Full Description

Lead Data Testing Engineer (Financial Services / Lending Platforms)

Employment Type: Contract to Hire

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Experience Level: 5–10 Years Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Lead Data Testing Engineer to support large-scale financial data platforms that power lending and credit operations. This role focuses on validating high-volume batch and streaming data pipelines, ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and regulatory compliance across Hadoop-based ecosystems and Kafka-driven real-time data flows. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in data validation, automation, Agile delivery, and a strong passion for driving quality and innovation within financial services platforms. Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and execute data validation and testing strategies for large-scale financial datasets exceeding 5M+ customer records Validate batch and streaming data pipelines, including Kafka, ETL/ELT processes, and Hadoop-based platforms spanning multiple technologies Perform end-to-end testing of lending and credit data flows from source systems through downstream analytics and reporting layers Build and maintain automated data testing frameworks for regression, reconciliation, and anomaly detection Develop SQL-based and programmatic test scripts to validate data completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and data lineage Partner with data engineers, developers, and business stakeholders to define data quality standards and acceptance criteria Identify root causes of data defects and collaborate with teams on remediation strategies Support regulatory, audit, and compliance requirements through strong data governance and documentation practices Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, and continuous improvement initiatives Champion innovation by introducing modern testing tools, automation practices, and monitoring solutions Required Skills & Qualifications 5–10 years of experience in data testing, data quality, or analytics QA roles Strong experience within financial services, preferably lending, credit, or risk platforms Proven experience testing high-volume datasets (5M+ records)

Hands-on experience with

• Hadoop ecosystem (Hive, HDFS, Spark, etc.)
• Kafka or similar streaming platforms
• Batch ETL/ELT pipelines
• Relational and analytical databases
• Advanced SQL skills for data validation and reconciliation
• Experience with test automation frameworks and scripting languages (Python, Java, Scala, or similar)
• Strong understanding of data modeling, data warehousing, and lineage concepts
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Preferred Qualifications