Sr Test Automation Engineer / SDET (Framework Owner/Gateway Services)

Genesis10 is currently seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer/SDET for a 6+ month contract-to-hire opportunity located in Berkeley Heights, NJ. This position is on-site 5 days per week.

Compensation: $80.00- 85.00per hour, W2, depending on skill and experience level.

Job Description:
Our client is seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer (SDET) to support Gateway Services within a highly integrated, reliability-critical environment. This is an automation-first, hands-on engineering role (approximately 70% automation / 30% manual) for someone who can design, build, and own automation frameworks, not just maintain them.

You will be responsible for greenfield framework creation, scaling API and integration test coverage, and modernizing manual test efforts into stable, data-driven automated suites. This role requires deep technical understanding, strong problem-solving instincts, and the ability to clearly explain what you built, how it works, how it fails, and how you prevent failures from recurring.

Key Responsibilities:

Automation Framework Ownership
Design, build, and evolve automation frameworks from scratch, including:

• Architecture and suite structure
• Abstractions and patterns
• Reliability and flake reduction strategies
• Reporting, maintainability, and scalability
• Clearly articulate framework design decisions, tradeoffs, and long-term evolution strategy.

API & Integration Testing:

• Build and expand API/service automation using Java and Rest Assured (or equivalent).
• Automate integration-heavy workflows with complex data dependencies.
• Implement deterministic setup/teardown, mock strategies, and environment-safe test data practices.
• Validate backend behavior using SQL/JDBC within automated tests for data integrity and assertions.

Test Data & Environment Strategy

• Define and own test data management strategy, including:
  • Seed/refresh approaches
  • Data isolation and idempotent test design
  • Cleanup and environment stability
• Support testing across multiple environments with consistent, repeatable execution.

Execution, CI/CD & Observability

• Integrate automated suites into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins):
  • Scheduled runs, gates, reporting, and failure triage
• Consume and interpret automated test reports; diagnose failures efficiently.
• Use observability tools (e.g., Splunk) for:
  • Debugging and root-cause analysis
  • Log-based validation
  • Monitoring integration behavior during test execution.

Quality & Collaboration

• Troubleshoot test failures, analyze defects, and partner closely with engineers to drive resolution.
• Convert high-value manual regression scenarios into scalable automation, prioritizing by risk and ROI.
• Execute targeted manual testing for new features, exploratory validation, and investigations as needed.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, test planning, estimation, and reviews.
• Communicate quality status, risks, and coverage clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required Qualifications (Must-Haves)

• 6+ years of QA experience with significant, current hands-on automation engineering.
• Framework ownership experience:
  • Designed and implemented an automation framework from scratch or
  • Led a major framework redesign/rebuild (not just extending existing tests).
• Strong Java skills; comfortable writing, debugging, and maintaining automation code daily.
• Strong API automation experience using Rest Assured (or equivalent Java-based stack).
• Experience automating APIs with data dependencies, mocks, and backend validation.
• Strong SQL skills for backend verification (joins, filters, aggregations).
• UI automation experience with Selenium and/or Playwright (code-level proficiency).
• CI/CD experience with Jenkins (or equivalent), including reporting and failure triage.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; able to discuss implementation details with depth.
• JDBC integration within automation frameworks for backend validation.
• Hands-on experience using Splunk for debugging, monitoring, and log-based validation.
• Exposure to non-functional testing (performance, load, resiliency).
  • Tools such as JMeter are a plus.
• Experience with:
  • Parallel execution
  • Grid or containerized test execution
  • Reliability improvements for large suites
• Background in financial, payment, or transaction-processing systems.
• Familiarity with Docker, AWS, or modern DevOps tooling supporting automation at scale.

Highly Preferred / Nice-to-Haves

• JDBC integration within automation frameworks for backend validation.
• Hands-on experience using Splunk for debugging, monitoring, and log-based validation.
• Exposure to non-functional testing (performance, load, resiliency).
  • Tools such as JMeter are a plus.
• Experience with:
  • Parallel execution
  • Grid or containerized test execution
  • Reliability improvements for large suites
• Background in financial, payment, or transaction-processing systems.
• Familiarity with Docker, AWS, or modern DevOps tooling supporting automation at scale.

If you have the described qualifications and are interested in this exciting opportunity, please apply!

Ranked a Top Staffing Firm in the U.S. by Staffing Industry Analysts for six consecutive years, Genesis10 puts thousands of consultants and employees to work across the United States every year in contract, contract-for-hire, and permanent placement roles. With more than 300 active clients, Genesis10 provides access to many of the Fortune 100 firms and a variety of mid-market organizations across the full spectrum of industry verticals.

For contract roles, Genesis10 offers the benefits listed below. If this is a perm-placement opportunity, our recruiter can talk you through the unique benefits offered for that particular client. Benefits of Working with Genesis10:

• Access to hundreds of clients, most of whom have been working with Genesis10 for 5-20+ years.
• The opportunity to have a career-home in Genesis10; many of our consultants have been working exclusively with Genesis10 for years.
• Access to an experienced, caring recruiting team (more than 7 years of experience, on average)
• Behavioral Health Platform
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Health Savings Account
• Voluntary Hospital Indemnity (Critical Illness & Accident)
• Voluntary Term Life Insurance
• 401K
• Sick Pay (for applicable states/municipalities)
• Commuter Benefits (Dallas, NYC, SF, and Illinois)

For multiple years running, Genesis10 has been recognized as a Top Staffing Firm in the U.S., as a Best Company for Work-Life Balance, as a Best Company for Career Growth, for Diversity, and for Leadership, amongst others. To learn more and to view all our available career opportunities, please visit us at our website.

Genesis10 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.