IT Software Engineer 4 (Senior SDET / Test Automation Engineer)

Pay:$65 - 70 /hr. on C2C IT Software Engineer 4 (Senior SDET / Test Automation Engineer) Location Chicago, Illinois - In-person interview - Mandate Hybrid: 3 days onsite per week (Day 1) Future Requirement: onsite (5 days/week) is expected in the future. Duration: 12 Months Estimated Start Date: July 27, 2026 Travel: None Interview Process Two interview rounds Virtual/Phone interview Panel and Hiring Manager interviews In-person interviews - Mandate Position Overview Caterpillar is seeking an experienced IT Software Engineer 4 (Senior SDET) to join its engineering team in Chicago. This role focuses on designing, developing, and maintaining enterprise-scale automated testing frameworks while ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of modern software applications. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in Java-based test automation, API testing, performance testing, CI/CD, and Agile development practices , along with the ability to mentor engineers and drive testing best practices across projects. This position is a backfill supporting an existing high-performing engineering team. Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and enhance enterprise test automation frameworks using Java. Develop automated functional, regression, integration, and API test suites. Create automation scripts using existing testing frameworks. Develop automation for Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines. Design and maintain API automation frameworks. Perform REST API testing and end-to-end integration testing. Develop scenario-based performance testing using JMeter. Execute exploratory and manual testing when required. Develop test strategies, test plans, test cases, and test data. Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Developers, and QA teams. Troubleshoot software defects and improve overall product quality. Mentor junior test engineers and provide technical leadership. Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. Review software quality standards and testing best practices. Support database validation using SQL. Document testing processes and automation solutions. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field. 8+ years of professional software testing or SDET experience. Extensive experience designing enterprise test automation frameworks. Strong understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills. Strong communication and collaboration abilities. Ability to work independently in a fast-paced Agile environment. Required Technical Skills Programming & Automation Java (3-5+ years) Test Automation Framework Design (8+ years) Cucumber & Karate - MUST HAVE JBehave or other BDD frameworks API Testing REST API Testing Web Services Testing Integration Testing End-to-End System Testing Performance Testing JMeter (3+ years) Database SQL Relational Databases Testing Functional Testing Regression Testing Test Strategy Test Planning Test Case Development Test Data Creation Preferred Skills Python AWS Cloud Jenkins Git CI/CD Pipelines DevOps practices Microservices Architecture TDD (Test-Driven Development) Code Reviews Agile / Scrum Lean Methodologies Apigee or other API Gateways Load Testing Performance Testing Strong technical documentation skills Soft Skills Excellent verbal and written communication Strong collaboration skills Adaptability in complex technical environments Proactive mindset Creative problem-solving Leadership and mentoring abilities Strong organizational and time management skills Team Environment Team size: 20+ engineers Cross-functional Agile team Close collaboration with Product Owners, Developers, and QA Engineers Hybrid work environment based in Chicago Candidate Value Proposition Joining Caterpillar offers the opportunity to: Build enterprise-scale automation solutions Work on modern CI/CD and DevOps practices Contribute to mission-critical software platforms Collaborate with experienced engineering teams Grow technical leadership skills Develop expertise in enterprise testing frameworks and cloud technologies Top Required Skills Java Test Automation Cucumber / BDD Frameworks Karate REST API Testing Test Automation Framework Design JMeter Performance Testing SQL End-to-End Integration Testing CI/CD Agile Methodologies Java-Based Automation Framework Development Nice-to-Have Skills Python AWS Jenkins Git Microservices DevOps TDD Apigee Load Testing Performance Engineering Important Candidate Requirements Candidates must : Be local to the Chicago area before Day 1 , or clearly state on the resume that they will relocate at their own expense. Be comfortable working 3 days onsite immediately , with the expectation of transitioning to 5 days onsite in the future. Demonstrate stable employment history (avoid frequent job changes). Candidates will be disqualified if they: Require 100% remote work. Are unwilling to relocate before the start date. Have excessive job hopping without reasonable explanation.