Senior SDET | Financial Services - Market Data Expertise Required

Senior Test Automation Engineer | SDET | Financial Services (Market Data) | London (Hybrid)

Eligibility: Only candidates with recent Banking and/or Financial Services sector experience and recent exposure to Market Data systems & concepts will be considered.

Rate: £445 p/d Outside IR35

Required Sector Experience: Banking / Financial Services / Capital Markets

Working Model: Hybrid - 2–3 days per week onsite in London

Must Have Tech Skills: Python, SQL, Playwright or Cypress (or similar), automation framework design

🚨 Strict Requirements – Please Read Before Applying

Only apply if you meet all the following:

✅ Recent Banking or Financial Services experience

✅ Hands-on exposure to Market Data systems & concepts

✅ Strong Python and SQL skills

✅ Automation framework development experience (Playwright/Cypress/Selenium)

✅ Ability to design, build, and own automation end-to-end

✅ Solid understanding of cloud technologies + relational databases

✅ Comfortable operating as the senior QA authority on a project

🚨 If you do not tick every box above, this role is not the right fit.

Optimal have partnered with a major financial services organisation that is modernising their Market Data platform. They are seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer to lead all testing activities across a high-visibility transformation programme.

This is a hands-on, senior technical role where you will architect automation frameworks, execute manual and automated tests, and take full ownership of quality assurance across a critical Market Data initiative.

Core Focus Areas

Automation Framework Ownership

• Build, enhance, and maintain a robust automation framework for Market Data systems

• Playwright, Cypress, Selenium – UI, API, and integration automation

• End-to-end ownership: architecture → scripting → CI integration

Test Execution & Governance

• Design, develop, and execute manual and automated test cases

• Full QA lifecycle: planning, execution, reporting, and defect management

• Ensure compliance with internal reporting templates and governance standards

Data & Market Data Validation

• SQL-based validation across relational databases

• Hands-on testing of cloud-enabled data flows

• Strong understanding of Market Data concepts (pricing, instruments, feeds, vendors, validation)

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with IT Services, engineering teams, and business SMEs

• Support the Principal Test Manager in embedding QA best practices

• Clearly communicate testing progress, risks, and quality metrics

Ideal Background

• Proven experience designing, executing, and reporting on software tests

• Strong hands-on automation engineering skills

• Experience in Market Data environments (highly preferred)

• Strong scripting skills (Python, JavaScript or similar)

• Financial services testing background – banking, trading, data, or investment platforms

• Familiarity with Jira, Agile delivery, and modern DevOps practices

• ISTQB Foundation or equivalent certification

Working Model

Hybrid: 2–3 days per week in London

Engaged, collaborative technology function driving modernisation and quality-first delivery

If this opportunity sounds like the right fit and you meet all of the criteria above, reach out to Optimal for an immediate response.