Senior QA Automation Lead (Java)

Citi•Toronto, ON

3d•CA$120,800 - CA$170,800•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior QA Automation Lead (Java) is a senior-level Test Automation Development engineer supporting Fixed Income Rates eTrading systems within a leading global financial institution. The position is embedded within a high-performing engineering team operating under a Shift-Left testing philosophy, where quality and automation are integrated from the earliest stages of the software development lifecycle. The Lead will spend the majority of their time hands-on coding, designing, and building scalable automation frameworks and tools from the ground up while also providing strategic direction, technical mentorship, and cross-functional collaboration. This is an opportunity for a seasoned automation engineer to make a direct impact on a high-priority strategic program by championing innovation, leveraging AI-driven technologies, and advancing the organization's vision of a zero-touch, fully automated QA platform.

Requirements

5+ years' hands-on experience in a QA Automation role with demonstrated progression in scope and technical complexity.
Exceptional proficiency in core Java with a strong, in-depth understanding of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts.
Hands-on experience developing and coding in Java (Rust is a big plus) with the ability to build robust and scalable automation solutions.
Hands-on experience with scripting languages including Python and Shell.
Expertise in building and utilizing test automation frameworks based on BDD methodologies (e.g., Cucumber) and TestNG.
Experience with backend automation using Java, Rust, and Python for data validation and accuracy checks.
Familiarity with containerization technologies such as Docker and container orchestration services.
Practical experience with Generative AI (Gen AI) concepts and their application in product development or quality assurance is a plus.
Proven experience in the Financial Services industry, specifically within the Fixed Income eTrading domain is highly preferred.
Familiarity with AI-powered development tools such as GitHub Copilot is a plus.
Experience developing BDD-based frameworks in Rust is a plus.
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent relevant experience.
Master's degree preferred.

Nice To Haves

Rust is a big plus
Practical experience with Generative AI (Gen AI) concepts and their application in product development or quality assurance is a plus.
Proven experience in the Financial Services industry, specifically within the Fixed Income eTrading domain is highly preferred.
Familiarity with AI-powered development tools such as GitHub Copilot is a plus.
Experience developing BDD-based frameworks in Rust is a plus.
Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive test automation strategy for Fixed Income eTrading applications, defining the scope, tools, and methodologies required to ensure top-tier software quality.
Architect, build, and maintain robust, scalable, and efficient test automation frameworks aligned with industry best practices and a Shift-Left testing approach.
Author and execute automated test scripts covering functional, regression, integration, and API testing to validate microservices and ensure data integrity.
Integrate automated test suites seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous testing and accelerate feedback cycles.
Conduct performance, load, and stress testing to validate system reliability and scalability under production-like conditions.
Manage and track defects, collaborating closely with developers to drive timely resolution and ensure comprehensive automated regression coverage.
Design and build proprietary internal tools from scratch to simplify, automate, and accelerate the software testing process.
Champion innovative automation initiatives including Generative AI applications — with the goal of creating a zero-touch, fully automated QA platform.
Participate in code reviews, share engineering best practices, and continuously drive improvements in automation processes and tooling.
Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members, supporting their professional growth and helping them resolve technical challenges.
Collaborate with stakeholders and the broader engineering team to align development efforts with project objectives and delivery timelines.