Principal Automation Engineer (Desktop Applications)
Posted 5 days ago by 1765348309
Negotiable
Outside
Remote
USA
Summary: The Principal Automation Engineer will lead the enterprise automation strategy for desktop applications, combining technical expertise with leadership responsibilities. This role involves architecting and implementing automation frameworks while mentoring team members and collaborating with various stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in desktop automation, particularly in Windows/.NET environments, and a proven track record of driving automation initiatives. Strong communication and technical skills are essential for success in this position.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead automation strategy, planning, execution, and delivery across multiple projects and teams.
- Manage and mentor direct reports, guiding them on automation standards and best practices.
- Provide senior-level technical direction and ensure alignment with enterprise automation goals.
- Collaborate closely with architects, application SMEs, infrastructure teams, and leadership to define automation roadmaps.
- Architect, design, and maintain enterprise-scale automation frameworks for desktop applications.
- Ensure frameworks are scalable, maintainable, and adaptable across tools and technologies.
- Develop automation solutions for desktop UI, APIs, and database layers.
- Modernize existing manual desktop testing processes by introducing automation with measurable ROI.
- Build and maintain automation using enterprise tools (Tosca preferred; UFT, Ranorex, TestComplete acceptable).
- Translate open-source/scripted automation (Python, C#, Java, etc.) into reusable commercial tool assets.
- Develop reusable modules, libraries, and model-based automation assets for long-term maintainability.
- Enhance and optimize in-house automation frameworks to support evolving desktop environments.
- Perform advanced debugging, root cause analysis, and cross-team defect resolution.
- Integrate desktop automation into CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitLab, etc.).
- Ensure automation runs autonomously in build and deployment workflows.
- Work across Windows and Linux environments for cross-platform automation support.
Key Skills:
- 10+ years of hands-on automation experience with strong expertise in desktop application automation (.NET, Windows-based applications).
- Proven experience leading enterprise automation initiatives end-to-end (strategy, architecture, execution).
- Strong hands-on experience with Tosca or other enterprise desktop automation tools (UFT, TestComplete, Ranorex, T-Plan).
- Expertise in desktop UI automation libraries/tools (WinAppDriver, FlaUI, TestStack, Pywinauto, White, etc.).
- Strong automation framework design skills (modular, component-based, data-driven).
- Experience building automation for APIs, packaged apps, and custom desktop applications.
- Ability to translate script-based automation (Python, C#, Java, Bash) into scalable commercial tool assets.
- 7+ years working with cross-functional engineering, QA, product, and business teams.
- Strong SQL skills (queries, validations, schema updates for automation needs).
- Hands-on CI/CD automation experience (Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitLab).
- Ability to work comfortably across Windows and Linux.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: undetermined
Country: USA
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: outside IR35
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: IT
Principal Automation Engineer (Desktop Applications)
The Principal Automation Engineer will serve as the senior-most technical authority responsible for defining, leading, and executing enterprise-grade automation strategy for desktop applications. This role combines hands-on engineering with leadership responsibilities, driving the architecture, development, optimization, and implementation of automation frameworks across mission-critical systems.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in desktop automation (Windows/.NET environments), complemented by strong API, database, and CI/CD automation experience. This role requires proven ownership of automation initiatives, cross-team leadership, and the ability to translate complex manual processes into scalable, long-term automated solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Strategy
- Lead automation strategy, planning, execution, and delivery across multiple projects and teams.
- Manage and mentor direct reports, guiding them on automation standards and best practices.
- Provide senior-level technical direction and ensure alignment with enterprise automation goals.
- Collaborate closely with architects, application SMEs, infrastructure teams, and leadership to define automation roadmaps.
- Architect, design, and maintain enterprise-scale automation frameworks for desktop applications.
- Ensure frameworks are scalable, maintainable, and adaptable across tools and technologies.
- Develop automation solutions for desktop UI, APIs, and database layers.
- Modernize existing manual desktop testing processes by introducing automation with measurable ROI.
- Build and maintain automation using enterprise tools (Tosca preferred; UFT, Ranorex, TestComplete acceptable).
- Translate open-source/scripted automation (Python, C#, Java, etc.) into reusable commercial tool assets.
- Develop reusable modules, libraries, and model-based automation assets for long-term maintainability.
- Enhance and optimize in-house automation frameworks to support evolving desktop environments.
- Perform advanced debugging, root cause analysis, and cross-team defect resolution.
- Integrate desktop automation into CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitLab, etc.).
- Ensure automation runs autonomously in build and deployment workflows.
- Work across Windows and Linux environments for cross-platform automation support.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of hands-on automation experience with strong expertise in desktop application automation (.NET, Windows-based applications).
- Proven experience leading enterprise automation initiatives end-to-end (strategy architecture execution).
- Strong hands-on experience with Tosca or other enterprise desktop automation tools (UFT, TestComplete, Ranorex, T-Plan).
- Expertise in desktop UI automation libraries/tools (WinAppDriver, FlaUI, TestStack, Pywinauto, White, etc.).
- Strong automation framework design skills (modular, component-based, data-driven).
- Experience building automation for APIs, packaged apps, and custom desktop applications.
- Ability to translate script-based automation (Python, C#, Java, Bash) into scalable commercial tool assets.
- 7+ years working with cross-functional engineering, QA, product, and business teams.
- Strong SQL skills (queries, validations, schema updates for automation needs).
- Hands-on CI/CD automation experience (Azure DevOps, Jenkins, GitLab).
- Ability to work comfortably across Windows and Linux.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
Nice to Have
- Experience in utilities, energy, or other large-scale operational environments.
- Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, IT, Engineering, or related field.
Professional Requirements
- Professional interview presence (laptop only no mobile interviews).
- Strong communication, stable internet, adequate lighting, and professional backdrop.
- Active LinkedIn profile matching resume details:
- Accurate employment history
- Professional photo
- Clean, professional language
- Visible activity