Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) - Backend Focus

About ITRS

At ITRS, we make society's critical technology work. Our mission is to deliver automated and holistic IT observability solutions that safeguard critical applications and enable innovation. We are the only monitoring and observability platform designed for the most demanding and regulated industries — trusted by 90% of Tier 1 capital markets firms.

We believe when our team thrives, so do our customers. With us, you'll find:

• A culture that backs you – We're proud to be a Great Place to Work for multiple years in a row due to our inclusive, supportive environment.

• Work that matters – Make a real difference with 1,000s of global customers in industries that keep the world running, including 9 out of 10 top investment banks.

• Room to grow – Whether you're starting your career or bringing years of experience, we're committed to your development. Just ask our team members who've been excelling here for 10+ years.

With headquarters in London and teams across the US, Europe, and Asia, ITRS combines the agility of a high-impact tech business with the stability of a private equity–backed global partner.

Scope of Role

We are seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) with deep expertise in backend systems to join our software engineering team in Chicago. This role is focused exclusively on platform-level testing for our backend software, emphasizing reliability, performance, and scalability in distributed systems. You will report to our Engineering Manager and play a key role in developing and maintaining automated testing infrastructure.

You must have hands-on experience building and automating test frameworks, not just executing manual tests. We prioritize engineers who can code and innovate in testing environments, particularly for cloud-native deployments. This position requires strong development skills to create custom automation tools, sizing measurements, and performance benchmarks. We offer a hybrid work schedule: at least 1-2 days per week in our Chicago office for collaboration, with the remainder remote.

Occasional travel within the US and internationally may be required to connect with our global distributed team. The salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 per annum.

As a Senior SDET, you will:

• Design, develop, and execute comprehensive backend platform-level testing, including functional, non-functional (e.g., performance, load, stress, and scalability), and integration testing for distributed services.
• Build, maintain, and enhance our performance testing infrastructure, including custom labs and automation frameworks to support evolving product demands.
• Develop automated tools and scripts for sizing measurements, resource assessments (e.g., CPU, memory, storage), and deployment simulations in customer-like environments.
• Collaborate closely with backend software engineers to define test strategies, review requirements, and integrate quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle—from design and development to deployment and ongoing support.
• Drive adoption of industry best practices in QA automation, performance engineering, and backend technologies, focusing on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Mentor team members on advanced testing practices, knowledge sharing, and automation development in a collaborative, distributed environment.

Requirements:
• 5+ years of professional experience as an SDET or QA engineer, with a proven track record in testing backend or platform-level software (e.g., distributed systems, APIs, and services). Experience limited to frontend, web UI, or Selenium-based testing will not align with this role.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Java, Go, Python, or Bash, with a focus on developing custom test automation frameworks and tools—not just using off-the-shelf solutions.
• Hands-on experience with cloud deployments, containerization, and orchestration is mandatory, including Docker and Kubernetes for managing backend environments.
• Deep knowledge of backend technologies, including Kafka for messaging, databases like PostgreSQL (SQL) and ClickHouse (NoSQL/columnar), and authentication systems like Keycloak.
• Proficiency in performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Locust, k6, Gatling) and integrating them into automated pipelines for scalability and load testing.
• Solid understanding of networking fundamentals, CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and test integration into build processes.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills, with the ability to architect scalable test solutions for complex distributed systems.
• Strong attention to detail and a collaborative mindset for working in a multi-cultural, globally distributed team.
• Genuine passion for backend platforms, performance engineering, and building automations that drive quality.
• Based in Chicago, with availability for hybrid work (1-2 days in-office per week).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Benefits:
• Health Insurance, Vision Plan, and Dental Cover for you and your dependants
• HSA & FSA
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Health Advocate, Talk Space, One Medical, Teladoc
• 401(k)
• Commuter benefits
• Remote Hybrid Working
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• 20 Days Holiday + Public Holidays + 3 days paid volunteering leave
• Referral Bonus
• Buy and Sell Holiday
• Training Reimbursement

ITRS is an Equal Opportunity employer and Inclusion is part of our everyday life. We celebrate diversity and pride ourselves on providing an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves and have a voice, allowing everyone to contribute equally. We remain committed to advocating inclusion, diversity, and equality into our ITRS family as we grow and enrich our business.

We welcome applications from everyone in the community as we recognize that a diverse workforce is a stronger workforce.