About this role.
Tala is seeking a senior-level Software Development Engineer in Test to expand automated quality coverage for backend microservices and mobile applications. The role centers on building and improving test frameworks, integrating automated testing into CI/CD and release processes, and validating third-party integrations such as payment rails, messaging, KYC, and analytics services. Candidates need at least four years of test-framework development experience with JVM languages, CI/CD tooling, BDD frameworks, version control, and Agile delivery practices. The position also emphasizes practical use of AI coding assistants, custom AI workflows, and autonomous agents to improve engineering productivity and test quality. It is a hands-on, cross-functional quality role supporting Tala's credit infrastructure across multiple markets.
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Core skills
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Sample interview questions
I would use a layered framework covering unit-level service checks, API and contract tests, integration tests with controlled provider sandboxes or mocks, and a small set of end-to-end critical-path tests. I would make test data isolated and repeatable, add observability through structured logs and reports, and run the appropriate layers in CI based on pull-request, regression, and release stages.
Pull requests should prioritize fast, deterministic tests such as unit, API, contract, and targeted integration tests to provide quick feedback. Release regression can include broader cross-service flows, device or mobile coverage, external-integration validation, and resilience scenarios. I use historical failure data, execution duration, and business risk to continuously refine both suites.
I first classify failures to distinguish product defects, infrastructure issues, data problems, and synchronization defects. I remove arbitrary waits in favor of explicit conditions, ensure tests do not share mutable state, improve test data setup and cleanup, and stabilize environment dependencies through service virtualization where appropriate. I would track flake rates and treat recurring instability as engineering work rather than repeatedly retrying tests.
I use AI tools to accelerate scaffolding, generate edge-case ideas, summarize failures, and draft test utilities, but I validate all generated code through review, linting, security checks, and execution in controlled environments. For custom workflows, I define clear inputs, permissions, and acceptance criteria, avoid exposing sensitive data, and measure whether the automation improves coverage, reliability, or developer feedback time.
I would communicate the user impact, affected markets or services, reproducible steps, expected versus actual behavior, severity, available evidence, and recommended next action. I would clearly state whether a workaround exists and coordinate ownership with the responsible team. During the release decision, I would provide concise status updates so stakeholders can make an informed risk-based decision.
About Tala
Tala is AI-native credit infrastructure for the global majority, combining proprietary risk intelligence with an expanding network of capital and distribution partners to power credit access at scale. Backed by more than $500 million in funding, Tala has distributed more than $7 billion in capital to more than 13 million customers across Africa, Latin America, and Asia—building one of the most robust datasets on thin-file borrowers anywhere in the world. Our mission is simple yet bold: to unleash the economic power of the global majority. We are looking for daring, data-driven leaders passionate about building the trust and credit infrastructure for the global majority.
Our pioneering work and proven impact have earned us consistent recognition, including being named to:
CNBC’s Disruptor 50 for five years.
CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies for two consecutive years.
Forbes’ Fintech 50 list for nine consecutive years.
Visionary investors, persuaded by the economic power of the global majority, have committed half a billion dollars in equity and debt to Tala’s success.
Given the global nature of our team, we operate on a remote-first approach with office hubs in Santa Monica, CA (HQ); Nairobi, Kenya; Mexico City, Mexico; Manila, the Philippines; and Bangalore, India.
Most Talazens join us because they connect with our mission. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Tala, we’d love to hear from you!
The Role
We are looking for a Software Development Engineer in Test (Sr. SDET) who is passionate about using cutting-edge test automation tools and technologies to create robust test frameworks and test suites in order to speed up the product delivery process without compromising quality and performance. This hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves role will ensure quality control across Tala’s backend services and mobile applications in multiple markets.
What You’ll Do
- Develop test automation suites to expand test coverage to all our microservices and integrate it into regression and release process
- Support the team for all releases and communicate issues to product in a timely manner
- Deliver tools to help test integration with third-party services (Payment Rails, SMS/Email, KYC (know your customer), Analytics, etc.)
- Integrate automated tests execution into the software development process
- Collaborate with Squad Lead and other key stakeholders to strategize rollout
- Support and collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Data, Credit, and Business Development) in identifying automation areas to further increase the quality of our product
- Maintain, review, propose and implement improvements to existing frameworks, tools and processes
- Continuous Learning of new tools and helping the team in optimizing the test framework consistently.
What You’ll Need
- Minimum 4+ years of experience in building test tools and frameworks using Groovy/Kotlin/ Java/ Scala, Jenkins or similar CI-CD tools, Linux/ Mac OSX for either backend or frontend services
- Hands-on experience developing with AI coding assistants and agents (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex).
- Proven track record of designing, building, and refining custom AI skills, workflows, and autonomous agents.
- Experience with BDD testing paradigm and one of the Behavior Driven Testing frameworks such as Spock or JBehave or cucumber
- Knowledge in microservices and automation
- Experience working in an Agile development process (Scrum/ Kanban)
- Experience with one or more version control systems such as Github, Gitlab
Compensation
Additional Information
Our vision is to build a new financial ecosystem where everyone can participate on equal footing and access the tools they need to be financially healthy. We strongly believe that inclusion fosters innovation and we’re proud to have a diverse global team that represents a multitude of backgrounds, cultures, and experience. We hire talented people regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Annual salary information is not provided for this position. Explore salary ranges for similar roles in our Salary Directory ›
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