SDET Automation Tester (API & UI)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: SDET Automation Tester (API & UI)

Company: Citi

Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Software Quality Assurance / Test Engineering

Date Posted: April 22, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and maintain robust automated test frameworks for both API and UI components of critical financial applications.

• Execute comprehensive test strategies and plans, ensuring thorough validation of functionality, performance, reliability, and security across all application layers.

• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous integration and rapid feedback loops for enhanced software quality and faster release cycles.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including developers and product owners, to foster a quality-centric development culture and mentor junior QA engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the "Applications Development" job family and "Technology" job group, indicating a strong focus on the technical aspects of software quality assurance and its direct impact on application functionality and delivery within a large financial institution. The emphasis on both API and UI automation suggests a need for a well-rounded SDET capable of handling end-to-end testing scenarios.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive test strategies and detailed test plans for new features and existing functionalities, covering both API and UI layers.

• Design, code, and maintain automated API test suites using tools such as Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, or SoapUI to validate RESTful and SOAP services.

• Develop and maintain automated UI test suites using frameworks like Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, or WebDriverIO to ensure cross-browser and cross-device compatibility.

• Contribute to the evolution and improvement of existing automation frameworks, focusing on best practices for modularity, reusability, scalability, and reporting mechanisms.

• Proactively identify, document, and track software defects, collaborating closely with development teams to ensure timely and effective resolution.

• Seamlessly integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps) to facilitate continuous testing and quality validation.

• Foster a collaborative environment by working closely with developers, product owners, and other QA engineers to understand requirements, provide constructive feedback, and champion a culture of quality.

• Mentor and guide junior QA engineers on automation best practices, coding standards, and effective test design.

• Generate clear, concise, and actionable test execution reports, performance metrics, and quality dashboards for presentation to key stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of mentoring junior engineers suggests this role carries a degree of leadership responsibility, requiring not only strong technical automation skills but also the ability to guide and develop team members. This implies a need for candidates who can articulate technical concepts clearly and demonstrate effective communication and training capabilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a closely related technical field, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong technical foundation.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in software quality assurance, with a significant emphasis on designing, developing, and implementing robust test automation solutions for both API and UI layers.

Required Skills:

• Programming Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in at least one object-oriented or scripting programming language such as Java, Python, JavaScript, or C#.

• API Test Automation: Extensive hands-on experience with API test automation tools and frameworks, including but not limited to Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, or SoapUI.

• UI Test Automation: Proven experience with UI test automation tools and frameworks such as Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, or WebDriverIO.

• Web Technologies: Solid understanding of fundamental web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as web services (REST, SOAP).

• Version Control: Proficiency in using version control systems, with a strong preference for Git.

• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity and practical experience working within Agile development frameworks like Scrum or Kanban.

• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, coupled with meticulous attention to detail for effective defect identification and resolution.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, essential for effective collaboration and reporting.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.

• Knowledge of performance testing tools and methodologies.

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).

• Experience with test management tools (e.g., Jira, TestRail).

• Understanding of security testing principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given Citi's role as a major financial institution, a strong understanding of web services (REST/SOAP) and web technologies is paramount. The requirement for proficiency in at least one major programming language like Java or Python signifies the need for candidates who can write production-quality code for their automation scripts, not just record and playback. The emphasis on Git and Agile methodologies points to a modern development workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Automation Framework Design: Showcase examples of automated test framework architecture you have designed or significantly contributed to, highlighting modularity, reusability, and scalability principles.

• API Automation Case Studies: Provide detailed examples of API test automation projects, demonstrating your ability to validate RESTful and SOAP services, including test data management and response validation strategies.

• UI Automation Case Studies: Present examples of UI test automation projects, illustrating the creation of maintainable and resilient scripts for complex web applications, including cross-browser compatibility testing.

• CI/CD Integration Examples: Include evidence of integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, such as sample pipeline configurations or explanations of how your automation contributed to continuous integration.

• Code Samples: Submit well-documented code samples of automation scripts or framework components that demonstrate your programming proficiency and adherence to coding best practices.

Process Documentation:

• Test Strategy and Planning: Document examples of how you have developed test strategies and detailed test plans tailored to specific project requirements, including risk assessment and scope definition.

