Principal Test Automation Engineer

As a Principal Test Automation Engineer at SanMar, you will design and maintain CI/CD pipelines, develop QA strategies for various environments, and build reusable automation frameworks with tools like Selenium. Collaborating with cross-functional teams is key to ensuring smooth integration of automated testing into our processes.

To qualify for the Principal Test Automation Engineer role at SanMar, you will need a Bachelor's Degree in computer science or a related field, along with 10+ years of experience in software development and test automation. Proficiency in Java, Python, or JavaScript, alongside a strong grasp of CI/CD tools, is essential.

SanMar encourages continuous professional development for the Principal Test Automation Engineer. You’ll have opportunities to explore new tools, and methodologies, and participate in training sessions on automation practices, helping you stay updated in a constantly evolving tech landscape.

At SanMar, the work environment is hybrid, allowing flexibility in your working arrangement. You'll collaborate with your team primarily in a moderately quiet office space near Seattle, WA, providing a conducive setting for focused work and teamwork.

As a Principal Test Automation Engineer at SanMar, you'll enjoy a competitive salary ranging from $135,000 to $190,000, an annual discretionary bonus, comprehensive health benefits, a robust 401k plan, and paid time off, including holidays and family days.

When designing automation frameworks, I prioritize scalability and reusability. I usually begin by analyzing the application architecture, selecting suitable tools, and then structuring the framework to accommodate various testing scenarios and environments.

One significant challenge I faced was integrating automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline without causing deployment delays. I resolved this by segmenting tests according to priority, running critical ones early in the process, and optimizing test execution time through parallel processing.

I prefer using Selenium for UI testing due to its extensive community support and flexibility. For API testing, tools like Postman are excellent for their user-friendly interface and for automating testing through scripts directly within the tool.

I measure automation success through metrics such as test execution time, pass/fail rates, and defect density post-release. Regularly analyzing these metrics helps identify areas for improvement and the overall effectiveness of the test automation strategy.

I have extensive experience working in Agile environments. I participate in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, and retrospectives to ensure alignment with team goals and to adjust our automation strategy based on sprint outcomes.

I stay updated on the latest trends in test automation by following relevant blogs, participating in online forums, attending webinars, and connecting with other professionals in the field. Continuous learning is vital for adapting to rapidly evolving technologies.

When troubleshooting automation failures, I start by analyzing logs and error messages, then replicate the issue to understand its context. I also review recent changes in code or test scripts, as these often reveal the root cause.

To guarantee comprehensive test coverage, I implement strategy mapping to identify critical paths and recommend tests across all environments. Leveraging cloud services also enables easy access to various configurations for thorough testing.

When mentoring junior engineers, I focus on understanding their current skill levels, encouraging hands-on practice, and discussing the importance of writing clean, maintainable code. I believe in fostering an open environment where questions are welcomed.

In a previous project, I revamped the test automation process by introducing parallel testing, which reduced execution time by 40%. Additionally, I documented the new processes extensively to ensure team members could easily adapt and contribute.