Lead Software Development Engineer in Test

Job descriptionFounding Teams is an AI accelerator & Talent platform. We are supporting the next generation of AI startup founders with the resources they need including engineering, product, sales, marketing and operations staff to create and launch their product.The ideal candidate will have a passion for next generation AI tech startups and working with great global startup talent.Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Lead Software Development Engineer in Test (Lead SDET) to design, develop, and drive a robust automated testing strategy across complex, scalable systems. This role is responsible for building modern test frameworks, advising on quality architecture, and embedding quality engineering into every stage of the SDLC.You will work at the intersection of software engineering, test architecture, DevOps, and quality strategy, leading both technically and strategically in ensuring high-performance, secure, and resilient systems.You will mentor SDETs and QA engineers, partner with developers and product managers, and champion a “quality-first” culture across the organisation.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategy & LeadershipDefine and own the overall test automation strategy across web, API, mobile, microservices, and data platformsLead and mentor a team of SDETs and QA engineersSet testing standards, best practices, coding standards, and governanceDrive shift-left and shift-right testing strategiesInfluence overall engineering practices to improve reliability and scalabilityTest Architecture & AutomationDesign, build, and maintain scalable automated test frameworksImplement CI/CD-integrated automated testing pipelinesDevelop performance, security, reliability, and chaos testsBuild custom testing tools and productivity utilities when requiredEnsure test frameworks support containerised, cloud-native environmentsHands-on DevelopmentWrite and maintain high-quality test automation codeReview test code and provide technical oversightChampion maintainable, extensible, and reusable frameworksParticipate in root-cause analysis and post-incident reviewsQuality Assurance & Risk ManagementDefine test strategies for complex systems including:Distributed systemsMicroservicesAI/ML pipelinesHigh-availability platformsEnsure production readiness for releasesEstablish and monitor quality metrics (defect escape rate, coverage, MTTR, etc.)Cross-functional CollaborationWork closely with software engineers, DevOps, architects, and product teamsParticipate in design reviews, sprint planning, and backlog refinementAct as the quality engineering voice in senior-level technical discussionsRequired Skills & Experience5+ years in software development and/or test automation3+ years in a lead or senior SDET roleStrong programming experience in at least one language:Python / Java / C# / JavaScript / GoExtensive experience creating and scaling automation frameworks from scratchExpertise in:API testing (REST, GraphQL)UI automation (Playwright, Selenium, Cypress)Performance testing (JMeter, k6, Gatling)CI/CD integration (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI)Test containerisation / DockerStrong experience in cloud platforms:AWS / Azure / GCPStrong understanding of:Microservices architectureDistributed systemsSystem design principlesDevOps and Site Reliability Engineering conceptsExcellent problem-solving and leadership abilitiesNice-to-Have / Premium SkillsExperience testing AI/ML systems, models, or data pipelinesExperience in regulated industries (defence, fintech, healthcare)Knowledge of security testing and penetration testing toolsExperience with chaos engineering (Gremlin, Litmus, etc.)Experience in Kubernetes-based environmentsExposure to observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog)