Apache NiFi QA Engineer [Hands-on Individual Contributor]

Role Summary

The Apache NiFi QA Engineer is responsible for validating the quality, reliability, and performance of NiFi-based data pipelines. This role focuses on functional, integration, and data validation testing, working closely with NiFi developers, data engineers, and DevOps teams to ensure accurate, secure, and scalable data flows in an Agile delivery environment.

Key Responsibilities

NiFi Flow & Data Testing

• Validate Apache NiFi flows for correctness, completeness, and reliability.
• Test data ingestion, transformation, routing, and error-handling scenarios.
• Verify data accuracy, schema conformity, and data quality across pipelines.

Integration & API Validation

• Test integrations between NiFi and REST APIs, databases, file systems, and messaging platforms.
• Validate upstream and downstream dependencies and data handoffs.
• Perform basic API testing to support end-to-end data flow validation.

Test Design & Execution

• Create and execute test cases, test scenarios, and test data based on requirements and user stories.
• Perform functional, regression, smoke, and exploratory testing on NiFi pipelines.
• Identify, log, and track defects; collaborate with developers to ensure timely resolution.

Performance & Reliability Validation

• Support testing for throughput, back-pressure, and failure scenarios.
• Validate retry logic, error queues, and data recovery mechanisms.
• Assist in validating behavior during restarts, failures, and reprocessing scenarios.

Agile Collaboration

• Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Work closely with NiFi developers, QA peers, and DevOps teams during releases.
• Support UAT and production readiness activities.

Required Skills & Experience

Testing & Technical Skills

• 3–5 years of experience in QA / Data or Integration Testing.
• Experience testing data pipelines or integration workflows, preferably Apache NiFi.
• Understanding of NiFi flow concepts, processors, and data provenance.
• Experience validating data formats (JSON, XML, CSV) and data transformations.
• Familiarity with REST API testing tools (Postman or similar).
• Experience with SQL queries for data validation.
• Familiarity with Linux environments and log analysis.

Data & Quality Awareness

• Strong attention to data accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Understanding of data quality checks, validation rules, and exception handling.

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication and documentation abilities.
• Comfortable working in Agile / Scrum environments.
• Ability to collaborate with offshore teams and US stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Experience testing NiFi clusters or high-availability environments.
• Exposure to Kafka or other messaging platforms.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines for data platforms.
• Basic understanding of NiFi security (users, policies, TLS).
• Experience supporting production data systems.