Lead Software Test Engineer

Caterpillar Caterpillar · Industrial · Chicago, IL +3

Lead Software Test Engineer for Caterpillar's global eCommerce platform (Parts.cat.com). Focuses on application quality engineering, performance testing strategies, and ensuring complex distributed software systems meet functional and performance requirements. Role involves designing and leading execution of functional and performance testing, collaborating with development teams, and integrating testing into CI/CD pipelines.

What you'd actually do

  1. Designs and leads execution of functional testing strategies across UI, API, and integration layers using modern automation tools (e.g., Playwright).
  2. Leads design and execution of performance testing strategies using tools such as k6, JMeter, and Artillery.
  3. Partners with development teams to improve application design, performance, and testability.
  4. Defines and leads implementation of automated testing strategies across: Functional testing (Playwright), Performance testing (k6, JMeter, Artillery).
  5. Applies advanced decision-making and critical thinking to evaluate technical trade-offs and guide engineering direction.

Skills

Required

  • functional test automation
  • performance engineering
  • Playwright
  • k6
  • JMeter
  • Artillery
  • CI/CD integration
  • API testing
  • integration testing
  • system integration testing
  • regression testing
  • load testing
  • stress testing
  • endurance testing
  • scalability testing
  • root-cause analysis
  • observability data analysis
  • technical leadership
  • critical thinking
  • software development lifecycle (SDLC)
  • shift-left testing practices
  • risk mitigation
  • performance optimization
  • quality, scalability, and maintainability

Nice to have

  • telematics
  • AI capabilities
  • advanced analytics

What the JD emphasized

  • advanced technical leadership
  • application quality engineering and performance testing strategies
  • functional requirements, performance expectations, and production readiness standards
  • functional test automation and performance engineering tools
  • functional testing strategies
  • complex, multi-tier, distributed applications
  • test strategies, coverage models, and release readiness criteria
  • in-sprint, regression, system integration (SIT), and E2E
  • functional requirements, customer journeys, and business workflows
  • performance testing strategies
  • load, stress, endurance, and scalability testing
  • non-functional requirements (NFRs)
  • logs, metrics, API traces, and observability data
  • root-cause analysis and resolution
  • real customer usage patterns and end-to-end system behavior
  • application design, performance, and testability
  • technical solutions and architecture decisions
  • automation frameworks, testing tools, and performance engineering approaches
  • technical requirements and acceptance criteria
  • delivery and validation across the SDLC
  • shift-left testing practices
  • release scope, quality expectations, and delivery timelines
  • automated testing strategies
  • CI/CD pipelines
  • automated regression validation
  • Performance gating
  • scalable automation practices
  • decision-making and critical thinking
  • risk mitigation, testing strategies, and performance optimization
  • quality, scalability, and maintainability expectations
  • engineering and testing practices
  • Decision Making and Critical Thinking – Extensive Experience
  • risk, impact, and system behavior
  • analyze issues and guide decision-making
  • quality, performance, and delivery outcomes
  • Effective Communications – Extensive Experience
  • engineering, product, and leadership audiences
  • technical approaches and testing strategies
  • Software Development – Extensive Experience
  • modern software development tools, frameworks, and practices
  • development approaches