• Defect Reporting and Management: Illustrate your process for identifying, documenting, tracking, and resolving defects, including the use of defect tracking systems and collaboration with development teams.

• Reporting and Metrics: Provide examples of test execution reports and quality metrics dashboards you have created, demonstrating your ability to communicate test progress and product quality effectively to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an SDET role at a company like Citi, a portfolio should clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to not just write automated tests, but to build and maintain robust, scalable, and integrated automation solutions. Evidence of contribution to framework design and CI/CD integration is crucial, as is the ability to articulate the "why" behind technical decisions in their automation work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for SDET Automation Testers with 3-5 years of experience in Pune, India, a competitive salary range would typically fall between ₹8,00,000 to ₹15,00,000 per annum. This range can vary based on specific skills, interview performance, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and dependents.

• Retirement savings plans and employee stock purchase options.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.

• Employee assistance programs offering confidential counseling and support.

• Access to Citi's global network and resources.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and incentives.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this full-time, on-site role are typically 40 hours per week, operating within the standard business hours of Pune, India (Asia/Kolkata timezone). Flexibility may be offered based on team needs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is an estimate based on market data for similar roles in Pune, India, considering the experience level and the specific technical skills required for an SDET position. It's important for candidates to note that actual compensation can vary and is subject to negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Citi operates as a leading global financial services corporation, providing a wide range of financial products and services to consumers, corporations, and governments. This context implies a highly regulated environment with a strong emphasis on security, reliability, and compliance.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (10,000+ employees). As a global banking giant, Citi's scale means opportunities for exposure to diverse projects, complex systems, and a structured career progression path. It also suggests a robust infrastructure and established processes.

Founded: 1913. With over a century of history, Citi has a deep-rooted presence in the financial industry, indicating stability, extensive market knowledge, and a well-established corporate culture.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Agile Teams: Likely organized into small, agile teams comprising developers, testers, product owners, and business analysts, all working collaboratively towards common sprint goals.

• Specialized QA/Engineering Departments: Within the broader technology organization, there may be dedicated QA or SDET teams that provide expertise, set standards, and support individual project teams.

• Hierarchical Reporting: While agile teams promote collaboration, there will likely be a clear reporting structure, with SDETs reporting to a QA Lead, Engineering Manager, or similar role.

Methodology:

• Agile & DevOps Practices: Expect a strong adherence to Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban) and DevOps principles, emphasizing collaboration, automation, and continuous delivery.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions regarding test strategies, automation priorities, and quality metrics will be informed by data analysis, defect trends, and performance indicators.

• Quality Assurance as a Shared Responsibility: While SDETs lead automation efforts, there's a culture that promotes quality as a collective responsibility across the entire development lifecycle.

Company Website: https://www.citi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's position in the financial services industry necessitates a rigorous approach to quality assurance. Candidates should expect a focus on security, data integrity, and adherence to strict regulatory compliance. The large company size suggests potential for well-defined processes and opportunities for specialization, but also a need for candidates who can navigate large organizational structures.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level SDET (3-5 years experience). This level signifies an individual contributor role with a strong technical focus, expected to independently design and implement automation solutions, contribute to framework improvements, and mentor junior team members. The scope includes both API and UI testing, requiring a broad skill set.

Reporting Structure: Typically reports to a QA Lead, Test Manager, or Engineering Manager within a specific product or project team. May also interact regularly with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and development teams.

Operations Impact: The SDET's work directly impacts the speed and reliability of software releases. By ensuring comprehensive automated test coverage for APIs and UIs, they enable faster iteration cycles, reduce the risk of production defects, and contribute to a higher quality user experience, all of which are critical for a financial institution like Citi.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior SDET/Lead SDET: Progression to a senior individual contributor role with increased responsibility for complex automation challenges, framework architecture, and technical leadership.

• Test Architect: Opportunity to specialize in designing and evolving automation frameworks and strategies across multiple projects or teams.

• Engineering Management: Potential to move into management roles, leading QA teams and overseeing testing efforts.

• Specialization: Focus on specific areas like performance testing, security testing, or specialized automation domains.

