Lead Quality Engineer

Posted 6 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Chicago, IL, USA
In-Office
108K-181K Annually
Expert/Leader
Fintech • Payments • Financial Services
The Role
Lead the bank's quality engineering transformation by designing and maintaining scalable automated test frameworks, integrating continuous testing into CI/CD, executing API and data validation (SQL), mentoring SDETs, driving test strategy (functional, E2E, performance), enabling DevSecOps and AI-assisted testing, and collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure release readiness, auditability, and reduced production risk.
Summary Generated by Built In

At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, employees come first - that’s why we offer a highly competitive compensation and bonus package, and access to a comprehensive benefits program designed to meet the needs of our employees. 

  • Collaborative, in-office operating model

  • Retirement program (401k and Pension) 

  • Medical, dental and vision insurance 

  • Lifestyle Spending Account 

  • Competitive PTO plan 

  • 11 paid holidays per year

      What you'll do

      Our Lead Quality Engineer is responsible for advancing the Bank’s quality engineering capabilities by shifting from traditional test execution toward an automation-first, engineering-led quality model driving built-in quality end to end. This role combines hands-on technical delivery like an experienced SDET with team leadership, quality governance and mentoring across agile delivery teams. The role designs, develops, and maintains End to End Test Plans, scalable automated test frameworks; integrates continuous testing into CI/CD pipelines; and partners with developers, product owners, business analysts, security, architecture, operations, and risk stakeholders to ensure quality is built into every phase of the SDLC.  

      The position helps enable the Bank’s modern engineering transformation through test automation, Performance testing, test environment, test data and DevSecOps practices. Enables AI-assisted delivery, secure pipeline controls, DORA-aligned metrics, and quality ownership across product teams. This role is expected to be both hands-on manual, automation and supervisory: directly contributing to Test plans, automation frameworks, test strategy, code review, CI/CD quality gates, and technical problem-solving, while also coaching Quality Engineers / SDETs, influencing standards, and helping product teams adopt modern quality practices. 

      How you'll make an impact:

      • Elevate Summit quality and release confidence by designing and executing robust manual and automated test strategies for Summit and its complex integrations—ensuring stable, scalable, and defect-resistant releases.

      • Accelerate delivery through automation and data excellence by strengthening Selenium/Playwright and API automation frameworks while implementing reliable test data creation, masking, and refresh strategies across multi-org Summit environments. In addition to using industry standard test automation tools, the candidate will be expected to learn and use the Test Management System (TMS), a Summit proprietary test automation tool.

      • Reduce production risk and defects by validating accounting data, payment flows, end-to-end workflows, integrations, and data integrity using SQL and API testing, while proactively identifying issues early in the Agile lifecycle.

      • Strengthen QA maturity and team capability by mentoring junior QA engineers, driving best practices in quality engineering, and continuously improving QA processes, standards, and reporting through Azure DevOps.

      What you can expect:

      • Lead the Quality Engineering strategy cross-team and end to end, Test Management for all test engineering approaches (Functional, Regression, SIT, E2E, UAT,Perfornance/Load, Test Data, Test Environment), test automation architecture, Exploratory and continuous testing practices across agile product teams, ensuring quality is built into every stage of the SDLC. 

      • Architect, Design, develop, and maintain scalable Test plans and automated test frameworks and reusable quality engineering solutions supporting functional, API, integration, end-to-end, performance, and non-functional testing. 

      • Define and implement quality engineering strategies and best practices across agile teams, including system architecture review, test pyramid alignment, risk-based automation, test data strategy, environment readiness, traceability, and release quality criteria. 

      • Partner with Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security, Infrastructure, and Operations teams to drive shared ownership of quality, defect prevention,testability, non-functional requirements and production readiness. 

      • Build, Integrate and maintain automated tests using strong coding practices, quality gates, reusable libraries, page/object models, service-level test patterns, test data utilities, and CI/CD-ready execution models to enable rapid, reliable, and secure software delivery. Support DevSecOps transformation by embedding security and quality controls into the SDLC. 

      • Collaborate with developers, architects, product owners, business analysts, security, infrastructure, operations, and risk/compliance stakeholders to validate requirements, acceptance criteria, design quality, and production readiness.

      • Review user stories, acceptance criteria, architecture designs, API contracts, data flows, and technical specifications to identify test scenarios. risks, improve testability, and prevent defects earlier in the lifecycle. 

      • Establish, Measure/Monitor and communicate quality metrics such as automation coverage, escaped defects, defect trends, test effectiveness, pipeline quality gate results, deployment readiness, and DORA-aligned delivery outcomes. 

