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 Development Engineering in Test (SDET)

Date Posted: April 19, 2026

Experience Level: 3+ Years (Mid-Level)

Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid potential implied by "TELECOMMUTE" location type, though description emphasizes on-site collaboration)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design, develop, and maintain sophisticated automated test frameworks for both API and User Interface (UI) components of complex financial applications.

• Drive software quality initiatives by implementing robust test strategies and executing comprehensive test plans within an agile development lifecycle.

• Integrate automated testing solutions into CI/CD pipelines to ensure continuous integration, rapid feedback, and accelerated delivery of high-quality software.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including developers and product owners, to proactively identify and resolve defects, fostering a culture of quality throughout the development process.

• Contribute to the enhancement of testing methodologies and mentor junior QA engineers in automation best practices to elevate team capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the location_type is listed as "TELECOMMUTE", the description emphasizes on-site collaboration and doesn't explicitly mention remote work flexibility, suggesting a strong preference or requirement for on-site presence in Mississauga. The role is firmly within Software Development Engineering in Test (SDET), focusing on automation rather than traditional manual testing.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Test Strategy & Planning: Partner with cross-functional teams to define and execute comprehensive test strategies, detailed test plans, and effective test cases for new features and existing functionalities across API and UI layers.

• API Automation Design & Development: Architect, code, and maintain automated API test suites utilizing industry-leading tools and frameworks such as Rest Assured, Postman (Newman), Karate DSL, or SoapUI, ensuring validation of RESTful and SOAP services for functionality, performance, reliability, and security.

• UI Automation Design & Development: Develop and sustain automated UI test suites using robust frameworks like Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, or WebDriverIO, ensuring cross-browser and cross-device compatibility for web applications and prioritizing maintainable, scalable, and resilient automation scripts.

• Automation Framework Enhancement: Actively contribute to the design, development, and continuous improvement of existing automation frameworks, adhering to best practices for modularity, reusability, maintainability, and comprehensive reporting.

• Defect Management & Resolution: Proactively identify, meticulously document, and rigorously track software defects, collaborating closely with development teams to ensure timely and effective resolution.

• CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Seamlessly integrate automated tests into Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, enabling automated quality gates and providing rapid feedback loops to development teams.

• Cross-functional Collaboration & Mentorship: Foster strong working relationships with developers, product owners, and QA engineers, providing constructive feedback, promoting a shared responsibility for quality, and mentoring junior QA professionals in automation techniques.

• Quality Reporting & Metrics: Generate clear, concise, and actionable test execution reports, key quality metrics, and insightful dashboards to effectively communicate test progress, identified risks, and overall product quality to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate distinct areas of focus for API and UI automation, requiring specialized skills in each. The emphasis on CI/CD integration and collaboration with development teams highlights the SDET's role as an integral part of the software development lifecycle, not just a testing function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in software quality assurance, with a significant emphasis on test automation.

Required Skills:

• Programming Proficiency: Strong command of at least one object-oriented or scripting programming language such as Java, Python, JavaScript, or C#.

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

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

• Web Technologies Understanding: Solid knowledge of fundamental web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

• Web Services Knowledge: Proficient understanding of web services protocols and architectures, specifically REST and SOAP.

• Version Control Systems: Experience utilizing version control systems, with Git being a primary requirement.

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

• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills: Strong analytical capabilities and a methodical approach to problem-solving, coupled with meticulous attention to detail.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts effectively to diverse audiences.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CI/CD tools and concepts (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps).

• Knowledge of containerization technologies (e.g., Docker).

• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).

• Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner).

• Understanding of security testing principles within an automation context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for proficiency in at least one programming language is critical, as this role is for an SDET, implying a development-focused approach to testing. The specific mention of multiple popular API and UI automation tools suggests flexibility in tool choice but a need for deep expertise in at least one from each category.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies in Automation: Demonstrate successful implementation of automated test solutions for both API and UI components, highlighting challenges overcome and specific outcomes achieved.

• Framework Design Examples: Showcase examples of designed or contributed-to automation frameworks, emphasizing modularity, reusability, scalability, and maintainability.

• CI/CD Integration Evidence: Provide examples or descriptions of how automated tests were integrated into CI/CD pipelines, illustrating the impact on deployment frequency or feedback loops.

