1

Senior Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

As a Staff SDET, you will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Delivery teams from the earliest stages of planning through production. You will ensure quality is designed into ...

As a Staff SDET, you will partner closely with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Delivery teams from the earliest stages of planning through production. You will ensure quality is designed into ...

We have a small SDET team, so you will interact with multiple departments, game systems and pipeline technologies. As a member of SDET at Naughty Dog, you will experience direct ownership, serving as ...

SDET/AUTOMATION ENGINEER

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$49.50 - $65.50/hr

SDET / AUTOMATION ENGINEER -- RETAIL POS (MANHATTAN PLATFORM) Location: LA, CA (Onsite)(Locals only) Experience: 8+ Years SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS Experience with the Manhattan Associates retail POS ...

SDET Programmer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$110K - $138K/yr

We have a small SDET team, so you will interact with multiple departments, game systems and pipeline technologies. As a member of SDET at Naughty Dog, you will experience direct ownership, serving as ...

SDET

Santa Clarita, CA · On-site

$50.75 - $65.50/hr

... working in software quality assurance with at least 3 years building automated test solutions ... Object oriented programming experience in Java * Source Control (e.g. Git) * SQL

Irvine, CA Duration: 12+ month contract Interview: 1 phone and 1 in person Need Locals Need GC and USC Top 3: 2+ years as a SDET Created an Automated test tool from scratch or worked on an Automated ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Los Angeles, CA salary details

$24.2K

$135.3K

$176.2K

How much do senior software development engineer in test jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development engineer in test in Los Angeles, CA is $135,293.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $119,100.00 and $154,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a senior software development engineer in test typically collaborate with development and product teams to ensure software quality?

As a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET), you will work closely with both development and product teams throughout the software development lifecycle. This includes participating in design and requirements discussions to identify potential test cases early, contributing to test automation strategies, and providing feedback on testability and quality risks. SDETs often pair with developers to review code, co-create test plans, and triage bugs together, ensuring that testing is fully integrated into the CI/CD pipeline. Effective communication and cross-team collaboration are essential for proactively identifying issues and maintaining high software quality standards.

What is the difference between Senior Software Development Engineer In Test vs Software Development Engineer In Test?

AspectSenior Software Development Engineer In TestSoftware Development Engineer In Test
ExperienceTypically 5+ years in testing and developmentEntry to mid-level, 1-3 years experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigns complex test frameworks, mentors juniors, leads testing initiativesDevelops test cases, automates tests, executes testing tasks
Skills & CertificationsAdvanced coding, automation, testing tools, leadership skillsProgramming, automation, testing tools
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with cross-functional teams, often in Agile settingsWorks closely with developers, focuses on automation and manual testing

In summary, a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and strategic testing roles compared to a Software Development Engineer In Test, who primarily focuses on developing and executing tests.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software development engineer in test, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test, you need advanced programming skills, deep knowledge of software testing methodologies, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with automation frameworks (such as Selenium, Cypress, or Appium), CI/CD tools, and scripting languages is typically required, along with relevant certifications like ISTQB. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and driving quality initiatives. These capabilities ensure rigorous test coverage, faster release cycles, and high-quality software products.

What does a senior software development engineer in test do?

A Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks and tools to ensure the quality and reliability of software products. They work closely with development and QA teams to identify test requirements, create robust test cases, and integrate automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline. In addition to coding and scripting, Senior SDETs mentor junior team members, analyze test results, and help troubleshoot complex issues to continuously improve software quality. Their expertise bridges the gap between development and testing, ensuring both speed and quality in software releases.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA? The most popular types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA? For Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
What cities near Los Angeles, CA are hiring for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs? Cities near Los Angeles, CA with the most Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,293 per year, or $65 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA

$123K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

The Role 

The software team at K2 builds software across the stack, from gateware & micro firmware to high level satellite control to Ground Software and all the associated testing, and we're looking for an SDET who shares our belief that test infrastructure is a first-class engineering discipline. You will be embedded directly within the flight software team, working shoulder-to-shoulder with the engineers writing the code that flies our spacecraft owning the automation frameworks, test tooling, and HIL infrastructure that make rapid, confident software deployment possible. 

This role is not a QA function. You will be a builder. In your first 6 months, you will design and ship core test automation frameworks and integrate them into our CI/CD pipelines. In your first year, you will own end-to-end test coverage across multiple spacecraft subsystems and lead HIL testing campaigns alongside flight software engineers, proving the software is ready to go to space. In your first two years, you will have operated your test systems against hardware that has been launched to orbit. 

Responsibilities 

  • Design, develop, and own software test frameworks targeting K2's flight software stack, including subsystems for propulsion, GNC, power, thermal, and communications
  • Build and maintain automation tooling that integrates seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines, enabling fast and reliable flight software deployment
  • Develop hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) and software-in-the-loop (SIL) test infrastructure in close collaboration with flight software engineers
  • Create tooling for test execution, data collection, and anomaly triage that gives engineers clear, actionable signal
  • Reduce flaky and nondeterministic tests; continuously improve coverage, pipeline reliability, and test execution speed
  • Collaborate with flight software, avionics, and systems engineers to define test requirements, write test plans, and execute verification campaigns
  • Analyze test results to identify and characterize failures, and drive resolution across the team
  • Maintain documentation for test infrastructure, procedures, and hardware configurations 

Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related STEM field, or equivalent professional experience
  • Experience building and maintaining test automation frameworks, not just executing tests written by others
  • Experience with CI/CD systems (e.g., GitLab Pipelines, GitHub Actions, Jenkins) and version control (Git) 

Nice to Have 

  • Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbeds or embedded systems testing
  • Experience testing avionics, spacecraft, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other safety-critical hardware
  • Rust programming experience, including embedded or no_std environments
  • Knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS) or bare-metal embedded firmware
  • Familiarity with aerospace communication protocols (RS-422/485, Ethernet, UART, SpaceWire, Ethernet)
  • Experience with electronics test equipment: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, power supplies
  • Containerization experience (Docker, Kubernetes) for test environment management
  • Experience with Embedded Linux
  • Familiarity with shell scripting 

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $123,000 - $175,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision/ coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

K2 Space logo

About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022