Lead Software Development Engineer

Our core UI test automation stack includes : - Playwright (primary UI automation framework)- TypeScript (primary language for test development)- Jest (for unit testing and test utilities)- Docker and Kubernetes (for containerized test environments)- GitHub Actions (for CI/CD)- Karate (for E2E API Testing)Key Responsibilities : - Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the UI SDET/QA engineering team- Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of Playwright-based UI automation frameworks- Architect and enforce the use of the Page Object Model (POM) and data-driven testing paradigms for UI automation- Design and own comprehensive test plans in partnership with Product Owners to align testing strategies and automation scripts with BDD delivery practices- Ensure UI test suites are maintainable, reliable, efficient, and scalable- Drive adoption of best practices for reducing flakiness, increasing speed, and ensuring meaningful assertions in UI tests- Establish and maintain robust regression testing processes to ensure ongoing UI quality- Implement feedback loops from test results and production issues to continuously improve test coverage and effectiveness- Drive the evolution and refactoring of UI test suites to adapt to product changes, reduce technical debt, and maximize long-term value- Champion a culture of quality, rapid feedback, and continuous improvement throughout the SDLC- Drive a TDD (Test-Driven Development) culture across the UI engineering team, including promoting learning and adoption of test automation by all engineers- Collaborate closely with product, development, UX, and DevOps teams to deliver integrated, high-quality solutions- Lead the adoption of modern UI testing tools, frameworks, and best practices- Drive root cause analysis and continuous improvement for UI defects and quality issues- Ensure engineering rigor, code quality, and effective documentation in all UI test assets- Facilitate clear communication, knowledge sharing, and effective documentation within the team- Support team growth through coaching, feedback, and skills developmentCore Qualities Skills : - Proven experience leading UI SDET or QA engineering teams and delivering complex UI automation projects- Deep expertise in Playwright and the Page Object Model for UI automation- Experience with data-driven testing approaches for UI, including test data creation and test data management, with knowledge of BDD frameworks and practices- Demonstrated ability to deliver maintainable, reliable, and efficient UI test suites- Strong understanding of explicit waits, robust locator strategies, and atomic test design- Experience with test reporting and analyticsfor UI automation- Experience with risk-based testing and exploratory testing for UI- Strong programming and scripting skills in TypeScript- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and integrating UI automated tests into the SDLC- Strong collaboration and alignment skills across disciplines- Willingness to learn,share knowledge, and adapt to evolving technologies- System design skills and awareness of technical debt and tradeoffs in UI test automation- Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management abilities- Comfort with ambiguity, discovery, and rapid change- Commitment to engineering excellence, security, and responsible practicesPreferred Qualifications : - 5+ years of hands-on UI SDET, QA, or software engineering experience, with 2+ years in a technical leadership role- Track record of architecting and delivering scalable, reliable UI automation systems- Experience with modern development and testing practices (CI/CD, automated testing, code reviews)- Demonstrated ability to mentor and grow engineers- Experience working in cross-functional, agile teams- Highly Desirable- Experience testing non-deterministic systems, AI/ML outputs, or GenAI-powered UI features- Experience using AI to accelerate the SDLC, UI test automation, and quality analysis- Experience with test strategies for non-deterministic, probabilistic, or data-driven UI systems- Experience with containerization (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) for UI test environments- Familiarity with the Test Pyramid and balancing UI, integration, and unit tests- Experience thriving in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and balancing rapid delivery with technical excellence- Experience leading or working with distributed, multidisciplinary teams (ref:hirist.tech)