• Metrics & Reporting Dashboards: Include examples of test execution reports, quality metrics, and dashboards created to communicate test progress and product quality to stakeholders.

Process Documentation:

• Test Strategy Documentation: Evidence of creating and documenting comprehensive test strategies and detailed test plans tailored to specific features or projects.

• Automation Scripting Standards: Examples of well-structured, commented, and maintainable automation scripts that adhere to best practices for readability and collaboration.

• Defect Reporting Standards: Showcase clear, concise, and actionable defect reports that facilitate efficient troubleshooting and resolution by development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an SDET role, a portfolio should strongly emphasize code quality, framework design patterns, and the practical application of automation within a development workflow. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their code and explain their design decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

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

Explanation: This range is provided by the employer and is based on the specified location (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada), the full-time nature of the role, and the experience level (3+ years). It aligns with mid-level SDET/Automation Tester salaries in the Canadian market, considering the financial industry context.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions (e.g., RRSP or equivalent).

• Paid time off, including vacation days, personal days, and statutory holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.

• Employee assistance programs for mental health and well-being.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work schedule, typically 40 hours per week.

• While the role is primarily on-site, flexibility may be available based on team needs and manager discretion, particularly for hybrid work arrangements.

• Collaboration with teams in different time zones may occasionally require adjustments to working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific to the Canadian market and the Mississauga area. Benefits are standard for a large financial institution like Citi, with a focus on comprehensive coverage and long-term financial well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Banking Technology. Citi operates as a global leader in financial services, providing a wide range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, and governments worldwide. This means the technology developed must be robust, secure, highly available, and compliant with strict regulations.

Company Size: Citi is a very large, multinational corporation, employing tens of thousands of people globally. This scale implies structured processes, established career paths, and a significant impact on global finance. For operations professionals, this means opportunities to work on large-scale systems, collaborate with diverse teams, and navigate complex organizational structures.

Founded: 1812. With a long history, Citi has evolved through numerous technological shifts, demonstrating resilience and adaptability. This heritage suggests a company that values stability, long-term vision, and continuous innovation.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team Aspect 1: The SDET will likely be part of a larger Quality Engineering or Application Development department, potentially within a specific business unit or product line. The team size could range from a handful of individuals to a larger matrixed group depending on project scope.

• Operations Team Aspect 2: Reporting likely goes up through a QA Lead or Engineering Manager, with dotted-line reporting or close collaboration with Project Managers, Product Owners, and Development Leads.

• Operations Team Aspect 3: Cross-functional collaboration is paramount. The SDET will work daily with developers, manual testers, business analysts, and DevOps engineers, ensuring seamless integration of testing into the entire software development lifecycle.

Methodology:

• Operations Process 1: Data-driven decision-making is crucial. The SDET will leverage test results, defect trends, and automation metrics to provide insights into software quality and identify areas for improvement.

• Operations Process 2: Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban) are standard, requiring iterative development, continuous testing, and regular feedback loops. Workflow optimization through automation is a key objective.

• Operations Process 3: Automation and efficiency are central to the SDET role. This involves continuously seeking ways to automate repetitive tasks, improve test execution speed, and enhance the reliability of test suites.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The financial services industry dictates a high bar for quality, security, and compliance. Candidates should be prepared for rigorous testing requirements and a focus on risk mitigation. The global nature of Citi means potential exposure to international teams and diverse market needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This position is a mid-level SDET role, typically requiring 3+ years of experience. It signifies a professional capable of independently designing and implementing automation solutions, contributing to test strategy, and mentoring others. The scope involves end-to-end testing of complex application components.

Reporting Structure: The SDET will likely report to a QA Lead, Senior SDET, or Engineering Manager within a product development team. Close collaboration with Development Leads and Product Owners is expected.

Operations Impact: The SDET's work directly impacts the speed and quality of software delivery, influencing customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. By ensuring robust automated testing, they reduce the risk of production defects, minimize manual testing overhead, and enable faster release cycles for critical financial applications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Progress to Senior SDET, Lead SDET, or Test Automation Architect roles, taking on more complex projects, leading automation initiatives, and defining architectural standards for testing frameworks.

• Specialization Tracks: Develop expertise in specific areas such as performance testing, security testing automation, or data analytics for quality insights.

