2260 SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) III

Job Description

Job Description

For more than three decades, Strategic Data Systems (SDS) has been a software consultancy firm specializing in strategy, technology, and business transformation for Fortune 100 companies, mid-sized firms, and startups. At SDS, we empower our development teams to address our clients’ critical business challenges by leveraging cutting edge technologies. If you seek a workplace where your contributions are truly appreciated, then SDS is the company for you. Join us today to work alongside fellow development specialists and become a crucial part of our dynamic and cohesive community.

Job Title: SDET III

Location: Cincinnati, OH [Downtown]

Years of Experience: 5-15+

TOP SKILLS:

  Must Have

• Docker
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins), monitoring results, and addressing pipeline failures.
• Experience testing RESTful APIs using tools such as Postman, supertest, or REST Assured
• Performance testing and security testing practices
• SQL
• Test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., WebdriverIO, Selenium, Cypress)
• Write and maintain automated tests and framework enhancements (Java, JavaScript/TypeScript)

Nice To Have

• Accessibility Testing
• AWS
• Containerization
• experience in a Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) environment using Gherkin / Cucumber
• Postman / Newman for API testing
• Splunk/Dynatrace
• WebdriverIO (JavaScript or TypeScript)

What You’ll Do

As part of cross-functional agile squads, a Chapter, and an Agile Release Train (ART), the Senior Quality Engineer (Senior QE) provides deep expertise within the Quality Engineering discipline and is accountable for the test planning, execution, and automation of moderately complex systems or large features. The Senior QE ensures comprehensive quality coverage across front-end, API, and backend components, and designs, builds, and maintains robust test automation framework components and libraries that are easily extensible for the team. 

The Senior QE integrates automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins), monitors test results, and drives resolution of defects with development. They mentor junior Quality Engineers by reviewing test code and test cases and providing constructive feedback to improve quality and consistency. Serving as a subject matter expert in one or more testing domains—such as UI automation, API testing, performance, security, or data validation—the Senior QE participates in and often facilitates technical discussions on quality, proposing improvements to the test approach for complex features and evaluating new tools or methodologies to introduce to the team. 

The Senior QE collaborates closely with developers, product owners, and business analysts to clarify requirements, identify edge cases, and define acceptance criteria for user stories. They partner openly to exchange ideas and opinions, elevate concerns, and follow quality policies and procedures as defined by Fifth Third's quality governance standards, taking initiative in the continuous improvement of the QE process across the squad. 

What you will be doing: 

• Owning test planning, execution, and automation for moderately complex systems or large features, ensuring comprehensive coverage across front-end, API, and backend components. 
• Designing, building, and maintaining robust test automation framework components and libraries that are easily extensible. 
• Integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins), ensuring tests run reliably in the pipeline and that failures are addressed promptly. 
• Monitoring test results, swiftly identifying failures, logging defects with detailed diagnostics, and working with the development team to ensure issues are resolved and verified. 
• Mentoring junior Quality Engineers by reviewing their test code and test cases, providing feedback to improve quality and consistency. 
• Acting as a subject matter expert in one or more testing domains (e.g., UI automation, API testing, performance, security, data validation) within the squad. 
• Collaborating closely with developers, product owners, and business analysts to clarify requirements, identify edge cases, and define acceptance criteria for user stories. 
• Participating in and often facilitating technical discussions on quality—proposing improvements to the test approach for complex features, or evaluating new tools and methodologies to introduce to the team. 
• Taking initiative in the continuous improvement of the QE process—for example, tracking quality metrics (defect density, test coverage, escape defects) and using them to drive improvements. 
• Writing and executing test cases (manual and automated) for user stories, ensuring coverage of functional and non-functional requirements. 
• Authoring test cases in the test management tool (e.g., qTest) using Gherkin syntax where applicable. 
• Performing API testing using tools like Postman or automation libraries, and validating integrations with databases and downstream systems. 
• Contributing to test automation frameworks (e.g., WebdriverIO, Selenium, Cypress) by writing reusable, maintainable test code. 
• Executing regression, integration, system, and exploratory testing; logging defects with clear reproduction steps and severity. 
• Participating in Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, refinement, daily stand-ups, retrospectives), providing testing estimates and quality input on user stories. 
• Supporting release readiness by executing smoke and regression suites, coordinating with development on defect fixes, and validating production deployments. 
• Communicating test status, defect trends, and quality risks clearly to the squad and stakeholders. 

What you should have: 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / Information Systems or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• 5+ years of experience in software quality engineering, with a demonstrated ability to design and execute test strategies for moderately complex applications. 
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages relevant to quality engineering (e.g., Java, JavaScript/TypeScript), with the ability to write and maintain automated tests and framework enhancements. 
• Solid experience with test automation frameworks and tools (e.g., WebdriverIO, Selenium, Cypress), including writing reliable UI automation and troubleshooting flaky tests. 
• Experience testing RESTful APIs using tools such as Postman, supertest, or REST Assured. 
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins), monitoring results, and addressing pipeline failures. 
• Working knowledge of Docker / containers for test environment setup. 
• Proficient in SQL and database concepts—able to write queries to validate data, set up test data, and troubleshoot data-related issues. 
• Understanding of performance testing concepts and tools; able to execute performance tests and interpret basic results. 
• Familiarity with security testing practices and common vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10). 
• Strong understanding of QE methodologies and testing types (unit, integration, system, UAT, regression, performance, exploratory, etc.). 
• Strong debugging and analytical skills; able to investigate root causes across front-end, API, and backend layers. 
• Comfortable with version control (Git / GitHub), branching strategies, and pull request review. 
• Experience working in an Agile environment; familiarity with SAFe is a plus. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to convey technical quality concerns to developers, product owners, and business stakeholders. 
• Demonstrated ability to mentor junior engineers and review their work constructively. 
• Experience authoring test cases in test management software (e.g., qTest), including Gherkin syntax. 

What will make you stand out: 

• Experience using WebdriverIO (JavaScript or TypeScript). 
• Experience with Postman / Newman for API testing. 
• Hands-on experience in a Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) environment using Gherkin / Cucumber. 
• Experience performing accessibility testing (e.g., aXe). 
• Experience working in a SAFe environment. 
• Exposure to cloud technologies (AWS preferred). 
• Experience with containerization (Docker) for managing test environments. 
• Familiarity with service virtualization or contract testing. 
• Familiarity with observability tools (e.g., Splunk, Dynatrace) for supporting testing and defect diagnosis. 
• Experience contributing to test automation framework design and reusable libraries. 
• Track record of driving test process or automation improvements within a squad. 
• Experience presenting quality metrics and status to squad-level stakeholders. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None. 

What You’ll Get

SDS, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Competitive base salary
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Optional life and disability insurance provided
• 401(k) with a company match and optional profit sharing
• Paid vacation time
• Paid Bench time
• Training allowance offering
• You’ll be eligible to earn referral bonuses!