Senior Software Development Engineer Test

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (Sr. SDET)Experience: 5+ yearsLocation: OnsiteIndustry: Media & EntertainmentAbout the RoleWe are looking for a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) with deep expertise in software development, modern programming practices, BDD-driven methodologies, AWS, SQL, NoSQL, RESTful APIs, AI productivity tools, and QA methodologies to join our engineering team. You will design and own service-level automation frameworks and CI/CD quality gates, which will require an expert level of programming knowledge. You will be a key part of the scrum team, leading QA decisions for backend automation. You will partner closely with the development team to shape the testing, define the API contract expectations, own integration testing, and drive shift-left practices while mentoring others in this practice. We value strong automation skills over expertise in any specific language.We are rebuilding a legacy system into a modern, scalable platform, REST APIs, and cloud-native architecture. In this role you own backend/API quality - defining and verifying service contracts, driving integration testing, validating data correctness across the many systems, ensuring seamless integration across API and database layers.This role is ideal for a highly motivated engineer who thrives in small, dynamic teams and takes ownership of problems—designing, developing, and executing QA automation solutions without waiting for step-by-step instructions.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign, develop, and maintain automated test systems for API testingAdopt a BDD-driven approach for selective, high-value business-readable scenarios that enable clarity between Product and Engineering.Write, execute, and automate test plans that cover REST API validation, database operations, and load testing.Collaborate with other backend engineers ensuring cohesive end-to-end testing.Lead test data strategy for backend services and implement self-service utilities that the UI teams can reuse.Participate in sprint planning, design reviews, and product discussions. Advocate for testability and quality.Investigate and debug issues, conduct root cause analysis.Research and review test productivity tools and libraries, making recommendations to improve the overall productivity of the team.Champion QA best practices with the team.Required Experience5+ years in software test engineering including 4+ years creating and maintaining test automation frameworks for API and DB testing.Proven strong coding experience in at least one or more programming languages.Ability to write tests using a BDD framework (e.g., Behave).Solid grasp of software engineering fundamentals, design patterns, and best practices.Hands-on API testing, contract testing.Solid CI/CD experience (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, etc.) and Git best practices.Comfort with cloud and containers (AWS, Docker) and with databases such as SQL and NoSQL.Comfort with security best practices and testing tools such as OWASP ZAP, RESTler, etc.Proven analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team environmentComfortable working in Agile/Scrum teams, using tools like JIRA and Confluence.Proficiency in leveraging and evaluating AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code) to accelerate development, improve code quality, and enhance productivity.Preferred QualificationsPrior experience in the media & entertainment industry.Strong Python coding skills.Knowledge of performance testing tools and practices.Knowledge of messaging architecture and protocols (RabbitMQ, Kafka, NATS, etc.)Knowledge of Postman for API testingBasic experience in UI automation (Playwright preferred, Selenium acceptable).