Senior Automation Engineer - UI & API | Playwright | Selenium

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Automation Engineer - UI & API | Playwright | Selenium

Company: CodeNinja

Location: Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Quality Engineering / Test Automation

Date Posted: May 05, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for hybrid elements for remote Pakistan-based candidates, but primary client engagement is onsite in Riyadh)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the development and execution of robust UI and API automated test scripts, leveraging advanced tools like Playwright and Selenium for UI, and REST Assured for API testing.

• Champion quality engineering principles by integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines, ensuring continuous integration and early detection of defects.

• Act as the primary onsite automation point of contact, facilitating seamless collaboration with client QA teams for environment access, test data management, and efficient defect triage.

• Contribute to the architectural design and maintenance of reusable automation frameworks, including Page Object Model (POM) libraries and data-driven test components, to enhance scalability and maintainability.

• Play a key role in mentoring client team members and enforcing automation coding standards, fostering a culture of technical excellence and best practices within the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title and primary location are in Lahore, the description explicitly states "Onsite presence in Riyadh required (Sun–Thu, KSA business hours)" and "Senior Automation Engineer (Onsite)". This indicates the role requires physical presence in Riyadh for client engagements, despite the Lahore listing. Candidates should be aware of this requirement and potential travel/relocation implications. The "remote_derived": true flag in the input seems to be a misinterpretation based on the Pakistan location; the role is fundamentally onsite for the client.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain automated test scripts for both UI (using Playwright/Selenium) and API (using REST Assured) layers, ensuring comprehensive test coverage for client applications.

• Construct and manage reusable test assets, including Page Object Model (POM) libraries, data-driven test frameworks, and centralized configuration management, to promote efficient and scalable automation.

• Execute various test suites, such as regression, smoke, and risk-based selective tests, directly within the client's System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) environments.

• Proactively coordinate with the client's QA teams to secure necessary environment access, condition test data accurately, and efficiently triage reported defects, minimizing disruption to testing cycles.

• Integrate automated test execution seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins/GitLab), establishing quality gates to enforce code quality and deployment readiness.

• Lead the onsite execution of complex, end-to-end, and cross-system automated scenarios that necessitate direct access to the client's network and infrastructure.

• Conduct thorough peer code reviews, uphold stringent automation coding standards, and provide mentorship to client team members to elevate their automation engineering capabilities.

• Perform in-depth debugging of test failures by analyzing application logs, utilizing monitoring tools, and understanding the client's infrastructure, ensuring swift resolution of issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize direct client interaction and onsite execution, highlighting the need for strong communication and problem-solving skills in a live client environment. The mention of "quality gate enforcement" and "risk-based selective test suites" points towards a mature approach to automation within the project lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A professional certification in Quality Engineering or related field is preferred, demonstrating a commitment to formalized learning in test automation principles.

Experience: A minimum of 7+ years of hands-on experience in automation engineering, with a proven track record of developing and implementing comprehensive test automation solutions.

Required Skills:

• UI Automation: Expert proficiency in Playwright and/or Selenium WebDriver, with a strong command of either Java or JavaScript as the primary scripting language.

• API Automation: Demonstrated strong skills in API test automation, specifically using REST Assured or equivalent frameworks.

• Framework Design: Experience in building and maintaining reusable automation frameworks, including expertise in the Page Object Model (POM) pattern, data-driven testing methodologies, and centralized configuration management.

• CI/CD Integration: Proficiency in integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD, including the setup of automated execution and quality gates.

• Reporting Tools: Familiarity with test reporting frameworks like Allure or similar, to provide clear and actionable insights into test execution results.

• Domain Knowledge: Experience automating applications within the banking or financial services sector is highly advantageous, indicating an understanding of industry-specific complexities and compliance requirements.

• Onsite Presence: Willingness and ability to be physically present onsite in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to support client engagements during standard business hours (Sunday-Thursday).

Preferred Skills:

• Certifications: ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst, Playwright Certified, or Selenium Certified certifications would be a significant asset, validating specialized expertise.

• Performance Testing: Familiarity with performance testing methodologies and tools, complementing the core automation focus.

• AI/ML in QA: Exposure to AI/ML engineering concepts as applied to Quality Engineering, aligning with CodeNinja's specialization.

• DevOps Modernization: Understanding of broader DevOps principles and modernization efforts within enterprise environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly prioritize hands-on technical skills in UI and API automation, with a strong emphasis on framework development and CI/CD integration. The preference for banking domain experience and specific certifications suggests a need for depth and specialized knowledge in this particular client engagement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Test Automation Frameworks: Showcase examples of robust test automation frameworks you have designed and implemented, detailing the architecture, design patterns (e.g., POM), and scalability considerations.

