Java/Selenium Automation Test Lead/Architect (Remote - Must be local to MN)

Description of Project

• The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking one full-time resource to provide Quality Assurance (QA) Automation Programmer/Developer experience to provide technical leadership for automation efforts supporting the Minnesota Eligibility Technology System (METS)/SMRT DevOps team. QA has multiple efforts in progress of automating the QA Regression suite and needs a resource to assist successful completion of work, while documenting processes and procedures for ongoing maintenance and execution. Areas include, but are not limited to, METS, and other DHS and ISDS initiatives that demands support. In addition to this effort, once initial development is complete, make ongoing updates and new test case automation as well as improve overall efficiency of the automation.
• At a high level, the resource will provide senior-level technical leadership for automation architecture, framework design, and automation best practices while supporting ongoing modernization initiatives and continuous delivery efforts.  For additional details on the request such as qualifications, tasks, and evaluation criteria, see the attachments found in the Buyer Attachment section of the Event. 
• DHS does not anticipate that the QA Automation Programmer/Developer will need access to private data on individuals or protected health information, and therefore does not anticipate that vendor will need to enter a business associate or data sharing agreement with DHS. For additional details on the request such as qualifications, tasks, and evaluation criteria, see the attachments found in the Buyer Attachment section of the Event.
• The work is expected to be done remotely.

Resource Need

• This request is for one full-time staff augmentation resource.  Each vendor is allowed to submit one resource for consideration.
• Mode of Interview
• The State will conduct interviews. The State reserves the right to remove a resource from consideration if the resource is unavailable for interview as requested by the State.  Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Tasks

• Design, develop, maintain, and modernize the enterprise automation framework supporting the State's integrated healthcare eligibility system, ensuring long-term maintainability, scalability, sustainability, and reuse across multiple modernization initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership for automation architecture, framework design, coding standards, and automation best practices within the DevOps team.
• Evaluate and modernize existing automation frameworks to improve maintainability, scalability, reliability, and execution efficiency.
• Collaborate with developers, business analysts, DevOps engineers, and QA staff to define automation strategies, reusable test assets, and technical solutions.
• Design, execute, and maintain functional, system integration, API, and regression automation suites supporting statewide healthcare eligibility systems.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and support automated execution throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Mentor automation engineers through code reviews, technical coaching, framework guidance, and knowledge transfer.
• Develop SQL queries and perform database validation to support automated testing and troubleshoot complex application issues.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, defect triage, and technical design discussions while providing automation leadership.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend new automation tools, technologies, and framework enhancements that improve software quality and long-term maintainability.

Minimum Qualifications

• Seven (7) years’ experience designing, developing, and executing automated test solutions for large-scale enterprise applications.
• Five (5) years’ experience developing automation frameworks using Java and Selenium or comparable automation technologies.
• Five (5) years’ experience designing, developing, or significantly enhancing automation frameworks using object-oriented design principles and reusable framework architecture.
• Three (3) years’ experience integrating automated testing into Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines using tools such as Jenkins.
• Five (5) years’ experience writing SQL queries and performing database validation in support of automated testing.

Desired Skills

• Experience serving as an Automation Architect, Principal QA Automation Engineer, Automation Framework Lead, or Senior Automation Consultant.
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring automation engineers, and conducting automation code reviews.
• Experience modernizing mature automation frameworks to improve maintainability, scalability, sustainability, and long-term supportability.
• Experience designing automation frameworks from the ground up, including reusable components, reporting, coding standards, maintainability, scalability, and extensibility.
• Experience evaluating and modernizing legacy automation frameworks and implementing technical improvements.
• Experience supporting large, complex, mission-critical enterprise applications.
• Experience collaborating with developers, solution architects, DevOps engineers, and business analysts to implement automation strategies.
• Experience using IBM Engineering Test Management (ETM), IBM Quality Manager (QM), IBM Collaborative Lifecycle Management (CLM), or comparable enterprise test management tools.
• Experience automating web applications, REST APIs, and database validation.
• Experience with performance testing tools or supporting performance testing initiatives.
• Experience working within Agile/Scrum DevOps teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience supporting healthcare, human services, government, or other highly regulated enterprise environments.

“Cleo Consulting is an equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled)”