Job Summary
The IT Software Engineer 2 - SDET / Backend API Test Automation will support the System Integration Testing (SIT) team with a primary focus on backend and API test automation. The role requires strong hands-on experience with Java, Cucumber/BDD, REST API testing, and automated testing frameworks. The engineer will design, develop, execute, and maintain automated tests, validate backend services, and support end-to-end system integration testing. Strong Java coding and API testing experience are required.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and maintain Java-based test automation solutions.
• Extend and enhance existing test automation frameworks.
• Design and execute automated tests for REST APIs and backend services.
• Develop and maintain Cucumber/BDD test scripts.
• Translate business requirements and acceptance criteria into test strategies, test cases, and automation scripts.
• Plan, design, develop, and maintain API test automation frameworks.
• Support System Integration Testing (SIT) and end-to-end integration testing.
• Develop automated functional and integration tests using Java, Cucumber, Karate, and JMeter.
• Create and maintain test data and SQL queries for validation.
• Perform exploratory and manual testing when appropriate.
• Support CI/CD automation for testing and quality validation.
• Troubleshoot test failures and backend/API issues.
• Collaborate with developers, product owners, business users, and other test engineers.
• Provide technical guidance and support to team members on automation practices.
• Document test strategies, test cases, automation frameworks, and test results.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• 2-4 years of overall professional experience, with candidates having additional experience considered if their background aligns with the role and they are comfortable working at a Level 2/junior level.
• At least 2 years of hands-on Java experience and ability to demonstrate Java coding skills during the interview.
• At least 2 years of Cucumber/BDD experience.
• At least 2 years of test automation experience.
• Strong hands-on experience testing REST APIs, including API methods, backend architecture, API behavior, and API test scenario design.
• Experience writing Cucumber test scripts and applying BDD testing concepts and frameworks.
• Hands-on experience developing automated test scripts and test cases and working with automation frameworks.
• Ability to write SQL queries and validate data in relational databases.
• Experience with full-stack/integration testing and third-party system integrations.
• End-to-end system integration testing experience.
• Experience developing scenario-based performance tests using JMeter.
• Strong backend/API testing experience; UI testing alone is not sufficient.
• Firm commitment and ability to work onsite in Chicago five days per week.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with Karate.
• Python development experience.
• AWS Cloud experience.
• Test-Driven Development (TDD) experience.
• CI/CD and Jenkins experience.
• Git experience.
• Experience with Apigee or other API gateways.
• Experience with microservices architecture.
• Load and performance testing experience.
• Agile or Lean development experience.
• Experience with code review practices.
• Strong technical documentation skills.
