Senior Automation QA Engineer

Senior Automation QA Engineer (Networking/Telecom Domain) Experience:4+ years Location: Kochi/Thirivanathapuram, Hybrid- 4-day office 1 1-day WFHThis is a critical role for our client with a strong background as an Automation QA Engineer or Software Developer in Test (SDET), who is passionate about building, maintaining, and scaling robust automated test solutions for technically complex, high-load, and distributed systems. Note:Due to the specialised nature of our client's business, candidates with prior work experience in theNetworking, Telecom, Cybersecurity, or High-Load/Distributed Systemsdomain are strongly preferred. Key Responsibilities Automation Framework Leadership:Design, develop, and maintain advanced, scalable, and reusable test automation frameworks, with a strong focus on Python and thepytestecosystem. Coding & Scripting:Write high-quality, maintainable test code in Python, applying strong Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles and design patterns. Utilize features like mocking, parametrization, and custom fixture layers effectively. System Testing:Implement comprehensive test automation for UI (Web) and Mobile applications using modern tools likeSelenium WebDriver, Appium, Playwright, or Cypress . Distributed Systems Testing:Develop and execute automation tests for complex backend systems, including those leveraging message brokers/streaming systems likeApache KafkaandRabbitMQ . CI/CD Integration:Champion a solid CI/CD mindset, integrating automated tests seamlessly into pipelines using tools such asJenkins, TeamCity, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CIto ensure continuous quality. Environment Management:Build and manage containerized test environments usingDockerandDocker Compose , with a working understanding of orchestration platforms likeKubernetes (K8s) . Troubleshooting & Observability:Utilize advanced analytical and debugging skills to perform root cause analysis by correlating logs, tracing data, and metrics using observability tools likeKibana, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack, and CloudWatch . Cloud Proficiency:Leverage hands-on experience with cloud platforms ( AWS, GCP, or Azure ) to manage test infrastructure and environments. Quality Advocacy:Collaborate effectively with Development, DevOps, and Product Management teams, driving a culture of quality and technical excellence. Innovation:Explore and utilize AI-driven productivity tools (e.g., Cursor, Claude) to enhance test design, documentation, and automation efforts. Required Skills and Experience 4+ yearsof hands-on experience in a dedicated Automation QA Engineer or SDET role. 4+ years of strong, hands-on Python experiencein test automation, including advanced knowledge of OOP, design patterns, and expertise withpytest(or similar frameworks like unittest). Mandatory Domain Experience:Proven working experience in theNetworking, Telecom, Cybersecurity, or High-Load/Distributed Systemsdomain. Deep expertise in developing and maintaining automated test frameworks from the ground up ( Framework Development is a key strength ). Experience withCI/CDprocesses and tools (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, etc.). Working knowledge of message brokers/streaming (e.g.,Kafka, RabbitMQ ). Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud services ( AWS/GCP/Azure ). Experience with UI/Mobile test automation (Selenium, Appium, Playwright, or Cypress). Excellent communication (written and verbal) and collaboration skills. Bonus Skills Experience in multiple programming languages (e.g., JavaScript, Kotlin, Java, or Go). Experience with high-load testing and performance engineering. Practical experience with AI tools (Cursor, Claude) for coding and productivity.