Quality Assurance Automation Engineer (Java)

Salary: $45,000 USDAutomation QA Engineer (Hybrid)About the RoleWe are seeking a highly skilled QA professional who can ensure exceptional product quality for a large-scale financial technology platform serving millions of users. The role combines manual and automated testing responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on backend services, APIs, and microservices automation. You will play a key part in shaping quality strategies, improving QA processes, and mentoring team members to maintain a secure and seamless user experience.Key ResponsibilitiesAutomated TestingDesign and maintain automation frameworks for backend services, APIs (REST/gRPC), and microservices.Develop automated regression and functional test suites.Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as GitLab, Jenkins, and Gradle.Validate distributed architectures through mock/stub strategies.Modernize test strategies for legacy systems.Implement robust logging, debugging, and reporting mechanisms.Manual TestingPlan, design, and execute tests for complex workflows in the credit lifecycle.Conduct exploratory testing to identify usability and functional issues.Review specifications and collaborate with stakeholders to improve overall quality.Process Improvement & CollaborationStandardize QA best practices across the organization.Recommend and implement new QA tools and frameworks.Mentor junior QA engineers and lead quality improvement initiatives.Analyze production issues, identify root causes, and implement preventive measures.Required Qualifications5+ years of experience in QA or test automation.Strong development and automation skills in object-oriented languages, primarily Java.Hands-on experience with backend/API automation tools (e.g., REST Assured, gRPC).Proficiency with testing frameworks such as JUnit, TestNG, and AssertJ.Familiarity with CI/CD tools (GitLab, Jenkins, Gradle).Experience with mocking frameworks (e.g., Mockito).Ability to automate using scripting languages (Python, Shell).Deep understanding of QA processes, test planning, and bug management.Experience working in an agile development environment. (Coding challenge required during selection process.)Preferred QualificationsExperience automating batch jobs and working with legacy systems.QA experience in mission-critical or financial systems.Familiarity with container environments (Docker/Kubernetes).Knowledge of performance testing tools (JMeter, Gatling).Experience with QA management tools (Zephyr, TestRail, TestLink).QA certifications (e.g., ISTQB).