Software Engineer Contract Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary
SDET Automation Engineer (Hammer & Cyara)
We are seeking a highly skilled SDET Automation Engineer to join our Quality Engineering team supporting CVS Health's Conversational AI and Digital Channels initiatives. This role will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining scalable test automation frameworks, harnesses, and quality engineering solutions across Voice, Chat, API, and backend systems. The ideal candidate will possess strong automation expertise, hands-on experience with Hammer and Cyara, and a passion for improving software quality through innovative testing strategies, continuous automation, and engineering best practices. This is a highly collaborative role that partners with Product, Architecture, and Engineering teams to ensure exceptional customer experiences and reliable platform performance.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
About the Role
As an SDET Automation Engineer (Hammer & Cyara), you will play a critical role in shaping and advancing the quality strategy for Conversational AI platforms and digital customer experiences. You will develop and maintain robust automation frameworks, reusable test harnesses, and testing standards that enable engineering teams to efficiently validate applications across Voice, Chat, APIs, and backend services.
The role requires expertise in automation testing, API validation, CI/CD integration, and conversational AI testing methodologies. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to define test approaches, identify quality gaps, build scalable testing solutions, and ensure seamless customer interactions across channels. In addition to hands-on automation development, you will mentor engineers, promote quality engineering best practices, and help establish a culture of quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
This is an excellent opportunity for a technically strong SDET who enjoys solving complex testing challenges, developing innovative test solutions, and driving quality for next-generation AI-powered customer experiences.
In this role, you will:

• Design and implement scalable test automation frameworks, harnesses, and quality engineering solutions for Conversational AI platforms across Voice and Chat channels.
• Partner with Product, Architecture, and Engineering teams to define test strategies, quality standards, test coverage goals, and acceptance criteria.
• Develop and execute comprehensive testing approaches for APIs, backend services, end-to-end workflows, and AI-driven customer interactions.
• Build reusable testing tools, frameworks, and infrastructure that enable engineering teams to efficiently validate and maintain software quality.
• Validate complex conversational experiences, including multi-turn dialogues, intent recognition, orchestration logic, and customer journey flows.
• Identify testing gaps, quality risks, and process improvement opportunities, recommending and implementing effective solutions.
• Drive automation across the software development lifecycle, integrating testing strategies into CI/CD pipelines and release processes.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on test execution results, quality metrics, and release readiness to ensure a high-quality customer experience.
• Collaborate closely with developers to troubleshoot defects, improve testability, and support test-driven development practices.
• Create documentation, best practices, and testing standards that enable teams to consistently deliver high-quality solutions.
• Mentor engineers on automation frameworks, quality engineering principles, and modern testing methodologies.
• Contribute hands-on to automated test development and support broader engineering initiatives when needed.

Work Model
At Cognizant, we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible, and we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs. Based on this role's business requirements, this is an onsite position requiring 5 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in in Hartford CT.
*Please note, this role is not able to offer visa transfer or sponsorship now or in the future*
Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of total software engineering experience, with 3+ years focused on test automation/SDET work.
• Deep understanding of automation testing and the ability to lead engineers in developing automation scripts and programs that support automated testing initiatives.
• Strong proficiency in at least one backend programming language (Java or Node.js) with Object-Oriented Design (OOD) experience.
• API testing expertise, including REST, request/response validation, mocking, and contract testing.
• Experience with test frameworks such as JUnit, Jest, or equivalent; experience building custom frameworks is a plus.
• Hands-on experience with testing tools and platforms including SoapUI, Postman, Bruno, Playwright, Selenium, Cucumber, Hammer, and Cyara.
• Voice and Chat test automation expertise, with familiarity in testing methodologies for conversational systems.
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, including GitHub Actions, and experience implementing test automation within pipeline workflows.
• Experience designing and maintaining test data management strategies.
• Comfortable performing full-stack testing across APIs, backend services, and frontend applications.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to document testing patterns, mentor team members, and articulate testing strategies.
• Familiarity with software technologies, methodologies, and engineering practices, including Object-Oriented Design (OOD) and cloud-based software development.
• Experience testing LLM/AI responses using approaches such as LLM-as-a-Judge and similar evaluation methodologies.
• Ability to work onsite in Hartford, CT, or Wellesley, MA, as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep hands-on technical expertise in automation, including developing test frameworks, tools, and APIs.
• Experience working with Conversational AI platforms.
• Experience with contract testing and API mocking tools.
• Knowledge of performance and load testing frameworks.
• Understanding of, or experience testing, AI agents.

Additional Information
We welcome applicants who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Even if you don't meet every listed requirement, we encourage you to apply. Consider your transferable experience and unique skills that may bring fresh perspective to the role.
Salary and Other Compensation:
Applications will be accepted until August 23 rd , 2026.
The annual salary for this position is between $55,000 - $95,500 depending on the experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant's discretionary annual incentive program and stock awards, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant's applicable plans.
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
• Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
• 401(k) plan and contributions
• Long-term/Short-term Disability
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization's unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] for roles based in the Americas or [email protected] for roles based in India.