Lead Software Development Engineer - Test - Automation Testing in Ahmedabad, India

Job Description :We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Lead Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to drive the quality strategy for our AI-driven cloud operations platform. This role will focus on building scalable, reliable, and intelligent test automation systems, enabling high-quality releases in a fast-paced SaaS https://jobeax.com/link/2rce0yCTCWx0P6oA ideal candidate will champion modern quality engineering practices, including automation, cloud-native testing, and observability-driven validation. This role goes beyond traditional QA to ensure end-to-end product quality across distributed https://jobeax.com/link/LNO4qyefA3UlJa2l Responsibilities :- Lead and drive the quality engineering strategy for our cloud-native SaaS platform.- Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks and test suites across UI, API, and integration layers.- Collaborate closely with engineering teams to embed quality practices within the development lifecycle (shift-left).- Ensure seamless integration of automated tests into CI/CD pipelines with appropriate quality gates.- Define and implement test strategies for microservices-based and distributed systems.- Establish best practices for test design, execution, and reporting, continuously improving frameworks and processes.- Drive API-first testing strategy, including contract and schema validation.- Utilize observability tools (logs, metrics, traces) to validate system behavior and improve production quality (shift-right).- Work with product and engineering teams to ensure high test coverage and release confidence.- Experience with performance and load testing for cloud-native, distributed systems, including defining strategies, evaluating tools (e.g., k6, Locust, Gatling), and ensuring system scalability and reliability at scale.- Mentor and manage a team of quality engineers, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous improvement.- Participate in architecture and design discussions to influence testability and https://jobeax.com/link/sWqJbexktZSsmry0 Have :- Strong programming experience in Python (preferred) or Java/JavaScript.- Hands-on experience with modern automation frameworks: Playwright / Cypress (UI Automation), Pytest / Robot / similar frameworks.- Strong experience in API testing: REST APIs using tools like Postman/Newman, REST Assured, or Python (requests).- Experience with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI.- Solid understanding of cloud-native architectures (microservices, containers, distributed systems).- Experience working with Docker and Kubernetes-based environments.- Strong understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile methodologies.- Experience leading or contributing to modernization/migration initiatives (e.g., legacy to modern automation frameworks, tooling consolidation, platform upgrades).- Experience testing cloud-based applications, preferably on AWS.- Familiarity with contract testing / schema validation (OpenAPI, Pact, etc.).- Exposure to observability tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, ELK/OpenSearch.- Familiarity with AI-driven or intelligent test automation https://jobeax.com/link/9zWo11JBfT9Rcaqr to Have :- Experience with AI/ML-driven systems testing, including validating model outputs, testing non-deterministic systems (e.g., LLM-based features), and understanding of data quality, drift, and bias considerations.- Knowledge of event-driven architectures (Kafka, messaging systems) and testing strategies.- Exposure to security testing fundamentals (OWASP).- Experience implementing shift-right practices such as synthetic monitoring or canary https://jobeax.com/link/Qfb1d8SN44QrcbuF Skills :- Ability to drive quality culture across teams.- Proactive mindset with a focus on continuous improvement.- Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative https://jobeax.com/link/LhHSGZNYqTbaUoN1 :- 8 - 12 years of experience in test automation/quality engineering.- Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and debugging skills.- Strong communication and stakeholder management https://jobeax.com/link/GXGu53mOXDiLg0qI :- Bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field (ref:hirist.tech)