SDET Automation Tester (API & UI)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: SDET Automation Tester (API & UI) Company: Citi Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Job Type: Full-time Category: Quality Assurance / Software Testing Operations Date Posted: May 8, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Level (3+ years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and maintain robust automated test frameworks and test suites for both API and User Interface (UI) components of applications, ensuring high-quality software delivery.
• Collaborate with development and product teams to define comprehensive test strategies, test plans, and test cases for new features and existing functionalities across API and UI layers.
• Develop and maintain automated API test suites using relevant tools and frameworks, validating RESTful and SOAP APIs for functionality, performance, reliability, and security.
• Develop and maintain automated UI test suites using industry-standard tools and frameworks, ensuring cross-browser and cross-device compatibility for web applications.
• Contribute to the design, development, and improvement of existing automation frameworks, adopting best practices for modularity, reusability, and reporting, and integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role title "SDET Automation Tester (API & UI)" clearly indicates a focus on both backend (API) and frontend (UI) testing automation, which is crucial for modern software development. The emphasis on "frameworks" suggests the need for candidates who can build and maintain scalable testing infrastructure, not just write individual test scripts. This falls under the broader umbrella of Quality Assurance Operations, with a strong emphasis on development practices within testing.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Test Strategy & Planning: Collaborate with development and product teams to define comprehensive test strategies, test plans, and test cases for new features and existing functionalities across API and UI layers.
• API Test Automation: Design, develop, and maintain automated API test suites using relevant tools and frameworks (e.g., Postman, Rest Assured, Karate, SoapUI). Validate RESTful and SOAP APIs for functionality, performance, reliability, and security. Integrate API tests into the CI/CD pipeline for continuous validation.
• UI Test Automation: Develop and maintain automated UI test suites using industry-standard tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium WebDriver, Playwright). Ensure cross-browser and cross-device compatibility for web applications. Focus on creating maintainable, scalable, and resilient UI automation scripts.
• Framework Development & Enhancement: Contribute to the design, development, and improvement of existing automation frameworks, adopting best practices for modularity, reusability, and reporting.
• Defect Management: Identify, document, and track software defects and work closely with developers to ensure timely resolution.
• CI/CD Integration: Integrate automated tests into the Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to enable rapid feedback and continuous quality.
• Collaboration & Mentorship: Work closely with developers, product owners, and other QA engineers to understand requirements, provide feedback, and promote a culture of quality. Mentor junior QA engineers on automation best practices.
• Reporting: Generate clear and concise test execution reports, metrics, and dashboards to communicate test progress and product quality to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on automation development and strategic contributions to test planning and framework design. The explicit mention of CI/CD integration and mentorship indicates a mid-level to senior role where contributing to team processes and knowledge sharing is expected.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 3+ years of experience in software quality assurance with a strong focus on test automation.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in at least one programming language: Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, or similar.
• Extensive experience with API test automation tools and frameworks: e.g., Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, SoapUI, or similar.
• Demonstrated experience with UI test automation tools and frameworks: e.g., Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, or WebDriverIO.
• Solid understanding of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and web services (REST, SOAP).
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CI/CD tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps).
• Knowledge of performance testing tools and methodologies.
• Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure).
• Understanding of security testing principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are very specific to SDET roles, emphasizing programming languages alongside distinct API and UI automation tools. The inclusion of Git and Agile methodologies is standard for collaborative development environments. Preferred skills suggest areas for growth and add value for candidates with broader QA engineering experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Automation Framework Design: Showcase examples of automated test frameworks you have designed or significantly contributed to, highlighting architecture, language choices, and integration capabilities.
• API Test Automation Case Studies: Present detailed examples of API test automation projects, including specific scenarios tested (e.g., data validation, error handling, performance checks), tools used, and the impact on defect detection.
• UI Test Automation Case Studies: Provide examples of UI automation projects, demonstrating your ability to create robust, maintainable scripts for complex web interfaces, including cross-browser testing and element locators strategy.
