Lead Software Engineer

We're seeking an experienced lead developer with strong Java development and test lead skills to drive our testing automation strategy across FINRA's enterprise applications. This hands-on role (approximately 40% QA strategy/leadership, 50% automation and test case development, 10% code reviews) combines quality leadership with advanced technical capabilities to champion best practices, implement automation frameworks, and influence stakeholders at all levels. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience with test automation tools and a passion for building quality into our diverse application portfolio, including Workday HCM and Finance systems.Description: This position supports multiple Corporate Systems application teams across FINRA's enterprise, working with a diverse portfolio including SaaS, COTS, and custom-built software. The successful candidate will provide both direct hands-on support and influence-based leadership to 10+ analysts and developers across multiple peer teams, requiring strong communication skills to drive outcomes and champion quality practices. Key technical requirements include advanced hands-on development capabilities, deep quality assurance practice knowledge, and the ability to understand application architectures to assess risk, set strategy, and communicate priorities effectively. Responsibilities: Define, implement, and evolve test automation strategy across multiple application teams. Lead Workday test automation and tool evaluation for HCM and Finance functional areas. Develop and maintain automated test cases and frameworks for both custom-built applications and Workday systems. Mentor engineers and developers on testing best practices. Collaborate with application teams to integrate quality practices throughout the development lifecycle. Establish and track quality metrics, presenting findings to executive leadership. Drive cultural change around quality practices and shift-left testing adoption.Software QA experience as well as being in a lead capacity role setting testing direction and mentoring others. Deep, hands-on expertise designing, building, and maintaining test automation frameworks using tools (such as Playwright, Cucumber, or Selenium). Strong coding skills (Java preferred) with ability to develop, review, and maintain automation code. Experience defining and implementing comprehensive test strategies covering functional, integration, regression, and performance testing, including test data management and shift-left testing practices. Strong communication and influence skills to champion quality practices and drive outcomes across multiple teams and stakeholders, up to senior leadership. Software QA experience with experience as well in a lead capacity role setting testing direction and mentoring others. Deep, hands-on expertise designing, building, and maintaining test automation frameworks using tools (such as Playwright, Cucumber, or Selenium). Strong coding skills (Java preferred) with ability to develop, review, and maintain automation code. Experience defining and implementing comprehensive test strategies covering functional, integration, regression, and performance testing, including test data management and shift-left testing practices. Workday testing experience across HCM and/or Finance functional areas (Kainos Smart Test or Opkey) Experience building test automation/frameworks and test data management for closed SaaS ecosystems. Experience with AWS and CI/CD pipelines for test automation (Jenkins and GitLab). Education/Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or related discipline with at least 7 years of related experience, or equivalent training and/or work experience.Strong system design experienceStrong experience in object-oriented developmentStrong experience with cloud technologiesStrong experience in data storage technologiesStrong experience in performance tuning and optimizationStrong experience in DevOps and CI\CD technologiesStrong experience test automation and unit testingStrong experience software securityWorking Conditions:Hybrid work environment, with defined in-person presence requirements.Occasional travel and extended hours may be required.For work that is performed in CO, FL, TX, IL, PA, MA, MD, VA, Washington, DC, NY and NJ, please refer to the chart below for the salary range for the corresponding location. FINRA complies with all state and local pay transparency laws and regulations requiring the disclosure of salary ranges for the position. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and market considerations. CO/FL/TX: Minimum Salary $114,200, Maximum Salary $207,200IL/PA: Minimum Salary $125,900, Maximum Salary $228,000MA/MD/VA/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $131,200, Maximum Salary $238,300NY/NJ: Minimum Salary $131,200, Maximum Salary $248,700#LI-HybridTo be considered for this position, please submit an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.The information provided above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work of the position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.Please note: If the “Apply Now” button on a job board posting does not take you directly to the FINRA Careers site, enter into your browser to reach our site directly.Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.Time Off and Paid Leave*FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program of 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year). Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule). Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment). Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.*Based on full-time scheduleImportant InformationFINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment.You can read more about these restrictions here.As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism.Washington state applicants: click here for required notice(s).Search Firm RepresentativesPlease be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA.FINRA is an Equal Opportunity EmployerAll qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to any legally protected category, including race, color, age, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, sex, or any other status or classification protected by state or local law. FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA’s Employee Relations team at View phone number on click.appcast.io or by email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding accommodations in the application process.FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.2026 FINRA. All rights reserved. FINRA is a registered trademark of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.SummaryLocation: Rockville, MD (Job Posting); Tysons, VA (Job Posting)Type: Full time