Apply on Employer Site

ITRS · 2 weeks ago

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) - Backend Focus

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level

$100K/yr - $140K/yr

5+ years exp

ITRS is a company dedicated to delivering automated and holistic IT observability solutions for critical applications. The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) will focus on platform-level testing for backend software, ensuring reliability, performance, and scalability in distributed systems while developing and maintaining automated testing infrastructure.

Application Performance ManagementEnterprise SoftwareFinancial ServicesReal Time

Comp. & Benefits

Hiring Manager

Halil Ilhan

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and execute comprehensive backend platform-level testing, including functional, non-functional (e.g., performance, load, stress, and scalability), and integration testing for distributed services

Build, maintain, and enhance our performance testing infrastructure, including custom labs and automation frameworks to support evolving product demands

Develop automated tools and scripts for sizing measurements, resource assessments (e.g., CPU, memory, storage), and deployment simulations in customer-like environments

Collaborate closely with backend software engineers to define test strategies, review requirements, and integrate quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle—from design and development to deployment and ongoing support

Drive adoption of industry best practices in QA automation, performance engineering, and backend technologies, focusing on continuous improvement and innovation

Mentor team members on advanced testing practices, knowledge sharing, and automation development in a collaborative, distributed environment

Qualification

Backend testingTest automation frameworksCloud deploymentsPerformance testing toolsProgramming in JavaGoPythonBashContainerizationOrchestrationNetworking fundamentalsPassion for performance engineeringProblem-solving skillsAttention to detailCollaborative mindset

Required

5+ years of professional experience as an SDET or QA engineer, with a proven track record in testing backend or platform-level software (e.g., distributed systems, APIs, and services). Experience limited to frontend, web UI, or Selenium-based testing will not align with this role

Strong programming skills in languages such as Java, Go, Python, or Bash, with a focus on developing custom test automation frameworks and tools—not just using off-the-shelf solutions

Hands-on experience with cloud deployments, containerization, and orchestration is mandatory, including Docker and Kubernetes for managing backend environments

Deep knowledge of backend technologies, including Kafka for messaging, databases like PostgreSQL (SQL) and ClickHouse (NoSQL/columnar), and authentication systems like Keycloak

Proficiency in performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Locust, k6, Gatling) and integrating them into automated pipelines for scalability and load testing

Solid understanding of networking fundamentals, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and test integration into build processes

Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills, with the ability to architect scalable test solutions for complex distributed systems

Strong attention to detail and a collaborative mindset for working in a multi-cultural, globally distributed team

Genuine passion for backend platforms, performance engineering, and building automations that drive quality

Based in Chicago, with availability for hybrid work (1-2 days in-office per week)

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)