Lead Software Engineer

We're seeking an experienced lead developer with strong Java development and test lead skills to drive our testing automation strategy across FINRA's enterprise applications. This hands‑on role (approximately 40% QA strategy/leadership, 50% automation and test case development, 10% code reviews) combines quality leadership with advanced technical capabilities to champion best practices, implement automation frameworks, and influence stakeholders at all levels. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience with test automation tools and a passion for building quality into our diverse application portfolio, including Workday HCM and Finance systems.

This position supports multiple Corporate Systems application teams across FINRA's enterprise, working with a diverse portfolio including SaaS, COTS, and custom-built software. The successful candidate will provide both direct hands‑on support and influence‑based leadership to 10+ analysts and developers across multiple peer teams, requiring strong communication skills to drive outcomes and champion quality practices. Key technical requirements include advanced hands‑on development capabilities, deep quality assurance practice knowledge, and the ability to understand application architectures to assess risk, set strategy, and communicate priorities effectively.

• Define, implement, and evolve test automation strategy across multiple application teams.
• Lead Workday test automation and tool evaluation for HCM and Finance functional areas.
• Develop and maintain automated test cases and frameworks for both custom‑built applications and Workday systems.
• Mentor engineers and developers on testing best practices.
• Collaborate with application teams to integrate quality practices throughout the development lifecycle.
• Establish and track quality metrics, presenting findings to executive leadership.
• Drive cultural change around quality practices and shift‑left testing adoption.
• Software QA experience as well as being in a lead capacity role setting testing direction and mentoring others.
• Deep, hands‑on expertise designing, building, and maintaining test automation frameworks using tools (such as Playwright, Cucumber, or Selenium).
• Strong coding skills (Java preferred) with ability to develop, review, and maintain automation code.
• Experience defining and implementing comprehensive test strategies covering functional, integration, regression, and performance testing, including test data management and shift‑left testing practices.
• Strong communication and influence skills to champion quality practices and drive outcomes across multiple teams and stakeholders, up to senior leadership.
• Software QA experience with experience as well in a lead capacity role setting testing direction and mentoring others.
• Deep, hands‑on expertise designing, building, and maintaining test automation frameworks using tools (such as Playwright, Cucumber, or Selenium).
• Strong coding skills (Java preferred) with ability to develop, review, and maintain automation code.
• Experience defining and implementing comprehensive test strategies covering functional, integration, regression, and performance testing, including test data management and shift‑left testing practices.
• Workday testing experience across HCM and/or Finance functional areas (Kainos Smart Test or Opkey)
• Experience building test automation/frameworks and test data management for closed SaaS ecosystems.
• Experience with AWS and CI/CD pipelines for test automation (Jenkins and Git Lab).

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or related discipline with at least 7 years of related experience, or equivalent training and/or work experience.
• Strong system design…