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Software Developer Engineer In Test Jobs in California

Apex Informatics

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 ...

Samsung

Software developer in Test

San Jose, CA

$58.50 - $75.50/hr

Company Description We are seeking a highly skilled engineer to join the cloud and data center ... SDET 6+ years of experience in Java, or white box testing Must be able to write unit tests with ...

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Software Developer Engineer In Test information

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How much do software developer engineer in test jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average hourly pay for software developer engineer in test in California is $50.77, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41.54 and $57.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How do Software Developer Engineers in Test (SDETs) typically collaborate with developers and QA teams during the software development lifecycle?

SDETs work closely with both development and QA teams to ensure high-quality software releases. They participate in code reviews, help developers write testable code, and design automated test frameworks that integrate with continuous integration pipelines. SDETs also coordinate with QA to identify test cases suitable for automation and assist in debugging issues found during testing. This collaborative approach helps streamline the development process, reduce manual testing efforts, and improve overall product quality.

What is the difference between Software Developer Engineer In Test vs Software Developer Engineer In Test?

AspectSoftware Developer Engineer In Test
Primary FocusDesigning, developing, and maintaining automated tests to ensure software quality
Skills & CertificationsProgramming, scripting, testing frameworks, CI/CD tools
Work EnvironmentCollaborates closely with developers, QA teams, and DevOps
Industry UsageCommonly employed in software development companies, tech firms, and startups

The comparison shows that both roles focus on software quality and automation, often sharing skills like programming and testing frameworks. The main difference lies in the emphasis: Software Developer Engineer In Test primarily develops automated tests and integrates testing into the development process, whereas Software Developer Engineer In Test may also be involved in broader development tasks. Both roles are integral to ensuring high-quality software delivery in modern tech environments.

What is a Software Developer Engineer In Test?

A Software Developer Engineer In Test (SDET) is a professional who combines software development and testing skills to ensure the quality of software products. SDETs write automated tests, develop testing frameworks, and often contribute to code development to improve testability and reliability. They work closely with developers and quality assurance teams to identify bugs early and improve the overall software development process. Their role is essential in delivering high-quality software efficiently. SDETs typically have strong programming skills and a deep understanding of testing methodologies.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Software Developer Engineer in Test, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Software Developer Engineer in Test (SDET), you need strong programming knowledge, software testing expertise, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with automation frameworks (such as Selenium or Appium), continuous integration tools (like Jenkins), and scripting languages (such as Python or Java) is typically required, along with relevant certifications in testing or development. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills for identifying issues and collaborating within development teams. These competencies ensure high-quality, reliable software by enabling efficient test automation and thorough validation throughout the development lifecycle.
What are popular job titles related to Software Developer Engineer In Test jobs in California? For Software Developer Engineer In Test jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Software Developer Engineer In Test jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Software Developer Engineer In Test jobs in California are:
Software Developer Engineer In Test jobs near you
Infographic showing various Software Developer Engineer In Test job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 6% As Needed, 43% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 47% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,612 per year, or $50.8 per hour.
Software Development Engineer in Test II

Software Development Engineer in Test II

Brain Corp

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 27 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain automated tests and validation tools to verify the functionality and reliability of software applications and services.

  • Contribute to continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines by integrating automated tests and validation steps.

  • Collaborate with development and product teams to define testable requirements and ensure clear validation strategies.

Job description

Brain Corp is a San Diego, California, USA-based AI company creating transformative core technology for the robotics industry. Our purpose is to create autonomous technology that helps the real world work better. Brain's robotic and AI solutions help retailers ensure that the right product is on the right shelf at the right price, in a clean environment. Through the BrainOS® Robotics Platform, which powers the largest global fleet of the Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in operation in commercial public spaces, Brain Corp delivers insightful and efficient automated solutions in both commercial floor cleaning and inventory management, empowering organizations and their employees to achieve more. Brain Corp currently powers more than 30,000 AMRs, representing the largest fleet of its kind in the world. Brain Corp is funded by the SoftBank Vision Fund, Clearbridge, and Qualcomm Ventures.
Position Overview:
The Software Development Engineer in Test II (SDET II) is a software engineer who focuses on building and improving the automated systems used to validate modern software applications and services. Working closely with product developers, the SDET II develops test automation, validation tooling, and quality insights that help ensure reliable releases across web applications, cloud services, mobile platforms, and supporting data systems. Unlike traditional QA roles, the SDET II contributes code, automation, and tooling alongside development teams, helping ensure that systems are testable, observable, and scalable throughout the software development lifecycle. This role is expected to contribute directly to engineering work while collaborating with product, development, and quality teams to deliver high-quality software.
Essential Job Functions:
Automation Development & Test Engineering
  • Develop and maintain automated tests and validation tools to verify the functionality and reliability of software applications and services
  • Write and maintain automation code in Python within Linux-based environments, contributing to shared test frameworks and validation tools
  • Implement automated tests for web applications, APIs, and backend services using modern testing frameworks
  • Design and execute validation plans and test strategies that balance automation and exploratory testing
  • Contribute to the evaluation and adoption of modern engineering tools and practices that improve testing efficiency and product quality