• UI & API Test Scripts: Provide concrete examples of automated test scripts for both UI and API layers, demonstrating proficiency with Playwright, Selenium, and REST Assured, highlighting reusability and maintainability.

• CI/CD Integration Examples: Include documentation or diagrams illustrating how you have integrated automation suites into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD), including examples of quality gates or automated reporting.

• Metrics & Reporting: Demonstrate your ability to generate insightful test reports using tools like Allure, showcasing key metrics such as pass/fail rates, execution times, and defect trends.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Examples of documented test automation workflows, from script development and execution to defect reporting and regression analysis.

• Implementation & Automation: Showcase your process for implementing new automation solutions, including environment setup, tool selection rationale, and integration strategies.

• Measurement & Analysis: Evidence of how you measure the effectiveness of automation, including metrics for ROI, test coverage, and defect detection rates, and how you use this data for continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Automation Engineer role, a portfolio is crucial. Candidates should focus on demonstrating practical application of their skills, showcasing not just code, but the thought process behind framework design, integration strategies, and the impact of their automation efforts. Quantifiable results are key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior Automation Engineer title, 7+ years of experience, and the specialized skills required (Playwright, Selenium, API Automation, CI/CD), a competitive salary range for Lahore, Pakistan, would typically fall between PKR 350,000 to PKR 650,000 per month. This range is an estimate and can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, negotiation skills, and the exact client project demands.

Benefits:

• Performance-linked Incentives: Opportunities for bonuses and financial rewards tied to individual and team performance, recognizing contributions to project success.

• Career Progression Pathways: Clear opportunities for advancement within CodeNinja, with defined paths for growth into leadership or specialized technical roles.

• Continuous Upskilling: Access to ongoing learning and development programs, including training on new technologies and methodologies.

• Certifications: Support for obtaining relevant industry certifications (e.g., ISTQB, Playwright, Selenium) to enhance professional credentials.

• AI/ML Tooling Access: Exposure and access to cutting-edge AI/ML tools and platforms, aligning with CodeNinja's focus on AI-powered transformation.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Standard benefits package likely including health insurance and other relevant employee welfare programs.

Working Hours: The role specifies "Sun–Thu, KSA business hours" for the onsite engagement in Riyadh. This translates to approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours during critical SIT/UAT cycles or project deadlines. While the listing is in Lahore, the client-facing work is strictly onsite in Riyadh during these specific hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research into senior software engineering and automation roles in Lahore, Pakistan, considering the specialized technical stack and experience level. The benefits listed are directly from the job description and highlight CodeNinja's commitment to employee development and recognition. The working hours are specific to the client's location and business days.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, specializing in AI-powered transformation, enterprise software delivery, and Quality Engineering. CodeNinja operates within a dynamic sector serving Tier-1 banks, government entities, and large enterprises.

Company Size: As indicated by "12-person specialist team" for this engagement and general industry knowledge for firms operating in MENA and South Asia, CodeNinja likely ranges from 50-250 employees. This size fosters a balance between structured processes and agile operations, allowing for individual impact.

Founded: CodeNinja was founded to address the growing need for advanced technology consulting, particularly in AI and Quality Engineering, within the MENA and South Asia regions. This forward-thinking approach likely permeates its culture.

Team Structure:

• Specialist Team: This role is part of a dedicated 12-person specialist team focused on Test Management Enablement & Automation for a specific client. This team includes roles in Test Management, Automation Engineering, AI/ML, and Performance Testing.

• Reporting: The Senior Automation Engineer will likely report to a Test Manager or an Automation Lead within the CodeNinja team, who in turn interfaces with the client's QA leadership.

• Collaboration: Expect close collaboration with onsite client QA teams, offshore CodeNinja resources (potentially in Lahore), and other specialists within the CodeNinja engagement team.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven QA: Emphasis on using data to drive QA strategies, measure effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement.

• Agile & Structured Delivery: Combines agile development principles with a structured 20-week program delivery framework for client engagements, ensuring both flexibility and defined outcomes.

• Automation First: A strong focus on test automation as a core component of the quality engineering strategy, integrated into CI/CD for efficiency and speed.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: CodeNinja positions itself as a "next-generation technology consulting firm," implying a culture of innovation, technical expertise, and a focus on cutting-edge solutions like AI. The team structure for this engagement is client-centric, requiring adaptability and strong inter-team communication.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Senior Automation Engineer," indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant technical expertise and the ability to lead execution, mentor others, and contribute to framework design. The focus is on specialized technical contribution and operational excellence within the quality engineering domain.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Automation Engineer will report to a Test Manager or Lead within the CodeNinja engagement team. This structure allows for direct guidance and oversight while providing opportunities to influence technical direction on the ground. Collaboration will be key with client QA teams.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly tied to enabling high-quality software delivery for a Tier-1 bank. By developing and executing robust automation, this engineer will significantly reduce defect leakage, accelerate testing cycles (SIT/UAT), and improve the overall reliability and performance of mission-critical applications. This directly contributes to client satisfaction and commercial success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced automation tools (Playwright, Selenium) and API testing, potentially exploring AI/ML applications in QA.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior engineers, lead specific automation initiatives, and potentially move into a Test Automation Lead or Architect role.

