Sr. Automation Engineer

Automation Testing Practice LeaderThis is a high-visibility, foundational role. The client is building a brand-new integration testing practice from scratch. For now, this person will be a team of one who needs to challenge the status quo, hands-on build the automation framework, and coordinate across upstream/downstream application teams. Location: Onshore — Preference for San Antonio, Austin, or Dallas. Work Authorization: US Citizen or Green Card only (No H1B processing). Must be eligible for eventual permanent conversion. Duration: Long-term Contract-to-Hire (budgeted under upcoming Q1 Capex; conversion is the goal but no strict guarantees yet).Technical Matrix RequirementLayer Technologies & SkillsCore Testing Frameworks Must-Have: Karate, BDD (Behavior-Driven Development). Pure automation background only (5-6+ years). Integration Layers Mulesoft (External connectors) & ESB (Enterprise Service Bus / Internal bus). Messaging & Queues IBM MQ and Apache Kafka (Validating that ESB puts items in MQ, Mulesoft blasts notifications via Kafka). Scripting / Headless Java and Python (Used for headless automation to put data/messages directly onto the queues). Education Background Computer Science degree is highly preferred (especially for eventual FTE conversion).Key Responsibilities & EnvironmentPure AutomationZero manual testing. 100% focused on creating, validating, and testing automated backend services, endpoints, and queues.The "Pipeline" MiddlemanAct as the central checkpoint for the bank. If a digital platform needs to talk to the mainframe via the ESB pipeline, this resource ensures the end-to-end integration testing is complete.Cross-Team CoordinationWhile there is no manual testing, there is "manual coordination." The candidate must be mature enough to sit in the middle of multiple consuming applications, work with different development teams, and support ESB releases.Sourcing Flags & Red FlagsNo "Watchers":The manager explicitly stated they do not want a coordinator who just watches others work. This person must be entirely hands-on.No Manual Testers:Profiles that lean heavily on UI/manual testing will be an immediate reject. They need headless, backend, and API/service-level automation expertise. Industry vs. Skill: Technical skills matter far more than banking industry experience.Interview ProcessTechnical Screen:Will coordinate a deep-dive technical interview involving highly technical team members. Note: Interviews will likely be scheduled around 4:00 PM CST.Final Interview:A follow-up interview with the broader stakeholders/leadership if they pass the technical bar.