• CI/CD Integration Examples: Illustrate how you have integrated automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines, showing workflow diagrams, tool configurations, and the resulting improvement in testing cycles and feedback loops.
• Code Quality & Reusability: Demonstrate code samples that emphasize clean coding practices, reusability, and modularity within your automation scripts and frameworks.

Process Documentation:

• Test Plan Documentation: Provide examples of well-structured test plans that outline scope, objectives, resources, schedule, and risk assessment for automation initiatives.
• Test Strategy Documents: Showcase your ability to develop high-level test strategies that align automation efforts with overall project goals, detailing tool selection criteria and framework approaches.
• Defect Reports: Present examples of detailed defect reports, including clear steps to reproduce, expected vs. actual results, log files, and relevant screenshots or video evidence.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an SDET role, a portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase completed projects but also demonstrate the candidate's thought process in designing and implementing automation solutions. Emphasis on framework design, code quality, and successful CI/CD integration will be key differentiators.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $79,320.00 - $110,680.00 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., RRSP matching).
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays).
• Professional development opportunities and training programs.
• Employee assistance program.
• Potential for performance-based bonuses.
• Access to Citi's employee discount programs.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility given the hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, and reflects a mid-level SDET role. This range is informed by regional salary data for similar positions in the Canadian technology sector, considering the specified experience level and the employer's industry (financial services). Benefits are standard for large corporations like Citi, with a focus on employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Banking and Financial Technology). Citi operates as a global financial services company, providing consumers, corporations, and governments with a broad range of financial products and services. This industry context implies a high emphasis on security, compliance, reliability, and performance in all software development and testing efforts. Company Size: Large Enterprise (Citi is a multinational investment bank and financial services corporation with tens of thousands of employees worldwide). This size typically means established processes, structured teams, and significant resources, but also potential for bureaucracy. For operations roles, it signifies opportunities to work on large-scale systems and impact a vast user base. Founded: 1913. With a long history, Citi has a deep-rooted understanding of financial markets and has continuously adapted to technological advancements. This longevity suggests stability and a culture that values experience and evolution.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team Aspect: The SDET role is likely embedded within an Agile development team, working closely with developers, product owners, and potentially other QA engineers or a dedicated QA lead. The team structure will likely be cross-functional, focusing on delivering specific product features or components.
• Reporting Structure: The SDET will likely report to a QA Manager, Engineering Manager, or a similar leadership role responsible for the quality and delivery of the software product.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with development teams, DevOps engineers (for CI/CD integration), product managers, and potentially business analysts to ensure comprehensive test coverage and understanding of requirements.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The role will involve analyzing test results, defect trends, and performance metrics to provide insights into software quality and identify areas for improvement.
• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Contributing to the design and optimization of testing workflows, focusing on efficiency, speed, and effectiveness of automated testing processes.
• Automation & Efficiency: A primary focus will be on automating repetitive testing tasks, improving test execution times, and increasing overall team efficiency through robust automation frameworks.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's position as a global financial institution implies a robust and often complex technology environment. The SDET role will likely be critical in ensuring the stability, security, and performance of financial applications. The emphasis on Agile methodologies suggests a modern development approach, where collaboration and continuous integration are key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level SDET with 3+ years of experience. It involves significant hands-on automation development, framework contributions, and an understanding of the full software development lifecycle from a quality perspective. The expectation is for independent work on assigned tasks and contributions to team processes.

Reporting Structure: The SDET will likely report into a technology or engineering management hierarchy, potentially within a specific product line or division of Citi. Collaboration will be with peers and cross-functional teams.

Operations Impact: As an SDET, the primary impact is on the quality, reliability, and speed of software delivery. By building robust automation, this role directly contributes to reducing production defects, enabling faster release cycles, and ultimately enhancing customer trust and satisfaction with Citi's financial products and services. The efficiency gains from automation can also lead to cost savings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific automation tools, programming languages, or testing domains (e.g., performance testing, security testing).
• Leadership: Progress to a Senior SDET role, taking on more complex projects, leading automation initiatives, and mentoring junior team members.
