VP, Lead QA Automation Engineer

The overall purpose of the Lead QA Automation Engineer in Shenzhen is to: Ensure the SZ engineering team adheres to the LMEClear automation strategy, standards, and best practices, maintaining alignment with business goals and promoting consistency across projects. Oversee the allocation of automation engineering resources, manage priorities, and facilitate collaboration between the London and China teams. Work closely with cross‑functional teams, in both London and Shenzhen, including BAs and developers / engineering teams, to integrate automation within the project lifecycle seamlessly for both internally developed and vendor supplied applications. Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable automation frameworks, using various languages (including Java and TypeScript), but predominantly in Python and Ruby, following BDD practices. Promote an engineering culture focused on collaboration, learning, high quality and continuous improvement. Implement CI/CD solutions within automation process, utilizing tools like Bamboo, OpenShift, and Docker to support continuous integration and delivery. Oversee the execution of automated regression test suites for web applications, APIs, FIX messages, and databases, ensuring comprehensive test coverage. Lead the adoption of BDD practices across the engineering teams, including writing Gherkin feature files and implementing step definitions. Oversee the defect lifecycle, including raising, tracking and resolution, utilizing tools like Jira and Zephyr. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by evaluating and recommending new tools, methodologies, and engineering best practices in test automation. Provide guidance, support, and training to automation engineers in Shenzhen, fostering skill development and knowledge sharing within the team. Provide accurate and informative MI for test automation development, execution and improvement activities. Travel occasionally to London to collaborate with London automation engineers team, ensuring alignment with company standards and practices. Conduct line management responsibilities including performance reviews, mentoring and evaluation of training and development needs within the team in line with company policies. PERSON SPECIFICATION Academic and Professional Qualifications Required Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degrees preferred. Knowledge of software testing techniques, tools, and methodologies. ISEB or ISTQB certification in software testing is advantageous. Background in the Financial, commodities, or Insurance markets is highly desirable. Desired Qualifications Strong development experience, ideally with a history of developing software or automation frameworks from scratch. Background in financial or commodities, ideally with exposure to exchanges or clearinghouses. Proficiency with Windows, Unix, and Linux OS and multiple databases, including SQL Server and Oracle. Required Knowledge and Level of Experience 10+ years in automation, with a strong development background and proven ability to develop automation solutions from scratch. Proven experience in leading automation engineering teams to achieve strategic goals, drive efficiency, and ensure adherence to best practices. Proficient in Python, Java, Ruby, or C# for automation, with experience in creating and managing automation frameworks using Selenium. Expertise in BDD and hands‑on experience with tools like Cucumber, Behave, and SpecFlow, including writing Gherkin feature files and implementing step definitions. Strong experience with CI/CD tools (Bamboo, OpenShift, Docker) and setting up automation within CI/CD pipelines. Proficiency in SOAP & REST API testing within complex automation suites. Experience with complex FIX message testing in automation environments. Familiarity with Kafka or similar message broker technologies. Proven experience of SWIFT testing for ISO 15022 and ISO 20022 standards. Database testing experience with strong proficiency in complex SQL queries. Experience in implementation of design patterns within software development or automation frameworks. Strong experience in parsing XML, JSON, CSV type of files while automating the tests. Hands‑on experience with Git for version control. Proficiency with Jira, Zephyr, and other test management tools. Strong knowledge of the defect lifecycle and experience in defect management. Previous experience in Scripting languages such as PowerShell, Unix Shell or VBScript are added advantages. Skills set and Core Competencies Required for Role Strong leadership and communication skills for effective collaboration across teams and locations. Solutions‑driven, with a focus on identifying and implementing effective engineering strategies and solutions. Ability to prioritize workload under pressure, managing tight deadlines and multiple projects. High attention to detail, with a pragmatic approach and an inherent drive to ensure engineering quality. Able to adapt to changing project needs and facilitate seamless transitions across diverse methodologies and tools. Personal Qualities Clear thinker, logical, focused, and detail‑oriented. Team‑oriented, passion for fostering a collaborative, supportive engineering environment. Continuous learner, eager to learn and implement new tools, technologies, and practices in engineering and automation. #J-18808-Ljbffr