Principal Software Test Engineer (must have Professional Services and Automation background)

About the role

As a Principal Software Test Engineer in Ellucian's Professional Services organization, you will serve as a trusted quality engineering advisor for strategic customer implementations. You will partner directly with higher education institutions and cross-functional delivery teams to define testing strategies, establish quality governance, and guide successful SaaS transformations.

This is a highly customer-facing role that combines technical depth with consulting expertise. You will help customers identify quality risks, develop pragmatic testing approaches, and implement modern quality engineering practices while providing hands-on leadership where appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Customer Strategy & Consulting
• Partner with customer stakeholders to develop comprehensive test strategies aligned with business objectives, implementation scope, and deployment timelines.
• Lead test planning workshops, quality assessments, and readiness reviews throughout the project lifecycle.
• Advise customers on quality engineering best practices, risk-based testing approaches, and modernization of their testing capabilities.
• Build trusted relationships with executive sponsors, project leadership, and customer SMEs by providing strategic quality guidance and measurable recommendations.
• Quality Leadership
• Define testing approaches across functional, integration, end-to-end, regression, performance, security, and user acceptance testing.
• Establish quality gates, release readiness criteria, entry and exit criteria, and defect management processes for complex implementation programs.
• Identify delivery risks early and recommend mitigation strategies that improve project outcomes.
• Develop reusable testing methodologies, templates, and governance standards that can be leveraged across multiple customer engagements.
• Technical Excellence
• Provide technical leadership for automation frameworks using Playwright, Selenium, Postman, REST Assured, and related technologies.
• Guide project teams in implementing automation within CI/CD pipelines to improve delivery quality and efficiency.
• Evaluate automation opportunities and recommend practical solutions that maximize long-term value.
• Support performance, API, and security testing strategies using modern quality engineering tools and practices.
• Collaboration & Enablement
• Partner with project managers, solution architects, developers, business analysts, and DevOps teams to embed quality throughout delivery.
• Mentor delivery teams on modern testing techniques, automation practices, and quality engineering principles.
• Present quality metrics, testing progress, and release readiness to both technical and executive audiences.
• Contribute to the evolution of Ellucian's Professional Services quality methodology, accelerators, and delivery standards.

Requirements

• 7 or more years of experience in software quality engineering, testing, or quality consulting, with significant experience supporting enterprise implementations.
• Demonstrated experience developing test strategies and quality plans for complex software delivery programs.
• Strong understanding of functional, integration, end-to-end, performance, security, and user acceptance testing methodologies.
• Hands-on expertise with two or more of the following: Playwright, Selenium, Postman, REST Assured, JMeter, K6, Gatling, OWASP ZAP, and experience using enterprise test management platforms such as SpiraTest or Azure DevOps Test Plans.
• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines using Git-based development practices.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with executives, project leaders, technical teams, and customer stakeholders.
• Consulting or Professional Services experience with enterprise SaaS implementations is strongly preferred.
• Experience within higher education or another complex enterprise industry is a plus.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and presentation skills with the ability to influence decisions across cross-functional teams.
• Passion for improving customer outcomes through modern quality engineering practices and strategic technical leadership.

Qualifications

• BS/BA degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• CISSP, CISA, CISM, or equivalent certifications are a plus.

Skills

• Playwright
• Selenium
• Postman
• REST Assured
• JMeter
• K6
• Gatling
• OWASP ZAP
• Enterprise test management platforms (SpiraTest or Azure DevOps Test Plans)
• Git-based development practices
• Automation frameworks
• CI/CD pipelines
• Modern quality engineering tools and practices
• Performance, API, and security testing

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision
• Flexible time off
• Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) that allows you to contribute towards your health, financial, or learning interests
• 401k with match & BrightPlan - to help you save for the future
• Parental Leave
• Telemedicine
• WellnessHeadspace Care (mental health)
• Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes)
• RethinkCare & Wellthy– caregiver support
• Diversity and inclusion programs which provide access to internal employee resource groups
• Employee referral bonuses to encourage the addition of great new people to the team
• We Foster a learning culture with:
• Education Assistance Program
• Professional development opportunities
• LinkedIn Learning

Pay

Competitive compensation package with a generous benefits program.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible work arrangements.