Principal Automation Test Engineer (Desktop Application)

We are on the lookout for a visionary Principal Automation Engineer to lead our automation excellence. An ideal candidate will play a dual role, such as leading automation strategy and contributing hands-on to the design and build of automation frameworks and solutions. This individual will serve as the senior-most technical expert on the automation team, driving innovation and technical excellence in the automation of desktop-based applications and systems. Role Overview (25% Leadership / 75% Hands-On Technical Work): • Architect and design robust automation frameworks specifically for desktop applications, ensuring scalability, maintainability, and long-term adaptability across multiple platforms and technologies. • Provide technical leadership and mentorship, guiding the automation team through complex design challenges and promoting best practices in automation engineering. • Develop and enhance automation strategies covering desktop, API, and database layers, integrating them into CI/CD processes to ensure continuous quality and reliability. • Partner closely with application SMEs, domain architects, infrastructure teams, and project managers to align automation initiatives with business and technical goals. • Analyze existing manual testing processes for desktop software and identify opportunities to replace or augment them with automated solutions. • Maintain, evolve, and optimize the in-house automation framework to ensure compatibility and efficiency across various desktop environments and configurations. • Participate in root cause analysis and troubleshooting efforts, driving cross-team collaboration to identify and resolve defects efficiently. • Provide detailed estimates, solution designs, and test automation strategies for upcoming desktop-based projects. The Essentials • 10+ years of hands-on experience designing, building, and maintaining test automation frameworks, with a strong focus on desktop application testing (Windows, .NET, or similar environments). • Proven expertise in framework architecture and design patterns for test automation, including component-based, modular, and data-driven approaches. • Strong understanding of desktop UI automation tools and libraries (e.g., WinAppDriver, White, Pywinauto, FlaUI, TestStack, or equivalent). • Experience developing automation for APIs, packaged, and custom desktop applications. • 7+ years of experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders across engineering, QA, and business units to align automation goals and deliver enterprise-grade solutions. • Strong Python skills required, as well as one other programming/scripting language (.NET, C#, Java, Bash, etc.) for building automation utilities and integrating frameworks. • Strong SQL skills, including writing and maintaining queries, interacting with relational databases, and designing simple schema updates to support test automation. • Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, enabling desktop test automation to execute autonomously in build and deployment workflows. • Comfortable working in both Windows and Linux environments for cross-platform automation support. • Excellent communication skills, capable of articulating technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Experience using Tosca or other enterprise-grade test automation platforms. Nice To Have • Prior experience in the utility or energy industry, or in other large-scale operational environments. • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field. Benefits • 401(k). • Dental Insurance. • Health insurance. • Vision insurance. • We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity, equality, inclusion, and respect for people. • The salary will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, location, relevant education, qualifications, experience, technical skills, and business needs. Additional Responsibilities • Participate in OP monthly team meetings, and participate in team-building efforts. • Contribute to OP technical discussions, peer reviews, etc. • Contribute content and collaborate via the OP-Wiki/Knowledge Base. • Provide status reports to OP Account Management as requested. About Us OP is a technology consulting and solutions company, offering advisory and managed services, innovative platforms, and staffing solutions across a wide range of fields — including AI, cyber security, enterprise architecture, and beyond. Our most valuable asset is our people: dynamic, creative thinkers, who are passionate about doing quality work. As a member of the OP team, you will have access to industry-leading consulting practices, strategies & and technologies, innovative training & education. An ideal OP team member is a technology leader with a proven track record of technical excellence and a strong focus on process and methodology.