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Principal Sdet Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SDET Consultant

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $66.50/hr

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) Duration: 6-18 months Work Mode: Onsite Location: Chicago, IL Purpose We are seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to ...

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How much do principal sdet jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal sdet in the United States is $109,393.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $85,000.00 and $125,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Principal SDET?

A Principal SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) is a senior-level role responsible for driving test automation, quality strategy, and best practices within a development team. They design and implement advanced testing frameworks, mentor engineers, and collaborate with development teams to ensure high software quality. Principal SDETs also analyze complex systems to identify potential risks and improve testing efficiency. Their role often includes evaluating new testing tools, optimizing CI/CD pipelines, and ensuring scalable test automation solutions.

What types of teams and projects does a Principal SDET typically work on?

Principal SDETs frequently lead test automation initiatives and quality strategies across multiple feature teams, often collaborating closely with developers, product managers, and DevOps engineers. You will likely work on complex, high-impact projects such as developing enterprise-scale automation frameworks, optimizing CI/CD pipelines, and mentoring junior SDETs or QA engineers. The work environment is typically highly collaborative and fast-paced, with a strong focus on innovation and continuous improvement of testing practices. As a Principal SDET, you'll have the opportunity to both influence technical direction and help shape quality culture throughout the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Principal SDET position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test), you need deep expertise in software testing, automation frameworks, programming (such as Java, Python, or C#), and a strong understanding of software development lifecycles, often backed by a bachelor's or master's in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Selenium, Appium, Jenkins, cloud testing platforms, and certifications such as ISTQB or Certified Agile Tester are highly beneficial. Exceptional problem-solving, leadership, mentorship, and effective communication skills set outstanding Principal SDETs apart. These capabilities enable you to drive testing strategy, ensure high-quality software delivery, and effectively lead and collaborate within cross-functional engineering teams.

Is Principal Sdet still in demand?

Principal SDET roles remain in demand as companies prioritize quality assurance and automation in software development. These positions often require expertise in testing frameworks, scripting, and tools like Selenium or Appium, with demand driven by the growth of agile and DevOps practices.
More about Principal Sdet jobs
Infographic showing various Principal Sdet job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Futurex

Bulverde, TX • On-site

$45 - $58/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description

Futurex is seeking talented individuals for the position of Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET). This position is on-site at Futurex’s Engineering Campus in Bulverde, 15 miles north of San Antonio, Texas. This position offers an opportunity for passionate, motivated, and driven individuals to join our team of world-class engineers and assist in quality assurance for Futurex's line of innovative, hardware-based cryptographic solutions

In the SDET role, your responsibilities will center on software development and testing. You will ensure the robustness of the company’s automation initiatives before they can be distributed to internal and external clients. You will carry out functional integration testing between the company’s applications, products, and services. Success in this role will be determined by your ability to successfully perform end-to-end testing of automation processes.

Job Responsibilities and Duties:

  • Assess and understand the flow of code and its interaction with various processes
  • Document processes and client demands for process improvement
  • Log, manage, and track user issues and cases
  • Develop new and extend current testing frameworks
  • Perform some manual regression testing
  • Troubleshoot bugs and other issues on desktop and web-based platforms
  • Test automation builds, execution, and script troubleshooting

Requirements

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to identify risks and errors in applications
  • Python proficiency
  • SQL proficiency
  • Selenium experience
  • Rest API
  • Linux/Bash experience
  • Fundamentals of TCP/IP networking

Strongly preferred:

  • Jenkins experience
  • Docker experience
  • Jenkins, Gitlab and/or other CI pipeline experience
  • Java Script experience
  • C++ experience
  • Knowledge of Micro Service architecture and testing
  • Kubernetes
  • MitMproxy experience
  • Groovy experience

Benefits

  • Health, dental, vision, life, and short/long-term disability insurance
  • Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Competitive compensation and opportunities for advancement
  • Retirement plan with employer contribution match
  • Scenic corporate campus with amenities including a tennis court, jogging trail, and putting green
  • Welcoming culture, suited to entrepreneurial, and motivated individuals
  • Voted as one of the best places to work in San Antonio, 9 years running