Senior Software Developer in Test - QA with Python and pytest

Boston, MAOnsiteDirect Hire$140k - $180kA leading investment and capital management firm is continuing to modernize its technology platform and is seeking a Senior Software Developer in Test (SDET) to help drive software quality across its cloud-native trading, portfolio management, and financial systems. This is an opportunity to join a highly collaborative engineering organization where quality is treated as a core engineering discipline rather than a separate QA function.This role is ideal for an experienced automation engineer who enjoys writing production-quality code, building scalable test frameworks from scratch, and partnering closely with software engineers throughout the SDLC. You'll help define the automation strategy for mission-critical financial applications while working with modern cloud technologies, distributed systems, and CI/CD pipelines. Required Skills & Experience 6+ years of experience as a Software Developer in Test (SDET), QA Automation Engineer, or Software Engineer focused on test automation Expert-level Python programming skills Extensive experience building and maintaining automation frameworks using PyTest Experience developing automated API, integration, regression, and end-to-end test suites Strong understanding of object-oriented programming and software engineering best practices Experience testing cloud-native applications deployed in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines Strong experience with REST APIs, JSON, and API automation tools Solid understanding of SQL and database validation techniques Experience working within Agile software development environments Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and communication skills Desired Skills & Experience Experience within investment management, asset management, hedge funds, financial services, or fintech Experience with Playwright, Selenium, or modern UI automation frameworks Familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and containerized applications Experience testing distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures Exposure to Kafka, RabbitMQ, or messaging platforms Experience with performance testing tools such as k6, JMeter, or Locust Familiarity with GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps Experience mentoring junior automation engineers Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline What You Will Be Doing Design, develop, and maintain enterprise-grade automation frameworks using Python and PyTest Build automated testing solutions for APIs, backend services, web applications, and cloud platforms Partner closely with Software Engineers throughout the development lifecycle to improve software quality Create reusable automation libraries and testing utilities that scale across multiple engineering teams Develop automated regression, smoke, functional, integration, and end-to-end test suites Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous delivery Identify quality gaps early through automation and proactive testing strategies Debug complex software issues and work alongside developers to resolve production defects Contribute to automation standards, coding best practices, and quality engineering initiatives Continuously evaluate new testing tools and technologies to improve engineering efficiency Tech Breakdown 45% Python & PyTest Automation Development 25% API & Backend Testing 20% Cloud, CI/CD & DevOps Integration 10% Test Strategy & Quality Engineering Daily Responsibilities 80% Hands-On Automation Development 10% Cross-Functional Collaboration 10% Test Strategy, Code Reviews & Mentorship The Offer You will receive the following benefits:Competitive base salary Annual discretionary bonus Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance 401(k) with company match Paid Time Off and company holidays Professional development and certification reimbursement Hybrid work environment Opportunity to build next-generation automation frameworks supporting mission-critical financial applicationsApplicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis now and in the future. No sponsorship is available for this position.