• Client Engagement Skills: Enhance abilities in stakeholder management, client communication, and onsite project delivery within a high-stakes financial services environment.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience working on flagship banking transformation programs with a major financial institution.

• Continuous Learning: Access to certifications, AI/ML tooling, and emerging QA methodologies provided by CodeNinja.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth potential is strong, focusing on deepening technical skills and gaining significant client-side project experience in a critical industry. The "Senior" title implies a responsibility beyond just coding, including mentorship and influencing technical practices.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "Onsite" in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for client engagement. This implies working within the client's office environment or a dedicated client project space. CodeNinja's own operational base might be in Lahore, offering a hybrid possibility for some aspects, but the primary client delivery is onsite.

Office Location(s): The primary work location for this role is Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While the job is listed in Lahore, candidates must be prepared for onsite work in Riyadh.

Workspace Context:

• Client-Centric Environment: The workspace will be dictated by the client's infrastructure and policies, likely involving dedicated project teams and standard corporate office amenities.

• Collaborative Atmosphere: Expect a dynamic environment with close interaction with the client's QA engineers, project managers, and potentially developers. Collaboration with the offshore CodeNinja team (including Lahore-based resources) will also be crucial.

• Technical Resources: Access to necessary hardware, software, and network resources within the client's environment to perform automation tasks, debug issues, and integrate with CI/CD tools.

Work Schedule: The schedule is fixed as Sunday to Thursday, aligning with KSA business hours. This is a standard working week in Saudi Arabia. Flexibility might be required during critical project phases, but the core schedule is defined.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Onsite" in Riyadh is critical. Candidates must be aware that while the job is posted in Lahore, the day-to-day work requires physical presence in Saudi Arabia. This suggests potential travel, visa, or relocation considerations for the candidate.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess technical skills, experience level, and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly Playwright, Selenium, API automation, and CI/CD.

• Technical Interview(s): In-depth discussions focusing on your automation strategy, framework design principles, coding proficiency (potentially with live coding exercises), and problem-solving approaches for complex scenarios. Expect questions on Playwright, Selenium, REST Assured, POM, and CI/CD integration.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit: Assessment of your ability to work onsite, collaborate with client teams, mentor others, and adapt to the client's environment and CodeNinja's values.

• Client Engagement Discussion: A session to gauge your understanding of the banking domain (if applicable) and your approach to client-facing roles, including communication and defect triage strategies.

• Final Offer: Based on successful completion of all preceding stages.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Key Tools: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects where you've used Playwright, Selenium, and REST Assured effectively for both UI and API automation.

• Showcase Framework Design: Provide detailed examples of your POM implementation, data-driven approaches, and any custom framework components you've built. Explain the rationale behind your design choices.

• Demonstrate CI/CD Integration: Include documentation or screenshots showing how your automation suites integrate with Jenkins or GitLab CI/CD, including examples of automated execution triggers and reporting.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, quantify the benefits of your automation efforts (e.g., reduction in manual testing time, increase in test coverage, faster defect detection, ROI).

• Code Samples: Be prepared to share or discuss code samples that demonstrate clean coding practices, reusability, and efficient test script development.

Challenge Preparation:

• Automation Scenarios: Anticipate challenges related to automating complex UI flows, handling dynamic elements, managing test data, and setting up API test sequences.

• Debugging: Prepare to discuss your systematic approach to debugging test failures, including how you use logs, monitoring tools, and environment access.

• Client Collaboration: Think about how you would coordinate with client QA teams for environment access, test data, and defect triage, especially when working onsite.

• Mentorship: Be ready to discuss how you would mentor junior team members or client staff on automation best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, focusing heavily on technical depth and practical application. A strong, well-documented portfolio is essential for demonstrating the required skills and experience. The onsite requirement means behavioral aspects related to client interaction and teamwork will also be heavily scrutinized.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UI Automation: Playwright, Selenium WebDriver (Java/JavaScript)

• API Automation: REST Assured

• Version Control: Git (likely integrated with GitLab)

• Reporting: Allure reporting framework or similar

Analytics & Reporting:

• CI/CD Integration: Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD for automated test execution and pipeline integration.

• Test Management Tools: Potentially integrated with client's existing tools (e.g., Jira, TestRail) for defect tracking and test case management.

