QA Automation Engineer / SDETWe are seeking a highly motivated QA Automation Engineer / SDET who possesses a strong blend of manual testing, API testing, database validation, and test automation expertise. The ideal candidate will be responsible for ensuring the quality and reliability of enterprise applications through comprehensive test planning, test execution, defect management, and automation development.This role requires hands-on experience creating and executing manual and automated test cases across UI, API, database, and ETL workflows. The successful candidate will work closely with Product Owners, Developers, Business Analysts, and QA team members throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to deliver high-quality software solutions. The ideal candidate is both a strong tester and an automation engineer who can identify gaps in requirements, develop effective test strategies, and build automation frameworks that improve quality and reduce regression testing effort.Key ResponsibilitiesAnalyze business requirements, user stories, and technical specifications to identify test coverage needs.Develop comprehensive test plans, test cases, test scenarios, and test data.Execute manual functional, regression, integration, and end-to-end testing.Identify edge cases and negative test scenarios based on application behavior.Validate application functionality against business requirements and acceptance criteria.Participate in requirement reviews and provide quality-focused feedback early in the SDLC.API TestingPerform manual API testing using tools such as Postman, SoapUI, ReadyAPI, or similar platforms.Validate request/response payloads, headers, authentication, status codes, and error handling.Design and execute API automation frameworks using Rest Assured or similar technologies.Validate API integrations and downstream system interactions.Create automated API regression suites for continuous testing.Automation TestingDevelop and maintain automated test frameworks for UI, API, and backend validation.Write reusable, scalable automation scripts using Java and/or Python.Execute automated test suites and analyze results.Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.Improve automation coverage across functional, regression, and integration testing.Troubleshoot and maintain existing automation frameworks.Database & ETL TestingValidate backend data using SQL queries.Verify data integrity, transformations, and business rules across databases.Test ETL jobs and data movement processes.Develop automated validations for ETL and data processing workflows.Analyze large datasets to identify discrepancies and data quality issues.Defect ManagementIdentify, document, and track defects using Jira or similar tools.Work closely with developers to reproduce and resolve issues.Retest fixes and validate resolution.Participate in defect triage meetings and release readiness reviews.Quality Assurance ProcessContribute to testing strategies and quality standards.Support release validation and production readiness activities.Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog refinement, and retrospectives.Maintain QA documentation and testing artifacts.Continuously identify opportunities to improve testing efficiency and effectiveness.Required QualificationsExperience5+ years of Quality Assurance experience.Strong combination of manual and automation testing experience.Experience testing enterprise web applications, APIs, and backend systems.Experience working within Agile development environments.Manual TestingStrong understanding of software testing methodologies.Ability to create comprehensive test scenarios from business requirements.Experience performing functional, regression, integration, and user acceptance testing.API TestingStrong understanding of RESTful APIs.Experience validating JSON and XML payloads.Experience using:PostmanSoapUIReadyAPIRest AssuredAutomation TestingHands-on experience developing automation frameworks.Experience with one or more of:SeleniumTestCompleteProtractorBDD frameworks using Cucumber/GherkinExperience building and maintaining automated regression suites.ProgrammingProficiency in:Java and/or PythonAbility to write maintainable automation code and troubleshoot failures.SQL & Database TestingStrong SQL skills.Experience validating database updates and data integrity.Experience testing ETL processes and large-scale data workflows.Performance TestingExperience with:JMeterAPI performance testingLoad and stress testing conceptsToolsJiraGitCI/CD pipelinesSource control systemsPreferred QualificationsExperience working with cloud-native applications.Experience testing microservices architectures.Experience with Jenkins, Azure DevOps, or GitHub Actions.Experience with containerized environments.Knowledge of data warehousing concepts.Exposure to healthcare, financial services, telecommunications, or other enterprise domains.Key CompetenciesStrong analytical and problem-solving skills.Excellent verbal and written communication.Attention to detail.Strong organizational skills.Ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.Strong understanding of SDLC, STLC, and release management processes.Self-starter with a passion for continuous learning and process improvement.What Success Looks LikeConsistently identifies defects before production releases.Builds reliable automation that reduces manual testing effort.Provides comprehensive test coverage across UI, API, and backend systems.Improves regression testing efficiency through automation.Collaborates effectively with developers and product teams.Maintains high quality standards while meeting project deadlines.Contributes to continuous improvement of QA processes and automation frameworks.