      • Review user stories, acceptance criteria, architecture designs, API contracts, data flows, and technical specifications to identify risks, improve testability, and prevent defects earlier in the lifecycle. Lead root-cause analysis and continuous improvement initiatives, driving systemic solutions that reduce risk, improve reliability, and strengthen engineering outcomes. 

      • Support audit readiness and regulatory expectations by ensuring quality processes produce traceable evidence, controlled approvals, policy-aligned gates, and measurable risk reduction. 

      • Mentor, coach, provide supervisory support and technical leadership to Quality Engineers, SDETs, and other engineering team members while supporting talent development, performance, prioritization, and delivery execution. 

      • Champion & Promote modern engineering capabilities including AI-assisted testing, GitHub Copilot adoption, reusable automation assets, human-in-the-loop quality controls and enterprise quality engineering transformation initiatives. 

      What you’ll bring:

      • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline; equivalent experience may be considered. 

      • 10+ years of experience in Quality Engineering, Test planning, Software Development Engineering in Test (SDET), Test Automation, Software Engineering, Test Management end to end or related technology disciplines. 

      • 5+ years of experience mentoring, coaching, or supervisory oversight to Quality Engineers, SDETs, or software delivery teams. 

      • Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-scale automated test frameworks and quality engineering solutions for API/Web/ERP/Mobile/CRM/Salesforce/SaaS/Summit/Data/EDW/Batch processes/Financial systems or Similar. 

      • Strong hands-on programming experience using object-oriented languages such as C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, or equivalent. 

      • Experience with modern test automation frameworks including Playwright, Selenium, Appium, SpecFlow/Cucumber, API automation frameworks, BDD and service virtualization tools. 

      • Experience integrating automated testing and quality controls into CI/CD pipelines using platforms such as GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, or similar technologies.

      • Strong experience testing APIs, web applications, cloud-native solutions, databases, and integrated enterprise platforms. 

      • Experience with performance/load test, test environment/data TDEM management, security, and non-functional testing practices. 

      • Experience with source control, code review, branching strategies, and modern engineering workflows using GitHub and/or Azure DevOps. 

      • Working knowledge of relational databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, or similar technologies. 

      • Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or comparable environments, microservices and Event based architectures, domain model understanding. 

      • Familiarity with DevSecOps tooling and practices, including code quality, security scanning, software supply chain controls, and automated quality gates. 

      • Professional certifications such as ISTQB, CSTE, CSQA, Certified Agile Tester, AWS, Azure, or equivalent certifications are a plus. 

      • Experience within a banking, financial services, or other regulated industry is preferred.

      • Required Technical Experience :

      • C#, TypeScript, Python (optional – Java Script/Python

      • Playwright, Selenium, Specflow 

      • API Automation & Testing -Postman, Swagger/OpenAPI 

      • GitHub, Azure DevOps, CI/CD Pipelines, GitHub Actions 

      • PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server 

      • AWS and/or comparable cloud solutions & architectures 

      • Performance Testing - Artillery, Gatling, JMeter 

      • Test Environment/Data Management -Tonic.ai or equivalent 

      • Security Testing and DevSecOps Tooling 

      • GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted engineering tools 

      • Deep understanding of modern Quality Engineering, automation-first testing, continuous testing, shift-left practices, and defect prevention. Strategic Thinking beyond day to day test delivery. 

      • Ability to do hands-on coding, scripting, and automation framework design capabilities. 

      • Requires working knowledge of SDLC, Agile or Hybrid, DevOps, TDD, BDD, DevSecOps, CI/CD, and modern engineering delivery practices. 

      • Ability to embed automated quality checks, test coverage, release readiness controls, and quality gates into delivery pipelines. 

      • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, SQL/data validation, and root-cause analysis skills. 

      • Ability to communicate quality risks, technical issues, and delivery impacts clearly to both technical and business stakeholders. 

      • Strong collaboration skills across Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security, Operations, Risk, and Compliance teams. 

      • Ability to plan, prioritize, estimate, and execute work effectively in a fast-paced delivery environment. 

      • Knowledge of banking, financial services, audit, regulatory, and risk-control expectations is preferred. 

      • Demonstrated leadership, project management, mentoring, coaching, problem-solving and team enablement capabilities.

