Software Test Lead Engineer

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Software Test Development Lead (SDET – Lead) is focused on delivering efforts in the Costa Rica center to ensure full test coverage for ongoing Accela Civic Platform (SaaS) releases. Additionally, this role involves advancing Accela up the maturity curve for Test Automation, Test-Driven Development, CI/CD, and Performance Engineering.

You will play an instrumental role in driving Accela’s roadmap to deliver cost-effective infrastructure and software systems by defining KPIs, standards, baseline architectures, and production initiatives.

Our tight-knit, diverse team thrives on the #oneteam philosophy, embracing Agile methodologies for software development and fostering a culture of collaboration and active communication. At Accela, your ideas matter, your contributions make an impact, and together we thrive.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

• Accountable for the successful launch and delivery of new, key Accela product releases, engineering initiatives, and alignment with cloud deployment activities
• Design, develop, and execute test plans, test cases, and test scenarios to ensure the quality and reliability of software products.
• Develop and enhance frameworks to better track cost planning, establish OKRs/KPIs, set standards, improve baselines, and ensure production quality with efficacy.
• Lead and manage platform areas for functional, automation, and infrastructure initiatives that impact the cross-functional organization with automated deployment and regression testing.
• Provide technical expertise on requirement analysis, design, effort estimation, testing, and delivery of scalable SaaS solutions, including establishing statistical models and optionally machine learning models.
• Identify gaps and issues, proactively defining, planning, and strategizing activities, processes, and workflows.
• Grow the technical expertise of teams in areas such as SaaS development models, test automation development, CI/CD, and scalability, in line with Agile development practices.
• Continuously enhance testing strategies, methodologies, and best practices to improve product quality and testing efficiency.
• Automate API and UI testing for web-based products and application services using JMeter, Python with Robot frameworks, and open-source tools.
• Integrate test cycles with CI/CD pipelines. Work creatively and efficiently to troubleshoot and resolve system issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, product managers, and quality assurance, to identify test requirements and drive the testing process.
• Mentor other team members through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Stay updated with industry trends, emerging technologies, and testing techniques to incorporate best practices into the testing process.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of quality engineering experience, with hands-on experience in system testing, test automation, and test harnesses using open-source tools.
• Good knowledge of frontend and backend application testing, API and mobile testing, and integration with DevOps pipelines.
• Experience with SaaS products, API services, and pipeline activities is a plus.
• Proficiency in testing methodologies, tools, and techniques, including Agile methodologies and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve software issues effectively.
• Ability to collaborate closely with clear communication skills across different time zones.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with JMeter, Microsoft Azure, and Datadog monitoring tools is a significant plus.
• Knowledge of Java-based application testing is highly desired, with Angular experience being a major plus.

Accela is establishing a new entity in Costa Rica as part of our global growth strategy. Our organization specializes in advanced SaaS Software Applications covering a wide range of technologies and complex solutions such as: Hybrid Mobile Applications, Data Analytics & Reporting, Enterprise Payment Integrations, Advanced GIS mapping & routing, Responsive Angular UIs, and new AI POCs. These applications are hosted on our multi-cloud platform spanning both Azure and AWS. Being a part of the Accela team provides an opportunity to collaborate with world-class application engineers and a leadership team renowned for expertise in Agriculture, Operations, Security.

Compensation and Benefits: Accela offers a competitive salary and benefits in line with local standards.

Work-Life Balance: Accela is a “remote-first” organization and offers remote work options where feasible so employees can work in an environment that sparks motivation and creativity. Additionally, Accela offers generous paid time off with paid holidays, paid annual leave, paid “wellness days” offered sporadically throughout the year to focus on rest and relaxation, and a company “soft-close” during the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Career Growth and Development: Accela encourages and practices promoting from within to enable employees to hone or expand their skill set, contribute more value to the company, and grow. In addition, Accela offers non-promotional learning and development opportunities for skills enhancement through on-the-job training and internal and external education, including a paid LinkedIn Learning subscription to all employees. As a global company, Accela employees have the opportunity to work closely with international teams, providing a broader perspective and a chance to develop a global network.

Impactful Contributions: As a new member of Accela’s Costa Rica team, you will make significant contributions in setting the tone and influencing the company’s success in a new location. This opportunity provides a chance to make a visible impact.

Accela Culture: Our closely integrated, diverse team thrives on a #oneteam philosophy, embracing agile methodologies for software development, fostering a culture of collaboration, and active communication. At Accela, your ideas matter, your contribution makes an impact, and together we thrive. We think of employees as partners because we are all partners in shared success. We make sure everything we do is through the lens of humanity—from our commitment to the highest-quality SaaS solutions to the way we engage with our customers and communities to do business responsibly. We offer our employees strong values and purpose, empathetic leadership, and a place where all people feel they belong. Accela believes in building a diverse and inclusive culture where team members can make a real impact.

Your best work starts here. #Oneteam #BeWellWorkWell

ABOUT ACCELA 

For nearly 20 years, Accela has been an industry leader in designing and delivering government software to improve efficiency, increase citizen engagement and enable the development of thriving communities. Today, citizens are savvy to how services should be delivered, and expect a consistently convenient, openly transparent view into their local government. While government agencies struggle to do more with less, our mission has never been more critical. Accela provides a robust, cloud-based platform of government software solutions that accelerate growth, efficiency, and transparency in communities of all sizes. From planning, to building, to service request management and more, Accela’s SaaS offerings level the playing field for small and medium governments and enable smaller agencies to leverage larger city technologies. Our open and flexible technology helps agencies address specific needs today, while ensuring they are well prepared for the emerging challenges of the future.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 
Accela believes in developing and nurturing a workplace community where our differences are celebrated, and everyone feels a sense of psychological safety and belonging. Accela is committed to putting resources and attention towards evolving our practices, policies, and philosophies to enable diversity to thrive and to support equity in opportunity for everyone.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, or based on disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

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