we do. State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients. Work, Live and Grow. We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary in locations, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Program to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential. Inclusion, Diversity and Social Responsibility. We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspective are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome the candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift program and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you. State Street is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. About State Street Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success. We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law. 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