Software Development Engineer in Test

About the Job:

About AlmaShines: AlmaShines, founded by IIT Kanpur alumni, is India's largest and fastest-growing community management platform - trusted by 2,000+ networks worldwide and loved by over 6.5 million users. We help institutions, organizations, NGOs, and professional networks build meaningful communities through robust technology, smart automation, and tailor-made configurations. We are a bootstrapped, product-first company. That means every engineer here has real ownership and direct impact on something millions of people use.

Website: www.almashines.io

The Role: We are looking for an SDET who thinks like a developer and tests like an obsessive. Someone who reaches for code first, not a checklist. You will build our automation infrastructure from the ground up, define how quality works at scale, and be a first-class contributor to how we ship software. This is not a manual testing role with some automation on the side. This is an engineering role where automation is the core, and manual testing is a precision tool used when code cannot replace human judgment. Role split: ~75% Automation & Engineering | ~25% Manual & Exploratory Testing

Key Responsibilities: Build the Automation Foundation: • Design and build our end-to-end automation framework from scratch - web, mobile, APIs. • Write clean, maintainable test scripts for critical user workflows and regression suites. • Keep the framework scalable and easy for the team to extend as the product grows.

Own Quality Engineering: • Work closely with developers and product managers to understand features deeply and catch gaps early. • Identify edge cases, failure scenarios, and integration risks before code ships. • Maintain test coverage maps, track flakiness, and continuously improve test reliability.

Manual Testing - Precision Over Volume: • Run exploratory and edge-case testing for high-risk areas where automation is insufficient. • Validate UI, functional, and integration behavior across web and hybrid mobile platforms. • Document bugs clearly with reproduction steps, severity, and context.

Adopt AI-Augmented QA • Stay current with AI-powered testing tools and methodologies as they evolve rapidly. • Propose, pilot, and integrate tools that increase coverage and efficiency. • You don't need to know all the tools today. You need to learn them fast and use them well.

What We're Looking For: Must-Have: • Strong programming fundamentals - you write real code, not just record-and-playback scripts. Python or JavaScript / TypeScript Preferred. • Exposure to at least one automation framework - Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright preferred. • Ability to learn new tools, frameworks, and methodologies fast — independently. • Strong attention to detail and the habit of thinking about what can go wrong. • Clear written communication for bug documentation and test reporting. • Any personal projects, GitHub repositories, or scripts that demonstrate your coding habit. No specific degree required - but strong coding ability is non-negotiable.

Good to Have: • Hands-on experience with API testing tools such as Postman or REST Assured. • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and integrating tests into automated build processes. • Awareness of AI-powered QA tools (e.g., Testim, Mabl, Applitools, or similar). • Basic knowledge of performance and load testing concepts.

Why Join AlmaShines? • Test at real scale: a live platform with millions of users means your work has direct, visible impact every single day. • Ship and learn fast: our agile culture means you're always testing new features, sharpening your skills, and growing with the product. • Lead AI-driven quality: we actively encourage experimenting with AI-powered testing tools, giving you an edge in modern QA practices. • QA is a first-class discipline here, not an afterthought. You'll have a real seat at the table and genuine ownership of product quality.

Compensation & Perks CTC: ₹4,00,000 – ₹5,00,000 / Year (based on skills and experience)

Medical Cover: Medical insurance and wellness perks

Leaves: 24 paid leaves per year

Culture : High-growth environment with ownership, learning, and meaningful impact We’ve learned from experience that the profile we’re looking for is very specific. You’ll thrive here if you’re a curious coder, a quick learner, a hustler, and someone who wants ownership. If that sounds like you, this is the perfect place for you.