Contract Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) – Playwright & API Automation

Location: Remote / Hybrid
Employment Type: Contract
Experience: 5+ Years

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Contract Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join our Quality Engineering team for a high-impact automation initiative. This is a hands-on role focused on expanding UI and API automation coverage across modern web applications and distributed services.

The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Playwright, Python-based API automation, CI/CD integration, and modern test automation practices. You should be comfortable contributing immediately within an established automation framework while leveraging AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery without compromising quality.

Key Responsibilities

UI Automation

• Develop, maintain, and enhance end-to-end UI automation using Playwright and TypeScript.
• Build maintainable automation following Page Object Model (POM) and reusable framework patterns.
• Ensure automation supports parallel execution, browser context management, and reliable CI execution.
• Maintain stable, scalable, and reusable automation for assigned business workflows.

API Automation

• Develop and maintain API automation using Python and pytest.
• Automate REST, GraphQL, and SOAP API validation.
• Create reusable fixtures, client abstractions, and parameterized test suites.
• Maintain Postman and Newman collections for API smoke testing and contract validation.

CI/CD & Automation

• Integrate automated test suites into Jenkins CI/CD pipelines.
• Configure and maintain smoke, sanity, functional, and regression test execution.
• Monitor automation quality and continuously improve execution reliability.
• Ensure all automation aligns with established framework standards and coding conventions.

Mocking & Service Virtualization

• Design and maintain WireMock stubs for API and microservice simulation.
• Support contract testing through reusable mock services.
• Maintain mock services in alignment with evolving application APIs.

AI-Assisted Development

• Utilize AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, or equivalent to improve automation productivity.
• Use AI tools for test generation, fixture creation, code reviews, and coverage analysis.
• Review, validate, and maintain ownership of all AI-generated code prior to deployment.
• Identify automation coverage gaps and recommend improvements using AI-assisted workflows.

Collaboration

• Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Collaborate with developers, QA engineers, and product teams to ensure comprehensive automation coverage.
• Perform peer code reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of automation standards.
• Document automation solutions and maintain knowledge-sharing resources.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Software Test Automation as an SDET or Automation Engineer.
• Strong experience developing end-to-end UI automation using Playwright and TypeScript.
• Extensive experience with Python and pytest for API automation.
• Hands-on experience testing REST APIs, including request validation, response verification, schema validation, and chained requests.
• Experience testing GraphQL APIs, including queries, mutations, variables, and schema validation.
• Working knowledge of SOAP API testing.
• Experience integrating automation into Jenkins CI/CD pipelines.
• Hands-on experience with WireMock or similar service virtualization tools.
• Strong understanding of Git workflows, pull requests, and version control best practices.
• Experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Postman and Newman for API automation and smoke testing.
• Experience working within microservices-based architectures.
• Knowledge of Java and Selenium for maintaining or understanding legacy automation frameworks.
• Experience working in AWS environments.
• Familiarity with Linux shell scripting.
• Experience with hospitality, travel, booking, or eCommerce platforms.
• Exposure to performance testing tools such as k6 or Gatling.
• Familiarity with Spring Boot microservices.
• ISTQB Certification or equivalent.

Tools & Technologies

• UI Automation: Playwright, TypeScript
• API Automation: Python, pytest, REST, GraphQL, SOAP, Postman, Newman
• Mocking & Service Virtualization: WireMock, Spring Boot Mock Services
• CI/CD: Jenkins
• Programming Languages: TypeScript, Python, Java
• Version Control: Git, GitHub
• Test Management: JIRA
• Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS, Linux Shell
• AI-Assisted Development: GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code (or equivalent)
• Collaboration: Slack, Confluence, Agile/Scrum

ABOUT ISHIR
ISHIR is a digital innovation and enterprise AI services provider. We work with startups and enterprises to shape the future through accelerated innovation, deep technical expertise, access to global digital talent and a passion for complex problem-solving. With our help, our clients overcome their most difficult digital challenges leveraging AI.

We are not just consultants, we are partners in our clients’ success, assisting them with re(gaining) competitive edge by identifying opportunities for differentiation, industry disruption, scalable innovation, and go-to-market strategies that deliver successful outcomes.
At ISHIR, we help bold businesses accelerate innovation through Talent, Speed-to-Market, and AI. We help make an impact by solving real problems using innovation, improved customer experiences and the right technologies.

As an ISHIR employee, you will get the advanced training you need to be successful, and the opportunity to apply it. You must be passionate about technology, crave responsibility, and be eager to apply your knowledge to real business solutions for our startup and enterprise customers. These are the qualities of a person destined for success at ISHIR.

ISHIR attracts a special type of individual—someone who is proactive, thrives on challenges, feeds off success, and looks at moving targets not as obstacles but as opportunities. ISHIR is an exciting place to work. It is imbued with an entrepreneurial spirit and promotes self-reliance, open communication, and collaboration.