Simulation-Based Validation
  • Develop and maintain automated simulation-based tests using tools such as NVIDIA Isaac Sim to validate software behavior in realistic virtual environments
  • Create simulation scenarios that support validation of system functionality and help reproduce complex edge cases

CI/CD & Engineering Workflow Integration
  • Contribute to continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines by integrating automated tests and validation steps
  • Participate in code reviews and design discussions to help ensure systems are testable and maintainable
  • Work with product owners and engineers to define testable requirements and acceptance criteria

Quality Insights & Reporting
  • Assist in building and maintaining quality dashboards and reporting tools that provide insight into system health and test coverage
  • Analyze test results and communicate findings to development teams to support timely issue resolution
  • Ensure traceability between requirements, implementation, and validation activities

Engineering Documentation & Collaboration
  • Write and maintain documentation for test plans, validation approaches, and test results
  • Collaborate with development and product teams to ensure clear validation strategies and reliable feature delivery

AI-Assisted Development & Testing
  • Apply Generative AI (GenAI) tools and techniques to assist with software development, test generation, debugging, and documentation workflows
  • Contribute to efforts that integrate GenAI capabilities into development or product workflows, including experimentation with AI-assisted automation and validation

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
  • 2+ years of professional experience developing software, test automation, or validation tooling for production software systems
  • Demonstrated ability to write and maintain automation code in Python, including developing automated tests or validation utilities in Linux-based environments
  • Hands-on experience implementing automated tests for web applications, APIs, or backend services using modern testing frameworks
  • Practical understanding of software testing methodologies, including unit, integration, and system-level testing
  • Demonstrated experience contributing automated tests to CI/CD pipelines and participating in automated build and test workflows
  • Working knowledge of RESTful APIs and service-based architectures, with the ability to validate service interactions and troubleshoot failures
  • Experience working within the full software development lifecycle in Agile environments, collaborating with developers and product teams
  • Strong debugging and analytical skills, including the ability to investigate failing tests and support root cause analysis
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical documentation skills
  • Demonstrated use of Generative AI tools to assist software development or testing workflows, such as generating test cases, debugging assistance, or documentation

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Hands-on experience developing automated tests using modern web testing frameworks such as Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium
  • Working knowledge of containerized development environments (e.g., Docker) and their role in local development or CI workflows
  • Hands-on experience with data processing pipelines or data validation workflows, including validating structured data used by applications or services
  • Exposure to developing or executing simulation-based test scenarios in virtual environments to validate system behavior

Things that make a difference:
  • Master's degree in Computer Science, CE, EE.
  • Experience validating machine learning systems or ML-enabled applications, including model inference services, training data pipelines, or model output validation
  • Experience with NVIDIA Isaac Sim or similar robotics simulation platforms
  • Experience working in environments that combine cloud services, mobile applications, and data platforms
  • Experience in mobile robotics or industrial automation is a plus
  • Experience with common sensors used in robotics, including cameras (RGB and Depth), LIDARs, IMUs and Sonars is a plus

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The physical activity of this position includes, kneeling; reaching; pushing; pulling; sitting, standing and walking for periods of time; using hands to finger and grasp; repetitive motion; talking and hearing. close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines; use of measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes; push or pull up to 20 pounds.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Employees are exposed to the typical office environment with computers, printers and telephones.
Salary and Benefits:
The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in San Diego, California is $49.40/hr. - $57.21/hr. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, education, etc. Brain Corp is a multi-state employer and this salary range may not reflect positions that work in other states.
In addition to base pay, our competitive total rewards package consists of:
  • A discretionary annual target bonus
  • Stock options
  • 401(k) plan with match (no waiting period and immediate vesting)
  • Comprehensive suite of insurance benefits for employees (and their families) to include a variety of medical plan options (including an HSA with employer contribution), dental, vision, life and disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Legal/Identity support plans, pet insurance
  • Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
  • Generous paid time off including accrued vacation, Paid Sick Leave, time off for volunteering in the community, 10 paid company holidays, and a winter company shutdown

Additional Perks include:
  • Daily on-site lunch available in the San Diego office
  • On-campus gym including pool and tennis courts in the San Diego office
  • Opportunities to connect with colleagues including monthly game nights, hikes, wellness challenges, and community events
  • Internal continuous learning events
  • Opportunities to share your own interests and hobbies with the Company

Apply