Senior Automation Engineer in Belfast

Senior Automation Engineer in Belfast

Belfast Full-Time 56700 - 69300 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
CitiGroup

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Architect and deliver frameworks and CI/CD infrastructure for high-quality software development.
  • Company: Join Citi, a global leader in financial services with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and private medical insurance.
  • Other info: Hybrid working model and commitment to an inclusive workplace.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of software engineering with cutting-edge AI tools and frameworks.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in software development, strong problem-solving skills, and experience with AI integration.

The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.

By joining Citi, you will become part of a global organisation whose mission is to serve as a trusted partner to our clients by responsibly providing financial services that enable growth and economic progress.

Team/Role Overview

Citi is looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to join our Securities Finance Technology team — a hands-on role at the intersection of engineering productivity, software quality, and AI-powered development tooling. In this position, you will architect and deliver the frameworks, libraries, and CI/CD infrastructure that enable the broader engineering team to build and ship high-quality software with speed and confidence. Your work will directly shape the technical foundations that the entire development team depends on.

What you’ll do

  • Architect, build, and maintain scalable, developer-friendly frameworks, testing libraries, and internal tooling from the ground up, establishing and owning the core testing infrastructure used across the development team.
  • Design and implement CI/CD pipelines in collaboration with Operations and Development teams, optimising the build, test, and deploy lifecycle to ensure a reliable, feedback-driven delivery process.
  • Identify and engineer automation solutions that eliminate manual steps across the development lifecycle, continuously raising the bar for reliability and engineering efficiency.
  • Research, prototype, and integrate AI-powered tools and techniques — including AI for test data generation, anomaly detection, and code completion — to measurably enhance developer productivity and test effectiveness.
  • Partner with development teams, business analysts, and operations stakeholders to translate complex application requirements into well-documented, testable, and maintainable framework designs.
  • Champion a shift-left approach to software quality, leading code reviews and guiding engineers on best practices for code quality, testability, and design standards.
  • Assess risk in technical decisions with consideration for Citi's reputation and obligations, escalating control issues transparently and ensuring adherence to applicable policies, laws, and regulations.

What we’ll need from you

  • Eight or more years of hands-on experience in a technical software development role, with a strong record of delivering production-grade systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to architect and implement scalable applications, developer frameworks, or shared tooling from scratch, with clear ownership through the full development lifecycle.
  • Deep knowledge of software engineering fundamentals — including data structures, algorithms, object-oriented design, and design patterns — applied to real-world systems.
  • Hands-on experience or demonstrable applied interest in integrating AI tools within a software development or testing context.
  • Sharp analytical and problem-solving skills with close attention to detail, enabling root-cause diagnosis and pragmatic engineering solutions.
  • Clear and confident communicator, able to translate complex technical concepts for both engineering peers and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Effective collaborator in agile team environments, comfortable working across engineering, operations, and business analyst functions.

Beneficial Skills & Qualifications

  • Background in financial services technology, with an understanding of the complexity and risk considerations inherent in those environments.
  • Familiarity with Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) principles and experience applying them to framework or test strategy design.
  • Working knowledge of containerisation technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes, and experience deploying or operating on cloud platforms.
  • Expertise in at least one major programming language such as Java or Python, combined with extensive practical experience using testing frameworks and tools such as JUnit, TestNG, Selenium, Playwright, Cucumber, or Postman.
  • Experience building and maintaining shared libraries or contributing to open-source projects used by broader engineering communities.

What we can offer you

Joining Citi's Securities Finance Technology team means working at meaningful scale — building tools and frameworks that shape how engineers across the organisation deliver software. You will have real ownership, access to cutting-edge AI development tooling, and the opportunity to grow your technical leadership in a high-performing, collaborative environment.

By joining Citi Belfast, you will not only be part of a business casual workplace with a hybrid working model (up to 2 days working at home per week), but also receive a competitive base salary (which is annually reviewed), and enjoy a whole host of additional benefits such as:

  • Generous holiday allowance starting at 27 days plus bank holidays; increasing with tenure
  • A discretional annual performance related bonus
  • Private medical insurance packages to suit your personal circumstances
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Pension Plan
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Special discounts for employees, family, and friends
  • Access to an array of learning and development resources

Alongside these benefits, Citi is committed to ensuring our workplace is where everyone feels comfortable coming to work as their whole self every day. We want the best talent around the world to be energized to join us, motivated to stay, and empowered to thrive.

Apply now to bring your automation engineering expertise to Citi and help define the technical standards that power our Securities Finance Technology team.

Senior Automation Engineer in Belfast employer: CitiGroup

Citi is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic work environment where employees can thrive and make a significant impact in the investment banking sector. With a strong focus on professional development, team collaboration, and community engagement, associates are empowered to grow their careers while contributing to meaningful projects within the Consumer, Luxury & Retail team. Located in a vibrant city, Citi provides unique opportunities for networking and exposure to leading global consumer players, making it an ideal place for ambitious professionals seeking rewarding employment.

CitiGroup

Contact Details:

CitiGroup Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Automation Engineer in Belfast

Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups

We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like CitiGroup!

Show Off Your Projects

Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Senior Automation Engineer position at CitiGroup, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.

Leverage Your Uni Career Services

If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when CitiGroup is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!

Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications

While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Senior Automation Engineer role at CitiGroup!

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Automation Engineer in Belfast

Automation Engineering
CI/CD Pipeline Design
Framework Development
AI Integration
Software Quality Assurance
Agile Methodologies
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!

Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to CitiGroup and its goals.

Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!

How to prepare for a job interview at CitiGroup

Master Your Technical Knowledge

In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.

Showcase Your Projects

Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to CitiGroup.

Understand Industry Trends

Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at CitiGroup, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.

Commit to Continuous Learning

As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.