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.