Senior Automation QA Engineer

Senior Automation QA Engineer (Networking/Telecom Domain)Experience: 4+ yearsLocation: 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 the Networking, Telecom, Cybersecurity, or High-Load/Distributed Systems domain 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 the pytest ecosystem.- 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 like Selenium WebDriver, Appium, Playwright, or Cypress.- Distributed Systems Testing: Develop and execute automation tests for complex backend systems, including those leveraging message brokers/streaming systems like Apache Kafka and RabbitMQ.- CI/CD Integration: Champion a solid CI/CD mindset, integrating automated tests seamlessly into pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, TeamCity, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI to ensure continuous quality.- Environment Management: Build and manage containerized test environments using Docker and Docker Compose, with a working understanding of orchestration platforms like Kubernetes (K8s).- Troubleshooting & Observability: Utilize advanced analytical and debugging skills to perform root cause analysis by correlating logs, tracing data, and metrics using observability tools like Kibana, 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+ years of hands-on experience in a dedicated Automation QA Engineer or SDET role.- 4+ years of strong, hands-on Python experience in test automation, including advanced knowledge of OOP, design patterns, and expertise with pytest (or similar frameworks like unittest).- Mandatory Domain Experience: Proven working experience in the Networking, Telecom, Cybersecurity, or High-Load/Distributed Systems domain.- Deep expertise in developing and maintaining automated test frameworks from the ground up (Framework Development is a key strength).- Experience with CI/CD processes 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.