• Management: Transition into a QA Lead or Test Manager role, focusing on strategic test planning, team management, and process improvement across multiple projects.
• Cross-functional Movement: Explore opportunities in adjacent areas like DevOps, Software Development, or Technical Program Management, leveraging the strong technical and analytical skills gained.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a mid-level SDET at a large company like Citi, growth paths are typically well-defined. The emphasis is on building technical depth and potentially moving into leadership roles within the QA discipline or adjacent technical fields.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with a hybrid work arrangement, indicating a mix of on-site and remote work. This setup aims to balance collaborative on-site interactions with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): 5900 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. This location is likely a significant Citi office, offering modern amenities and a professional working environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model suggests opportunities for in-person collaboration with team members for brainstorming, planning sessions, and team-building activities, complemented by remote work for focused individual tasks.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to standard corporate IT infrastructure, development tools, and potentially specialized testing environments and cloud resources.
• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, stand-ups, code reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions, both in person and virtually, to foster a connected and productive team dynamic.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with the flexibility inherent in a hybrid arrangement. Adherence to project deadlines and release schedules will be paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: A hybrid model at a large financial institution like Citi will likely involve specific guidelines for on-site days and a focus on maintaining team cohesion and productivity across distributed team members.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application and resume, focusing on relevant experience and skills.
2. Technical Phone Screen: Expect a call with a technical interviewer to discuss your background, programming proficiency, and initial understanding of API/UI automation concepts.
3. Technical Interview(s) / Coding Challenge: This may involve live coding exercises (e.g., solving a problem in Java/Python/JavaScript), discussing automation strategies, or a take-home assignment to build a small automation suite. Candidates will be assessed on their problem-solving approach, coding skills, and understanding of automation best practices.
4. System Design/Framework Discussion: For a role emphasizing framework development, you might be asked to discuss how you would design or improve an automation framework for a given scenario.
5. Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: This stage assesses your communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving approach in a team setting, and alignment with Citi's values.
6. Hiring Manager Interview: A final conversation to discuss the role in detail, answer your questions, and make a final decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Framework Contributions: Clearly articulate your role in designing, building, or enhancing automation frameworks. Use diagrams to illustrate architecture if possible.
• Showcase Code Quality: Ensure any code samples in your portfolio are clean, well-commented, and follow best practices for readability and reusability.
• Demonstrate Impact: For each case study, quantify the impact of your automation efforts. Did it reduce regression testing time? Did it find critical bugs early? Did it improve release velocity? Use metrics.
• API vs. UI Balance: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in both API and UI automation, with specific examples for each.
• Tool Versatility: Showcase experience with a range of relevant tools, but focus on depth with the primary technologies mentioned in the job description.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Proficiency: Practice coding problems in your preferred language (Java, Python, JavaScript) focusing on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented principles.
• Automation Scenarios: Be prepared to discuss how you would automate specific scenarios, considering edge cases, error handling, and data management.
• Framework Design: Think about the key components of a scalable and maintainable automation framework (e.g., reporting, logging, configuration management, test execution strategies).
• CI/CD Concepts: Understand how automated tests fit into a CI/CD pipeline and the role of tools like Jenkins or GitLab CI.
• Company Research: Understand Citi's business and how quality assurance plays a critical role in financial services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a technical role at a large financial institution like Citi will be rigorous. Candidates should prepare for both theoretical and practical assessments of their automation skills, along with behavioral questions. A strong portfolio demonstrating hands-on experience is crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Java, Python, JavaScript, C# (proficiency in at least one is required).
• API Test Automation: Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, SoapUI.
• UI Test Automation: Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, WebDriverIO.
• Version Control: Git.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Test Reporting Tools: Integrated reporting features within automation frameworks, or dedicated reporting tools (e.g., Allure, ExtentReports).
• Dashboarding: Potentially integrating with tools like Grafana or Kibana for visualizing test results and system health metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• CI/CD Pipeline Tools: Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps (familiarity expected for integration).