• Cross-functional Roles: Possibility to transition into broader software engineering roles or roles focused on CI/CD pipeline development.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a mid-level SDET at Citi, growth opportunities are likely to be structured and well-defined, leveraging the company's extensive training programs and internal mobility. The emphasis on both API and UI automation suggests that demonstrating expertise in both areas can open doors to more specialized or broader roles within the technology organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Corporate Office Environment. This role is on-site, implying a traditional office setting with dedicated workspaces, meeting rooms, and collaborative areas.

Office Location(s): Pune, Maharashtra, India. The specific office location in Pune will offer access to a hub of technological talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Access to meeting rooms and common areas designed for team collaboration, brainstorming, and knowledge sharing sessions.

• Standard IT Infrastructure: Provision of necessary hardware, software, and network access, including development machines, testing environments, and access to enterprise tools.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for face-to-face interaction with development teams, QA peers, and product stakeholders, fostering strong working relationships.

Work Schedule: The primary work schedule will align with standard business hours in India (Asia/Kolkata). While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility for urgent tasks or specific project needs, but the core expectation is consistent presence in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: As an on-site role in a major financial institution, the work environment at Citi is expected to be professional and structured, with a strong emphasis on security protocols and adherence to corporate policies. Candidates should be prepared for a collaborative but formal office setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): One or more technical interviews focusing on programming skills (e.g., coding exercises in Java/Python), API and UI automation concepts, framework design, and problem-solving scenarios. Expect live coding challenges.

• System Design/Architecture Interview: An interview focused on designing an automation framework or solution for a given scenario, assessing architectural thinking and best practices.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, career goals, team fit, and to answer specific questions about the role and team.

• Final Round/Panel Interview: Potentially a final interview with senior leadership or a panel to make a definitive decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Examples: Choose 2-3 of your most impactful automation projects that best showcase your API and UI automation skills, framework contributions, and CI/CD integration experience.

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline: the problem statement, your approach/solution, the technologies/tools used, your specific contributions, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., increased test coverage, reduced regression time, defect detection rate).

• Prepare Code Walkthroughs: Be ready to walk through relevant code snippets from your portfolio, explaining your design choices, coding patterns, and how you ensured maintainability and reusability.

• Highlight Framework Contributions: Emphasize any work you've done on designing, building, or significantly enhancing automation frameworks. Discuss principles like Page Object Model (POM), Data-Driven Testing, and modular design.

• Demonstrate CI/CD Integration: If possible, show how your automation efforts fit into a CI/CD pipeline, explaining the benefits and your role in its implementation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, focusing on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming principles relevant to Java or Python.

• Automation Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would automate specific scenarios, considering edge cases, error handling, and data management for both APIs and UIs.

• Framework Design Scenarios: Think about how you would design an automation framework from scratch or improve an existing one, considering factors like scalability, maintainability, reporting, and integration.

• Behavioral Questions: Prepare to answer questions about teamwork, problem-solving, handling conflicts, and your approach to learning new technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "SDET" title, expect rigorous technical interviews. The portfolio review will be critical for demonstrating practical application of skills. Candidates should be prepared to code live and discuss their automation strategies in depth, focusing on how their work contributes to efficient and reliable software delivery.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Java, Python (required proficiency), JavaScript, C# (beneficial).

• API Automation: Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, SoapUI.

• UI Automation: Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, WebDriverIO.

• Version Control: Git (mandatory).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Test Management: Jira, TestRail (or similar).

• Reporting Tools: Built-in reporting from automation frameworks, potentially integration with tools like ExtentReports or Allure.

• Dashboarding: Potentially integration with tools like Grafana or custom dashboards for CI/CD pipeline status and test results.

CRM & Automation:

• CI/CD Platforms: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps, or similar.

• Build Tools: Maven, Gradle (if Java is used).

• Containerization: Docker (beneficial).

📝 Enhancement Note: The core of this role revolves around mastering API and UI automation tools and languages. Proficiency in Java or Python is essential, as are hands-on skills with industry-standard frameworks like Selenium/Playwright and Rest Assured. Experience with Git and CI/CD tools is a must for seamless integration into the development lifecycle.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality First: A strong commitment to delivering high-quality software through robust testing and automation.

• Continuous Improvement: An ongoing drive to enhance processes, tools, and methodologies to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where knowledge is shared, and feedback is constructively given and received.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of assigned tasks and responsibilities, ensuring timely delivery and high standards.

