Inside EPAM’s FinTech Journey in Spain: The Career Story of a Test Automation Architect

Inside EPAM’s FinTech Journey in Spain: The Career Story of a Test Automation Architect

Seven years ago, Viacheslau Bushyla was happy in his role as a Test Automation Engineer at EPAM, but was looking for a more international experience. With the support of his manager, Viacheslau joined a key financial services project at a newly established office in Spain.

Still part of that original project today, Viacheslau considers it an exceptional platform for growth. While competitive compensation has been a significant benefit, he places greater value on the engineering excellence and professional maturity he developed — qualities that have proven invaluable in shaping his professional career.

Witnessing EPAM Spain’s Early Days

A few months before onboarding to the project, Viacheslau traveled to Spain on a business trip. He recalls EPAM’s team in Málaga as a close-knit group of approximately 30 individuals working amidst office renovations. At that time, EPAM Spain had two primary projects: the one Viacheslau joined was fully operational, while the other was still in its early stages. For Viacheslau, it felt like a startup with immense potential.

“I remember colleagues working in an open space while builders moved materials,” says Viacheslau. “The scene is amusing, compared to the transformation the office has undergone in seven years. Now, EPAM in Málaga occupies a large, well-equipped office spanning multiple buildings, with a diverse workforce from multiple countries.”

Behind-the-scenes photo from the Málaga Tech Games 2024 video shoot

Although Viacheslau initially found the new project workload demanding, he quickly adapted and formed strong personal and professional ties with his team. Plus, Spain’s excellent year-round weather and beautiful scenery enabled him to maintain a healthy work-life balance while fully focusing on his professional responsibilities. Seven years later, he remains deeply satisfied with his decision.

Building Partnerships with a Strategic Client

Viacheslau was eager to get started on the new project, but not everything went as smoothly as he had hoped. Due to the complexity of the trading platform and the scale of the client's operations, they were initially hesitant to delegate all tasks to the EPAM team. 

The initial project scope was centered on fundamental aspects such as establishing processes, tools and testing standards, while the client’s engineers focused on business-related streams. However, after Viacheslau’s team successfully eliminated legacy software, introduced automated tests and reduced production incidents, the client began to entrust EPAM with more responsibilities.

“It was gratifying to witness the client’s appreciation of the engineering excellence introduced by EPAM. Nurturing this relationship with a strategic partner was the most exciting aspect of my experience on this project,” recalls Viacheslau.

The successful project kick-off empowered Viacheslau to lead the team responsible for developing trading execution logic components. Subsequently, upon completion of the internal solution architecture course, Viacheslau onboarded a QA team and transitioned to the role of Test Automation Architect in the trading department.

Driving Impact through Engineering Excellence

Today, EPAM Spain is fully engaged in developing the most complex parts of the client’s trading system. Viacheslau and his team consistently propose cutting-edge technical solutions to tackle complex challenges and drive impactful outcomes for the client’s business.

“As a technology leader, the client continuously evolves its trading system architecture to address real-world trading challenges,” explains Viacheslau. “Working with them allows me to stay abreast of the latest FinTech tools and methodologies.”

Viacheslau with his EPAM colleagues on a business trip in New York

One of the team’s achievements Viacheslau is most proud of was optimizing regression testing costs for trading platform upgrades. They analyzed past testing data, calculated ROI and presented a technical project that would allow them to reduce the workload from 60 to 10 person-days. The implementation involved multiple development teams and spanned nearly a year, earning high praise from the client.

“Our team ensures the development and testing of software used by traders daily. The low number of production incidents attributed to testing gaps stands as a testament to the high quality of our deliverables,” adds Viacheslau.

Thriving in a Mature Work Environment

Viacheslau attributes his team’s productivity to the strong environment of effective collaboration, characterized by high project management standards, clearly defined escalation paths and meticulously documented work processes. Key cultural aspects fostered by the client include accountability for work and adherence to established processes. This systematic, objective and design-oriented approach encourages breaking down complex processes into manageable components and continuously refining them to achieve better outcomes.

The client invests heavily in technology, including software, infrastructure, personal devices and AI tools. From Viacheslau’s experience, obtaining software licenses is straightforward, plus all team members have access to tools like SourceGraph AI.

Another notable differentiator is the high level of engineering maturity on this account. Each role is meticulously filled with qualified individuals, fostering a positive and professional work environment. 

“Most of my colleagues hold Lead+ titles. Having participated in the interview process, I can attest to the high professional expectations for engineers, both in technical expertise and communication skills,” shares Viacheslau.

Success for the Future

Success on this FinTech project requires a specific personal and professional mindset. The top qualities across our team include professionalism in all situations and the abilities to interact with diverse stakeholders and receive feedback with an open mind. These factors contribute to the high standards for newcomers and significantly enhance professional growth.

For those joining this account, particularly the trading department, Viacheslau recommends focusing on the client’s needs and value-drivers as well as familiarizing yourself with trading terminology. These, combined with core skills and EPAM values, are essential for success.

If you are passionate about Financial Services and want to solve the toughest challenges with some of the top engineers worldwide, join our FinTech team in Málaga.

If you’re interested in other EPAM roles, take inspiration from Viacheslau’s journey and start your own adventure with EPAM.