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Principal Sdet Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SDET

Fort Mill, SC · On-site

$44 - $56.75/hr

Job Title: SDET - QE Automation Engineer Location: Fort Mill, SC (Fully Onsite) Employment Type: Contract

SDET

Hartford, CT · On-site

$50.50 - $65/hr

Job Title: SDET Location: Hybrid- in Hartford, CT temporarily. Duration: 12 mos. • Required Salesforce Platform Developer 1 (PD1) Certification • Required Agent Force Specialist Certification • ...

SDET

San Diego, CA · On-site

$53 - $68.50/hr

SDET Level 3 San Diego, CA 92127 12+ Months ONLY W2 Top 3: 1.) C++ 2.) Automation Experience - Python / C# 3.) CI/CD understanding / Testing Background • Test planning for feature areas • Test ...

$37 - $47.50/hr

As an SDET at PreVeil, you will play a critical role in ensuring the quality and reliability of our products. You'll bring a deep understanding of testing principles and exceptional troubleshooting ...

SDET II

$51.25 - $66/hr

Saviance is a company seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET II) to support their testing and automation efforts. The role involves data validation, automation, and testing across ...

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Principal Sdet information

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How much do principal sdet jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 13, 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 in demand?

Principal SDET roles are in high demand due to the increasing emphasis on quality assurance and automation in software development. These positions typically require strong skills in test automation tools, programming, and leadership, and are often found in large tech companies and enterprises seeking experienced test engineers. The demand for senior testing professionals continues to grow as organizations prioritize reliable software delivery.
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Infographic showing various Principal Sdet job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,393 per year, or $52.6 per hour.

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Trenton, NJ • On-site

NJM Insurance Group
Insurance Services • 1 - 5K employees

$109K - $126K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing frameworks/solutions that ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of NJM's business applications. The SDET will work closely with developers, quality engineers, and solution owners to embed quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and test scripts for web, mobile, and API-based applications
  • Write robust, scalable, and reusable test code using industry-standard tools and programming languages
  • Collaborate with software engineers and quality engineers to define shift-left test approaches with automation embedded throughout the delivery cycle.
  • Participate in code reviews, providing feedback on testability, quality, and automation coverage
  • Execute and analyze automated, manual, regression, smoke, integration, and performance tests
  • Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous testing
  • Monitor test execution results and provide clear reporting on quality metrics
  • Contribute to test data management, environment setup, and test infrastructure improvements
  • Support users including training, mentoring and troubleshooting
  • Experience working in Agile development environments.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences

Required Qualifications:
  • 7+ years of experience in software delivery, including 5+ years in Quality Engineering, software development and building test automation tools and frameworks
  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent professional experience.
  • Strong foundation in Quality Engineering principles and advanced testing methodologies.
  • Hands-on experience with test automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, TestNG, JUnit, NUnit)
  • Experience testing APIs using tools/frameworks such as Postman, RestAssured, or similar
  • Strong experience with software testing and test automation methodologies
  • Expertise in at least one programming language such as Java, .Net, Python, C#, or JavaScript
  • Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with performance and load testing tools like NeoLoad and JMeter
  • Experience with cloud platforms
  • Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or container-based testing
  • Experience using AI tools and technology to assist with automated tests.
  • Knowledge of BDD frameworks

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience and credentials.
Pay Range: $109,200-$126,922
Eligible full-time employees receive a competitive Total Rewards package, including but not limited to a 401(k) with employer match up to 8% and additional service-based contributions, Health, Dental, and Vision insurance, Life and Disability coverage, generous PTO, Paid Sick Leave, and paid parental leave in addition to state-mandated leave. Employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.
Legal Disclaimer: NJM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, retaining and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce that is fully representative of the diversity that exists in the communities in which we do business.