• Innovation: Encouraging the exploration and adoption of new technologies and approaches to solve complex testing challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Working closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on quality goals and requirements.

• Agile Team Integration: Actively participating in agile ceremonies (stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives) and contributing to team-wide problem-solving.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing insights, best practices, and learnings with peers through documentation, code reviews, and informal discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi, as a major financial institution, likely emphasizes a culture of rigor, compliance, and meticulousness. The SDET role will need to embody these values, ensuring that automation efforts are thorough, secure, and contribute to the overall stability and reliability of the financial services provided.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Automation Scalability: As applications grow and evolve, ensuring that automation frameworks remain scalable, maintainable, and efficient presents a continuous challenge.

• Complex System Integrations: Testing intricate integrations between various financial systems and microservices requires sophisticated automation strategies.

• Balancing Speed and Thoroughness: Delivering automation quickly for rapid releases while ensuring comprehensive test coverage and defect detection.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Keeping pace with new development technologies, testing tools, and evolving best practices in the fast-changing tech landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Automation Techniques: Deep dive into areas like AI-driven testing, performance testing automation, or security automation.

• Cloud & DevOps Training: Gaining expertise in cloud platforms and advanced CI/CD pipeline configurations.

• Industry Certifications: Pursuing certifications relevant to software testing and automation (e.g., ISTQB Advanced Level).

• Mentorship Programs: Participating in or leading mentorship initiatives to enhance leadership and coaching skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The financial industry is complex and highly regulated, meaning challenges often involve navigating these constraints while still aiming for agility. Growth opportunities will likely be tied to mastering these complexities and demonstrating leadership in driving quality initiatives within such an environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Automation Framework Design: "Describe how you would design an automation framework for a new microservices-based application. What key components would you include, and why?" (Focus on modularity, reusability, reporting, and integration).

• API vs. UI Automation: "When would you choose to automate an API test versus a UI test? Discuss the trade-offs and best practices for each." (Highlight the test automation pyramid and efficiency).

• CI/CD Integration: "How would you integrate your automated tests into a Jenkins pipeline to provide continuous feedback to the development team?" (Discuss build triggers, test execution steps, reporting, and failure handling).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Quality in Finance: "Citi operates in the financial services industry. How does this impact your approach to test automation and quality assurance?" (Emphasize security, compliance, data integrity, and risk mitigation).

• Team Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to collaborate closely with a developer to resolve a complex defect found by automation. What was your approach?" (Focus on communication, problem-solving, and teamwork).

• Mentorship Experience: "Tell me about your experience mentoring junior QA engineers. What strategies do you use to help them grow their automation skills?" (Highlight patience, clear explanations, and constructive feedback).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Problem-Solution-Outcome: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, the solution you implemented (your automation strategy and code), and the measurable outcome (e.g., time saved, defects found, coverage increased).

• Code Clarity: Be prepared to explain your code structure, design patterns (like POM), and decision-making rationale. Ensure your code examples are clean, well-commented, and demonstrate good programming practices.

• Tool Justification: Be ready to explain why you chose specific tools or frameworks for a given project and discuss any alternatives considered.

• Interactive Walkthrough: Instead of just presenting slides, consider a live, interactive walkthrough of a relevant code sample or a brief demonstration of a test running, if feasible and appropriate.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical proficiency but also strategic thinking about automation, its integration into the development lifecycle, and its impact on business objectives, especially within the high-stakes financial sector.

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📌 Application Steps

To apply for this SDET Automation Tester position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Citi careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Customize your resume to highlight your experience with API and UI automation, specific programming languages (Java/Python), and the tools/frameworks mentioned in the job description (Selenium, Playwright, Rest Assured, Postman, Git, CI/CD). Quantify achievements wherever possible (e.g., "Reduced regression testing time by 40%").

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your SDET skills. Be ready to discuss your contributions, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the impact of your work. Ensure you can explain your code and design decisions clearly.

• Practice Technical Questions: Rehearse answers to common coding, automation design, and scenario-based questions. Practice live coding exercises to build confidence and speed.

• Research Citi: Understand Citi's role in the financial industry, its commitment to technology, and its stated values. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.