Technical Lead - SDET (

Our fast-paced and collaborative environment inspires us to create, think, and challenge each other in ways that make our solutions and our teams better.

Whether you’re interested in engineering or development, marketing or sales, or something else – if this sounds like you, then we’d love to hear from you!

We are headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with offices in the US, Canada, and India.

Vertafore is a leading technology company whose innovative software solution are advancing the insurance industry.

Our suite of products provides solutions to our customers that help them better manage their business, boost their productivity and efficiencies, and lower costs while strengthening relationships.

Our mission is to move InsurTech forward by putting people at the heart of the industry.

We are leading the way with product innovation, technology partnerships, and focusing on customer success.

Our fast-paced and collaborative environment inspires us to create, think, and challenge each other in ways that make our solutions and our teams better.

We are headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with offices across the U.S., Canada, and India.

As a Technical Lead – Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you will play a key role in Vertafore’s continued success in the insurance industry by driving quality engineering and test automation excellence across our products.

You will work closely with engineering, product, and DevOps teams to ensure delivery of high-quality, scalable, and reliable solutions for our customers.

This is a fast-paced and continuously evolving environment where you will lead test automation strategy and framework development across UI, API, and performance testing.

You will drive quality initiatives, remove technical and delivery barriers, mentor SDETs, and support multiple projects in parallel while consistently meeting critical timelines.

You will also identify and implement innovative approaches to improve engineering efficiency, test effectiveness, and overall product quality.

If you are enthusiastic about building high-quality products, enjoy working with modern technologies, and thrive on solving complex engineering challenges through forward-thinking and creative solutions, we would love to hear from you.

Core Requirements and Responsibilities: Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of scalable and reusable automation frameworks using BDD and TDD practices.
• Define and own the overall test automation strategy across UI, API, and performance testing.
• Architect and implement automation solutions using Playwright (TypeScript), Selenium (Java), REST Assured, SOAP services, and Locust (Python).
• Implement frameworks using Serenity BDD and Serenity Screenplay.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and collaborate with product, engineering, and DevOps teams.
• Define test strategies and test plans aligned to business goals.
• Establish automation coding standards and best practices.
• Integrate automation into CI/CD pipelines.
• Leverage AI tools such as GitHub Copilot to improve productivity. Leadership & Ownership Responsibilities
• Mentor and guide SDET and QA engineers.
• Drive adoption of modern quality engineering practices.
• Act as quality and automation point of contact.
• Partner with leadership to evolve the quality & automation roadmap.
• Support hiring and onboarding of SDET team members. Quality & Engineering Excellence
• Define and track quality metrics.
• Analyze test results and defect trends.
• Identify gaps in automation and non-functional testing.
• Ensure test data management strategies.
• Review application code for testability. Required Technical Skills (Primary Skills)
• UI Test Automation (using Playwright with Typescript & Selenium with Java)
• API automation (using REST Assured & Playwright with TypeScript)
• Serenity BDD, Serenity Screenplay and POM (Page Object Model)
• integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines Good to Have (Secondary Skills) · DevOps concepts · Performance and load testing (preferably using Locust with Python) · Backend (Database) testing · API testing using Postman/Swagger · Knowledge on C# and .NET framework · Good exposure on Manual testing process & methodologies Process & Ways of Working
• Experience working in Agile (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe).
• Contribute to estimation, planning, and continuous improvement.
• Promote shift-left and shift-right testing practices. Soft Skills & Professional Expectations
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical mindset.
• Ability to influence engineering teams.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced environments.
• High ownership and accountability. Role Level Expectation This is a hands-on leadership role that owns the automation charter end-to-end—driving the test automation roadmap, leading and implementing UI, API, and performance automation solutions, mentoring and upskilling SDETs, and working closely with development teams to continuously improve engineering efficiency, test effectiveness, and overall product quality in a fast-paced delivery environment. Qualifications: · Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or related technical field) or equivalent practical experience · 6-8 years of professional experience as an SDET, with strong hands-on expertise in Playwright (TypeScript/.NET) and Selenium (Java) for web test automation, including at least 1+ years in a technical lead or senior ownership role driving automation initiatives across multiple teams. · Strong hands-on expertise in UI, API, and performance automation, including: o Playwright with TypeScript o Locust with Python. o Selenium with Java o API automation using REST Assured and SOAP services o Serenity BDD and Serenity Screenplay frameworks o Performance and load testing (using Locust with Python) (Good to have) · Proven experience designing, building, and evolving enterprise-grade automation frameworks using BDD and TDD practices, · Demonstrated ability to own test automation end-to-end, including framework architecture , automation strategy, roadmap definition, implementation, execution, and continuous improvement. · Strong understanding of web technologies and API architectures, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and RESTful services, to effectively validate modern web and distributed applications. · Strong experience in integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (for example GitLab CI or equivalent tools), and driving automated quality gates. · Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to mentor and coach SDETs , conduct code and framework reviews, and uplift automation maturity across teams. · Demonstrated ability to partner closely with development and architecture teams to influence design for testability, automation readiness, and quality by design · Good Knowledge of API and load testing tools · Experience using various bug tracking tools such as Rally and test management tools such as qTest. · Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to evaluate complex systems, identify risks, and drive practical, scalable solutions. · Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical and quality topics to both engineering and non-technical audiences. · Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives and competing priorities in a fast-paced, evolving delivery environment. · Strong understanding of software design and architecture principles and experience reviewing application designs from a quality and testability perspective. · Solid experience working in Agile delivery environments (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe) and actively contributing to planning, estimation, and continuous improvement activities. THE VERTAFORE STORY Over the past 50 years, Vertafore has advanced the entire insurance distribution channel with the best software solutions in the industry. Today, we’re proud to say hundreds of thousands of Vertafore users rely on our solutions to write business faster, reduce costs, and fuel growth by increasing collaboration and streamlining processes. Vertafore leads the industry with secure, cloud-based mobile products that provide superior reporting and analytics, delivering actionable insight— right when customers need it most. We partner with other leading technology companies to deliver comprehensive solutions to improve the way our customers do business and serve their customers. The Vertafore Way Insurance is about relationships, and technology should make those relationships stronger. That’s why, at Vertafore, it’s our mission to transform the way the industry operates by putting people at the heart of insurance technology. By focusing on our customers, becoming better every day, and delivering results you can see, we provide the level of trust and security that insurance is all about. · Bias to Action: We're united by an innate drive to take action and make a difference in the technology and insurance spaces. · Win Together: We work together as one team, showing empathy and respect along the way. · Show Up Curious: We work to challenge one another to push boundaries and think beyond the box. · Say It, Do It: We honor every one of our commitments because integrity is important to us. · Customer Success is Our Success: We cultivate authentic relationships and follow up by actively listening to their needs. · We Love Insurance: We appreciate the impact insurance has on the world. Is this role not an exact fit for you? Keep an eye on our Careers Page for other positions! Vertafore conducts preemployment background screenings. We do not accept resumes from agencies, headhunters, or other suppliers who have not signed a formal agreement with us. Why Vertafore is the place for you: *Canada Only The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry Medical, vision & dental plans Life, AD&D Short Term and Long Term Disability Pension Plan & Employer Match Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)