• Leadership Development: Transition into management roles (e.g., QA Manager, Engineering Manager) by developing leadership, strategic planning, and team management skills.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience in areas like DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or even product management through involvement in broader engineering initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi, as a large financial institution, offers structured career paths. Growth for an SDET typically involves deepening technical expertise in automation or broadening into leadership and adjacent engineering disciplines.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Citi operates with a mix of modern office spaces designed for collaboration and focused work. Given the "TELECOMMUTE" designation and the emphasis on collaboration, it is likely a hybrid model where employees are expected to be in the office several days a week.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Citi has multiple offices globally, but this role is based in the Mississauga facility. This location likely offers amenities such as collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially on-site support services.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect an environment that encourages team interaction, knowledge sharing, and joint problem-solving through design sessions, code reviews, and stand-up meetings.

• Tools & Technology: Access to a robust technology stack, including powerful workstations, development tools, testing platforms, and enterprise-grade infrastructure necessary for building and running complex automation suites.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with developers, QA peers, product managers, and potentially business stakeholders, fostering a dynamic and communicative atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time (40 hours/week). While core hours will apply, there may be some flexibility depending on team needs and project deadlines, particularly within a hybrid model. Collaboration across time zones might necessitate occasional adjustments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" designation is unusual if the role is primarily on-site. It might indicate that occasional remote work is permitted or that the system flags it due to the nature of the job (e.g., developers often work remotely on code). However, the strong emphasis on collaboration suggests a preference for on-site presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Process Step 1 (Initial Screening): A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your experience with API/UI automation and specific tools.

• Process Step 2 (Technical Interview - Coding): Expect one or more technical interviews focusing on coding skills. This may involve live coding exercises in a shared editor, focusing on programming language proficiency (Java, Python, etc.) and problem-solving abilities. Prepare to write code for test cases or small automation components.

• Process Step 3 (Technical Interview - Automation Concepts): A deeper dive into test automation concepts, framework design, API testing principles, and UI automation strategies. You may be asked to design an automation framework or outline a test strategy for a given scenario.

• Process Step 4 (System Design/Scenario-Based): A discussion around designing automation solutions for specific scenarios, integrating tests into CI/CD, and troubleshooting common automation challenges.

• Process Step 5 (Manager/Team Interview): A final interview with the hiring manager and potentially team members to assess overall fit, communication skills, and alignment with team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Code Quality: Ensure any code samples in your portfolio are clean, well-commented, and follow best practices for the language used. This is crucial for an SDET role.

• Framework Architecture: Be ready to explain the design choices made in your automation frameworks. Highlight how you achieved reusability, maintainability, and scalability.

• API Test Examples: Showcase examples of automated API tests, demonstrating how you validate request/response payloads, status codes, and various testing scenarios.

• UI Test Examples: Present UI automation scripts that are robust against minor UI changes, use effective locators, and handle page object models or similar design patterns.

• CI/CD Integration: Clearly explain how your automation has been integrated into CI/CD pipelines and the benefits derived from this integration.

• Metrics & Reporting: Demonstrate how you track and report on automation results, providing actionable insights to stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

• Coding Challenges: Practice common coding problems related to data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented design in your preferred language.

• Automation Scenarios: Think through how you would automate testing for a given feature, considering both API and UI aspects, potential edge cases, and integration points.

• Framework Design: Be prepared to sketch out or describe an automation framework architecture on the fly, justifying your choices.

• Troubleshooting: Anticipate questions about common automation failures (e.g., flaky tests, slow execution) and how you would address them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for an SDET at a company like Citi will be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on coding ability, automation design principles, and practical application of testing tools. A well-curated portfolio demonstrating these skills is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Java, Python, JavaScript, C# (Proficiency in at least one is required).

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

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

• Version Control: Git (e.g., GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket).

• Build Tools: Maven, Gradle (if using Java); npm, yarn (if using JavaScript).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Reporting Frameworks: TestNG, JUnit (for Java); Pytest (for Python); Mocha, Jest (for JavaScript) integrated with reporting libraries (e.g., ExtentReports, Allure).

• Dashboarding Tools: Experience with tools that can visualize test results and metrics, potentially integrated with CI/CD platforms.

CRM & Automation:

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

• Containerization (Potential): Docker for creating consistent testing environments.

