Senior Development Engineer in Test (C# / Automation / Backend)
Hybrid working - 2 days in office, WFH. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch.
Competitive rates +GST, full time commitment
6 month initial contract (with extensions)
We’re looking for a
Senior Development Engineer in Test
who bring strong
C# and software engineering capability
and can own quality across complex backend systems. This role suits someone who thinks and codes like a software engineer, but specialises in building robust, scalable automated testing and quality frameworks.
You’ll work closely with backend developers, design high-quality automation solutions, and play a key role in debugging and validating distributed systems.
What you’ll work on
Developing high-quality, maintainable automated tests using
C# / .NET Core
Building and enhancing API, integration, and backend automation frameworks
Designing and validating
GraphQL
queries, mutations, and schemas
Debugging issues across microservices, distributed services, and event-driven components
Using
Docker
, event streaming tools (Kafka preferred), and modern CI/CD
Driving TDD, shift-left testing, and best engineering practice across the team
Core Requirements
Strong
C# development skills
, with clean, maintainable coding style
Solid understanding of
OOP
and
SOLID
design principles
Proven experience with
Test-Driven Development (TDD)
Hands-on experience working with
GraphQL
(queries, mutations, schema design)
Deep experience in API and backend test automation, including complex workflow validation
Ability to contribute code-level quality improvements and collaborate closely with engineers
Bonus Skills
Experience with event streaming platforms (Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.)
Understanding of distributed systems and asynchronous messaging patterns
Familiarity with observability tools (logs, metrics, tracing)
Soft Skills
Analytical mindset with high attention to detail
Strong problem-solving and debugging capability
Collaborative, proactive, and comfortable working with cross-functional product teams
If you’re a Technical Software Engineer who thrives in highly technical backend and testing environments and wants to shape automation at scale, we’d love to connect. You must be eligible to work in New Zealand with valid working rights (Citizen, Residency, Work Visa) to be successful in your application. For more information please contact edward@vertexrecruit.co.nz
Applications close 20th December 2025.