Assistance Additional programs - Employee Referral and Internal Recognition Why Vertafore is the place for you: *US Only The opportunity to work in a space where modern technology meets a stable and vital industry We have a Flexible First work environment! Our North America team members use our offices for collaboration, community and team-building, with members asked to sometimes come into an office and/or travel depending on job responsibilities. Other times, our teams work from home or a similar environment. Medical, vision & dental plans PPO & high-deductible options Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts Options: Health Care FSA Dental & Vision FSA Dependent Care FSA Commuter FSA Life, AD&D (Basic & Supplemental), and Disability 401(k) Retirement Savings Plain & Employer Match Supplemental Plans - Pet insurance, Hospital Indemnity, and Accident Insurance Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Education & Legal Assistance Additional programs - Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Referral, Internal Recognition, and Wellness Commuter Benefits (Denver) The selected candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the job responsibilities, duties, skill, or working conditions. In addition, this document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship. Vertafore strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. The Professional Services (PS) and Customer Success (CX) bonus plans are a quarterly monetary bonus plan based upon individual and practice performance against specific business metrics. Eligibility is determined by several factors including: start date, good standing in the company, and actives status at time of payout. The Vertafore Incentive Plan (VIP) is an annual monetary bonus for eligible employees based on both individual and company performance. Eligibility is determined by several factors including: start date, good standing in the company, and actives status at time of payout. Commission plans are tailored to each sales role but common components include quota, MBO's and ABPMs. Salespeople receive their formal compensation plan within 30 days of hire. Vertafore is a drug free workplace and conducts preemployment drug and background screenings. We do not accept resumes from agencies, headhunters or other suppliers who have not signed a formal agreement with us. We want to make sure our recruiting process is accessible for everyone. if you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact recruiting@vertafore.com Just a note, this contact information is for accommodation requests only.