• Cloud Platforms (Potential): AWS, Azure, GCP for hosting test infrastructure or running tests.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of multiple tools in each category (API, UI) indicates that Citi likely uses a variety of technologies or provides flexibility in tool selection, but expects mastery in at least one from each. Proficiency with Git and CI/CD is non-negotiable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality First: A deep commitment to delivering high-quality, reliable software is paramount in the financial sector. This translates to rigorous testing and a proactive approach to defect prevention.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working effectively across teams (Dev, QA, Product, DevOps) to achieve shared goals. Open communication and mutual support are key.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to improve testing processes, automation efficiency, and overall software quality.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for assigned tasks, owning the quality of the features tested, and driving issues to resolution.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing data and metrics from testing to inform decisions about quality, risk, and release readiness.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: SDETs are expected to be embedded within development teams, participating in all agile ceremonies, and working closely with developers on code quality and testing strategies from the outset.

• Process Review Culture: A willingness to participate in regular retrospectives and process improvement discussions, providing feedback on what's working well and identifying areas for enhancement in both development and testing workflows.

• Knowledge Sharing: An environment that encourages sharing best practices, learnings from test automation, and insights gained from troubleshooting, fostering a collective growth mindset within the QA and engineering community.

📝 Enhancement Note: Citi's culture, like many large financial institutions, will likely emphasize professionalism, diligence, and a strong ethical compass, alongside technical excellence. The SDET role requires proactive engagement and a collaborative spirit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Automation Stability: Keeping automation suites robust and reliable amidst frequent application changes and evolving requirements in a fast-paced financial environment.

• Complex System Integration: Testing intricate integrations between various financial systems and third-party services, requiring deep understanding of dependencies and data flows.

• Balancing Speed and Thoroughness: Ensuring comprehensive test coverage and quality without hindering rapid development cycles.

• Adapting to New Technologies: Keeping pace with new tools, frameworks, and methodologies in the rapidly evolving landscape of software development and testing.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Automation Techniques: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven testing, visual regression testing, or advanced framework design patterns.

• DevOps and CI/CD Mastery: Gain hands-on experience with advanced CI/CD practices, infrastructure as code, and cloud-native testing strategies.

• Industry Certifications: Pursue certifications relevant to quality assurance, test automation, or cloud technologies.

• Mentorship Programs: Benefit from mentorship from senior engineers and leaders within Citi, guiding career development and skill enhancement.

• Exposure to Financial Domain: Develop a strong understanding of financial products, regulatory requirements, and the specific challenges of testing in the FinTech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to SDET roles in complex, regulated industries. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering paths for both deep technical specialization and broader engineering leadership within a global organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to designing an API automation framework. What key components would it include, and how would you ensure its scalability and maintainability?"

• "Walk me through a complex UI automation challenge you faced. How did you diagnose the issue, what solutions did you implement, and how did you ensure the fix was robust?"

• "How would you integrate automated API and UI tests into a CI/CD pipeline? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working at Citi, specifically within our technology division?"

• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in test automation and software quality?"

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate with a difficult stakeholder or team member. How did you manage the situation?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio pieces as mini case studies. Start with the problem or challenge, outline your approach and the tools/techniques used, and conclude with the results and impact (e.g., reduced bugs, faster releases, improved test execution time).

• Code Walkthrough: Be prepared to share your screen and walk through specific code examples from your portfolio. Explain your design patterns, coding logic, and why you made certain choices.

• Metrics Focus: Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Use metrics to demonstrate the value of your automation work (e.g., "Increased test coverage by X%", "Reduced regression testing time by Y hours," "Caught Z critical bugs before production").

• Tool Proficiency: Clearly articulate your experience with each tool and framework, and be ready to discuss trade-offs between different options.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to demonstrate not just technical skills but also your problem-solving process, communication style, and understanding of how automation contributes to broader business objectives within a financial services context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this SDET Automation Tester position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and any portfolio links to highlight your most relevant experience in API and UI automation, specific programming languages (Java, Python, etc.), and experience with tools like Selenium, Playwright, Rest Assured, and Postman.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your years of experience in SDET roles, specific automation achievements, and familiarity with Agile and CI/CD practices. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice coding challenges, prepare to discuss your automation framework designs, and create clear narratives for your portfolio case studies. Research Citi's values and recent technology news.

• Company Research: Understand Citi's role in the financial industry, its commitment to technology, and its emphasis on quality and security. Prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and this specific role.

⚠️ 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.