• Web Technologies: HTML, CSS, JavaScript (fundamental for UI automation).
• Web Services: REST, SOAP (essential for API testing).

📝 Enhancement Note: This section lists the core technologies expected for the role. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and how they've used them to solve specific testing challenges. Familiarity with CI/CD tools is increasingly important for SDETs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality Focus: A commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure software is paramount in the financial industry.
• Continuous Improvement: An ongoing effort to refine processes, adopt new technologies, and enhance automation capabilities.
• Collaboration: Working effectively within cross-functional teams, sharing knowledge, and providing constructive feedback.
• Accountability: Taking ownership of testing responsibilities and ensuring the quality of delivered software.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Using metrics and test results to inform decisions about software quality and release readiness.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Working in sprints, participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with developers, product owners, and potentially business analysts to ensure a shared understanding of requirements and quality standards.
• Knowledge Sharing: Proactively sharing best practices, insights, and learnings related to test automation within the team and potentially across the broader QA community at Citi.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi, like many large financial institutions, will likely foster a culture that values rigor, compliance, and a strong sense of responsibility. The team culture will reflect Agile principles with a strong emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement necessary for high-stakes software development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale & Complexity: Testing large-scale, complex financial systems with numerous integrations and strict regulatory requirements.
• Maintaining Automation Suites: Keeping automation scripts up-to-date and robust as applications evolve rapidly.
• Balancing Speed and Quality: Ensuring thorough testing coverage while meeting aggressive release timelines common in the tech and financial sectors.
• Integrating New Technologies: Adapting to and integrating new automation tools and testing methodologies within an established enterprise environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Automation Techniques: Opportunities to learn and implement more sophisticated automation strategies, such as AI-driven testing or advanced performance testing.
• Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of financial services, regulations, and product offerings, which can enhance the effectiveness of testing.
• Leadership Training: Access to Citi's internal leadership development programs for those looking to move into management roles.
• Industry Certifications: Support for obtaining relevant certifications in software testing or Agile methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for an SDET in a large, regulated industry like finance. Growth opportunities are diverse, ranging from technical specialization to leadership development, reflecting the resources available at a global corporation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex API or UI feature you've automated. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on problem-solving, technical approach, and impact).
• "How would you design an automation framework for a new microservice that needs API and UI testing? What technologies would you choose and why?" (Assesses design thinking, tool selection rationale, and understanding of framework principles).
• "How do you ensure your automated tests are maintainable and scalable in a rapidly changing application environment?" (Focus on coding practices, modularity, and long-term strategy).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Citi, specifically in a QA Operations role within the financial industry?" (Prepare to discuss industry interest and how your skills align with Citi's mission).
• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with a difficult developer or stakeholder. How did you manage the situation and ensure quality?" (Assesses interpersonal skills and conflict resolution).
• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends and tools in test automation?" (Demonstrates passion for continuous learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by project type (API, UI, Framework) or by impact (e.g., "Reduced Regression Time by X%").
• Storytelling: For each project, tell a story: the problem, your solution (automation approach), the tools used, the challenges faced, and the measurable results achieved.
• Code Walkthrough: Be prepared to walk through a sample of your code, explaining your design choices, coding standards, and how you handle common testing scenarios.
• Metrics Focus: Emphasize quantifiable results – bug detection rates, test execution time reduction, test coverage improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just technical skills but also a strategic approach to quality assurance and an understanding of the unique demands of the financial services industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Citi Workday portal.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with API and UI automation tools (Rest Assured, Selenium, Playwright, etc.), programming languages (Java, Python, JavaScript), and CI/CD integration. Quantify your achievements with metrics.
• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio showcasing your best work, including code samples, framework designs, and case studies of successful automation projects. Ensure it demonstrates both API and UI automation capabilities.
• Practice Coding & Technical Concepts: Sharpen your skills in your primary programming language and review common automation challenges, design patterns, and testing methodologies.
• Research Citi: Understand Citi's business, values, and the importance of quality assurance in the financial sector. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.

⚠️ 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.