Lead QA - API Automation Engineer

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Engineer in QA to spearhead our API automation efforts. This role is critical in ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of our microservices-based platform built with Spring Boot and deployed on Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The ideal candidate will have a strong background in API automation using RestAssured/Karate and BDD frameworks and a deep understanding of cloud-native technologies. Responsibilities Leadership and Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive API automation strategy aligned with the overall quality goals of the organization. Identify and implement innovative testing approaches and technologies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our QA processes. API Automation Development: Design, develop, and maintain robust and scalable API automation frameworks using RestAssured and BDD principles. Write clean, well-documented, and maintainable automation scripts to validate API functionality, performance, and security. Implement data-driven testing strategies to ensure comprehensive test coverage. Integrate automation scripts into the CI/CD pipeline for continuous testing. Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure testability. Participate in design and architecture reviews to provide feedback on testability and identify potential quality risks. Communicate test results and quality metrics to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. Work with extended integration partner teams to define and execute exploratory and automated API tests Quality Assurance and Best Practices: Establish and enforce QA guidelines, best practices, and standards across the team. Actively review code to ensure software quality and functional accuracy. Ensure all code adheres to secure coding practices and meets minimum code coverage requirements. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies in API automation and cloud-native testing. Promote a culture of quality ownership and accountability within the team. Operational Support: Handle operational issues with minimal oversight, troubleshooting and resolving problems quickly and effectively. Build reusable frameworks and integrate SaaS frameworks to improve efficiency and scalability. Qualifications Experience: 8-12 years of experience in software development and quality assurance, with a strong focus on API automation. Technical Expertise: API Automation: Extensive experience with RestAssured for API testing. Proficiency in Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) frameworks like Cucumber/Gherkin. Experience with API testing tools such as Hoppscotch, Postman, Swagger, or ReadyAPI. Knowledge of API security testing principles and tools (e.g., OWASP). Java and Spring Boot: Strong proficiency in Java and related open-source technologies. Hands-on experience with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud frameworks for building microservices. Experience with dependency injection, RESTful APIs, and other core Spring concepts. Cloud Technologies: Solid understanding of cloud-native technologies and architectures. Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes. Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services (e.g., Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions). Testing Frameworks and Tools: Experience with unit testing frameworks like JUnit and TestNG. Proficiency in using IDEs such as Eclipse or IntelliJ IDEA. Experience with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI. Databases: Basic knowledge of relational databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL datastores (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra). Experience with data quality testing and working with large datasets. Version Control and Collaboration: Proficiency in using version control systems like Git. Experience with collaborative tools like GitHub, Bitbucket, or GitLab. Other Technologies (Nice to Have): Knowledge of contract testing using Pact or similar frameworks. Exposure to performance testing tools like JMeter or Gatling. Experience with monitoring and logging tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK stack. Agile Development: Familiarity with Agile development methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban). Experience working in Agile teams and participating in sprint ceremonies. Soft Skills: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills. Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Keen to learn the design and architecture of the product and participate in ceremonies that can influence both.