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Sdet Qa Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Role: SDET/QA Engineer Location: Fremont, CA - 5 days onsite per week Duration: 6-12 months Contract+ with contract to hire 1 and done interview in fremont CA Experience in Python and Playwright is ...

In person interview Duration: 8 Months contract Anticipated Start in weeks 2 3-5 Must Have s: 5+ years of experience in SDET, QA Automation Engineering, or Software Quality Engineering Strong hands ...

QA Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

$60/hr

In Person VISA RESTRICTIONS: EAD REQUIRED SKILLS * 5+ years in SDET, QA Automation, or Software Quality Engineering * Strong Python programming experience * Hands-on experience with Playwright and ...

QA Lead (SDET)

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Lead and manage a distributed QA/SDET team (US and India), including task assignment, prioritization, and technical guidance. * Define and drive automation‑first test strategy, while ensuring ...

QA Lead (SDET)

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

We are seeking a QA Lead with a strong SDET background to lead testing for a complex web-based health insurance marketplace. This is a hands-on role (~70%) with team leadership responsibilities (~30%

QA Lead (SDET)

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

We are seeking a QA Lead with a strong SDET background to lead testing for a complex web-based health insurance marketplace. This is a hands-on role (~70%) with team leadership responsibilities (~30%

QA - SDET

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$48.25 - $65.75/hr

MindSource is seeking an experienced Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to help pioneer ... Required : • Strong understanding of QA methodologies and automation principles. • 5+ years of ...

SDET

Santa Clarita, CA · On-site

$50.75 - $65.50/hr

Santa Clara , CA 2-3 days onsite, only locals Title: SDET Must Have * 5+ years of experience working in software quality assurance with at least 3 years building automated test solutions * Front-end ...

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Sdet Qa Engineer information

See California salary details

$18

$47

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How much do sdet qa engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for sdet qa engineer in California is $47.91, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37.74 and $54.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Sdet Qa engineer?

An SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) QA Engineer is a professional who combines software development and testing expertise to ensure high-quality software. They design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks, write test scripts, and collaborate with developers to improve code quality. Unlike traditional testers, SDETs have strong programming skills and work on both functional and performance testing. They also contribute to CI/CD pipelines, debugging, and enhancing test coverage. This role is essential in modern Agile and DevOps environments to accelerate software delivery with automation.

What does an Sdet Qa engineer do?

A typical day for an SDET QA Engineer involves designing and developing automated test scripts, collaborating closely with software developers and product managers to understand new features, and executing tests to validate application functionality. You might participate in daily stand-ups, review code for testability, investigate and report issues, and maintain regression test suites. It's common to work within an Agile or Scrum team, ensuring seamless integration of testing within the development process and contributing to continuous improvement. This dynamic environment allows for hands-on technical work, teamwork, and opportunities to influence the software's reliability and performance.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Sdet Qa engineer?

To thrive as an SDET QA Engineer, you need a robust understanding of software testing principles, programming skills (such as Java, Python, or C#), and experience with automated testing frameworks, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, CI/CD pipelines, and possibly certifications like ISTQB or Certified ScrumMaster is highly valuable. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and effective communication make a candidate excel in collaborative, fast-paced development environments. These qualifications ensure the delivery of high-quality software by systematically identifying, documenting, and resolving defects throughout the software development lifecycle.

Is Sdet Qa Engineer a high paying job?

Sdet Qa Engineer roles are generally considered well-paying within the software testing and quality assurance field, especially with experience in automation tools and programming languages like Java or Python. Salaries vary by location, industry, and experience level but tend to be above average compared to other QA positions.

Is Sdet Qa Engineer still in demand?

Sdet Qa Engineers are currently in demand due to the increasing emphasis on automated testing and quality assurance in software development. Skills in programming, test automation tools, and continuous integration are highly valued in this role across various industries.
Infographic showing various Sdet Qa Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,648 per year, or $47.9 per hour.

SDET/QA Engineer

WorkNovas LLC

Fremont, CA • On-site

Contractor

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Role: SDET/QA Engineer

Location: Fremont, CA - 5 days onsite per week

Duration: 6-12 months Contract+ with contract to hire 

1 and done interview in fremont CA 

Experience in Python and Playwright is required.

Project Description

 We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) / QA Automation Engineer to join a fast-paced engineering team. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building automation frameworks, solving complex technical problems, and working across UI, API, backend, and database layers.

This is a hands-on engineering role where strong software development skills are equally important as testing expertise. The successful candidate will help design scalable automation solutions, improve software quality, modernize existing frameworks, and contribute to the development of internal engineering tools.

Duties/Day to Day Overview

Responsibilities

  • Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks using Python, Playwright, and Selenium
  • Build automated tests for web applications, APIs, backend systems, and end-to-end workflows
  • Develop reusable automation libraries, utilities, and testing components
  • Perform UI, API, integration, regression, functional, and database testing
  • Write complex SQL queries for data validation, troubleshooting, and backend verification
  • Support modernization efforts, including migration of legacy automation frameworks
  • Troubleshoot application issues and perform root cause analysis on production defects
  • Collaborate closely with software engineers, product teams, and business stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle
  • Contribute to automation strategy, framework architecture, and testing best practices
  • Participate in code reviews and drive engineering excellence
  • Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to support rapid and reliable software releases
  • Help improve software reliability, scalability, and overall user experience

 

Top Requirements

(Must haves)

 Required Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in SDET, QA Automation Engineering, or Software Quality Engineering
  • Strong hands-on programming experience with Python
  • Strong experience with Playwright for test automation
  • Experience with Selenium and automation framework maintenance or migration
  • Experience building automation frameworks from the ground up
  • Strong understanding of:
    • Data Structures & Algorithms
    • Design Patterns
    • Software Engineering Best Practices
    • API Testing
    • Debugging and Troubleshooting
  • Advanced SQL skills, including data validation, joins, and backend analysis
  • Experience with end-to-end test automation across UI, API, and database layers
  • Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with CI/CD pipelines
  • Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar automation tools
  • Docker and Kubernetes
  • Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
  • Performance and load testing experience
  • Experience supporting high-volume production applications
  • Familiarity with microservices and distributed systems
  • Agile development experience

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate:

  • Thinks like a software engineer, not just a tester
  • Can build and maintain automation frameworks, not just execute test cases
  • Has strong coding and debugging skills
  • Takes ownership of problems from investigation through resolution
  • Can clearly explain architecture decisions and technical tradeoffs
  • Learns quickly and thrives in a fast-moving environment
  • Works independently with minimal supervision
  • Demonstrates curiosity, accountability, and a continuous improvement mindset