      Expert/Advanced Competencies-

      • Quality Engineering Practices

      • Quality Engineering Strategy / KPIs / DORA

      • Test Strategy Development & Test Planning

      • Test Management in ADO

      • Functional Testing, API Testing, System Integration Testing / SIT

      • End-to-End Testing, UAT / Business Validation Support

      • Test Automation of Functional, Regression, Integration, E2E

      • Regression Test Automation Optimization & Integrated in pipelines

      • Test Framework development & Maintenance / Harness Development

      • Test Data Management, Test Environment Readiness & Validation, TDEM

      • Ephemeral Test Environments / IaC, Cloud Fundamentals / Containers

      • Service Mocking / Service Virtualization, SQL & Backend Data Validation

      • CI/CD Pipeline Testing & Quality Gates

      • Release Management / Deployment Readiness

      • Performance, Load & Reliability Testing

      • Software Monitoring / Event Management / Operational Validation

      • Incident / Problem Management / RCA

      • Defect Management, Defect Prevention & Detection

      • Shift-Left / Shift-Right Testing

      • Agile / Secure SDLC Practices

      • DevOps / DevSecOps Practices, TDD / BDD

      • Architecture & Technical Specifications Review

      • Testability Analysis, Work Planning / Estimation / Prioritization

      • Stakeholder Communication / Cross-Functional Collaboration

      • Mentoring / Technical Guidance,Technical Leadership / Coaching

      Intermediate Competencies-

      • Software Development / Unit Testing Awareness

      • Project Management / Requirements Management

      • Security Testing and Analysis

      • AI-Assisted Engineering and Testing ​  

      Salary Range:

      $108,450.00 - $180,825.00

      The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition.  Ultimately, in determining your pay, we may also consider your experience, and other job-related factors. In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which can be found here: https://hrportal.ehr.com/fhlbc 

      Skills Required

      • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, or related (or equivalent experience)
      • 10+ years experience in Quality Engineering, SDET, Test Automation, or related disciplines
      • 5+ years mentoring, coaching, or supervisory oversight of Quality Engineers or SDETs
      • Designing, implementing, and maintaining enterprise-scale automated test frameworks and quality engineering solutions
      • Strong hands-on programming experience in object-oriented languages (C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, Python)
      • Experience with Playwright, Selenium, Appium, SpecFlow or Cucumber
      • API automation and testing using Postman and Swagger/OpenAPI
      • Integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, Jenkins or similar
      • Strong experience testing APIs, web applications, cloud-native solutions, databases, and integrated enterprise platforms
      • Performance/load testing experience (Artillery, Gatling, JMeter)
      • Test environment and test data management experience (Tonic.ai or equivalent) and test data masking/refresh strategies
      • Experience with source control, code review, branching strategies and modern workflows using GitHub and/or Azure DevOps
      • Working knowledge of relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server) and SQL/data validation skills
      • Experience with AWS or comparable cloud platforms, microservices, and event-based architectures
      • Familiarity with DevSecOps tooling/practices, security testing, code quality and automated quality gates
      • Experience within banking, financial services, or other regulated industries
      • Professional certifications (ISTQB, CSTE, CSQA, AWS, Azure, Certified Agile Tester) or equivalent
      • Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot and AI-assisted testing techniques
      Am I A Good Fit?
      beta
      Get Personalized Job Insights.
      Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

      The Company
      HQ: Chicago, IL
      636 Employees
      Year Founded: 1932

      What We Do

      Our Mission: To partner with our members in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide them competitively priced funding, a reasonable return on their investment in the Bank, and support for their community investment activities

      Similar Jobs

      Sporty Group Logo Sporty Group

      Quality Assurance Lead

      Digital Media • Fintech • Gaming • Sports
      In-Office or Remote
      7 Locations
      1024 Employees

      Collabera Logo Collabera

      Lead Quality Engineer

      Information Technology • Software
      In-Office
      Rock Island, IL, USA
      6138 Employees
      In-Office or Remote
      Deerfield, IL, USA
      10000 Employees
      105K-165K Annually

      IMC Trading Logo IMC Trading

      ISCA 2026

      Fintech • Machine Learning • Software • Financial Services
      Remote or Hybrid
      United States
      1954 Employees

      Similar Companies Hiring

      Hanover Park Thumbnail
      Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Software • Financial Services
      New York, New York
      42 Employees
      Kepler  Thumbnail
      Fintech • Software
      New York, New York
      6 Employees
      Onshore Thumbnail
      Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Software • Financial Services
      New York, New York
      60 Employees

      Sign up now Access later

      Create Free Account

      Please log in or sign up to report this job.

      Create Free Account