• Monitoring Tools: Client-provided infrastructure monitoring tools for debugging.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable: This role is focused on Quality Engineering automation, not CRM or business process automation in the sales/marketing sense. However, understanding how automated tests interact with application functionalities that might be managed by a CRM is relevant.

• Integration: Understanding of how automation scripts interact with application APIs and backend services is critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is very specific and central to the role. Candidates must be proficient in the listed tools, particularly Playwright and Selenium for UI, and REST Assured for APIs, along with CI/CD integration. Familiarity with Allure is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Technical Excellence: A strong emphasis on crafting high-quality, efficient, and maintainable automation code and frameworks.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for the automation process, from development to execution and defect resolution, especially in an onsite client-facing role.

• Innovation: Encouraging the adoption of new tools, methodologies, and AI/ML advancements to enhance Quality Engineering practices.

• Client Focus: Dedication to delivering value and meeting client objectives, ensuring high-quality software releases for critical banking applications.

• Collaboration: Fostering a supportive environment where team members share knowledge, provide constructive feedback, and work together to overcome challenges.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with client QA teams, developers, and project managers, bridging the gap between offshore and onsite delivery.

• Process Improvement Culture: Actively participating in code reviews, sharing automation best practices, and contributing to the continuous improvement of testing processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A commitment to sharing expertise through documentation, mentorship, and internal discussions to elevate the team's collective capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: CodeNinja's values suggest a results-oriented, technically advanced, and client-centric culture. The emphasis on innovation and AI/ML aligns with their positioning as a "next-generation" firm. The collaborative style is essential given the distributed nature of the team and the onsite client requirement.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Onsite Client Environment Integration: Navigating the client's specific IT policies, security protocols, and infrastructure to gain necessary access for automation execution and debugging.

• Complex Banking Systems: Automating intricate workflows within financial applications that may have unique data requirements, security constraints, and legacy system integrations.

• Defect Triage Coordination: Effectively managing defect triage onsite with client teams, ensuring clear communication and timely resolution to avoid testing bottlenecks.

• Adapting to Evolving Client Needs: Quickly responding to changes in project scope, requirements, or technology stack while maintaining automation stability and progress.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Automation Techniques: Deepen expertise in Playwright and Selenium, explore advanced JavaScript/Java features for automation, and learn about emerging testing paradigms.

• AI/ML in QA: Gain exposure to and potentially hands-on experience with AI/ML tools and techniques that CodeNinja uses to enhance Quality Engineering.

• Financial Services Domain: Develop a strong understanding of the banking and financial services industry, its regulatory landscape, and typical application architectures.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Hone leadership skills through mentoring client team members and potentially leading specific automation streams within the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are practical and specific to an onsite role in a regulated industry. The growth opportunities are aligned with CodeNinja's stated specializations and the nature of working on large-scale transformation programs.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to designing a scalable and maintainable UI automation framework using Playwright/Selenium. What are the key components and design patterns you would implement?"

• "How would you integrate API automation using REST Assured into a CI/CD pipeline, and what quality gates would you propose to enforce?"

• "Walk me through a complex end-to-end testing scenario you've automated. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• "How do you prioritize test cases for automation in a risk-based testing approach?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about CodeNinja's focus on AI-powered transformation and Quality Engineering?"

• "How do you align with our core values of technical excellence, ownership, and innovation?"

• "Describe a situation where you had to adapt to a new or challenging client environment. What was your approach?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly state the problem, your solution (the automation you built), the tools/technologies used, and the quantifiable results or impact.

• Showcase Code Quality: Be prepared to discuss specific code examples, explaining your design choices, reusability strategies, and adherence to coding standards.

• Demonstrate CI/CD Flow: Use diagrams or screenshots to visually explain how your automation integrates into CI/CD pipelines and how results are reported.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the business value of your automation – e.g., time saved, defects found early, increased test coverage, reduced regression cycles.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that are most relevant to UI/API automation, framework design, and CI/CD integration, and ideally, those in the financial sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only technical proficiency but also the ability to apply those skills in a client-facing, onsite environment. Quantifiable achievements and clear communication of complex technical concepts are key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Workable application link provided.

• Customize your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 7+ years of automation engineering experience, specifically mentioning Playwright, Selenium, REST Assured, Page Object Model, and CI/CD integration. Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your portfolio to showcase your strongest projects related to UI and API automation, framework design, and CI/CD integration. Ensure it's well-documented and ready for review.

• Practice Interview Questions: Rehearse answers to common technical and behavioral questions, focusing on demonstrating your problem-solving skills, technical expertise, and ability to work effectively in an onsite client environment.

• Research CodeNinja: Understand the company's mission, values, and specialization in AI-powered transformation and Quality Engineering. This will help you articulate your interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.