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Software Developer Engineer In Test Jobs in California

The Role We're hiring a Lead Software Engineer in Test to drive the strategy, architecture, and ... Improve Developer Velocity: optimize CI/CD test stages, reduce cycle times, and introduce ...

We work on system level frameworks that focus on improving a broad range of developer and user ... As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you will help with developing and maintaining ...

SDET, Remote opportunity

Irvine, CA ยท On-site +1

$130K - $145K/yr

Senior SDET Location: Hybrid if local to Irvine, CA. 100% remote if you live more than 30 miles from the office. Our client is one of the leading mortgage technology companies in the country ...

SDET Engineer for Developing testing strategies and creating, maintaining and executing automatoed testes for native appas and service Client: Infosys / Apple Santa Clarita Valley, CA Long Term ...

Showing results 41-60

Software Developer Engineer In Test information

See California salary details

$10

$50

$72

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

As of Aug 10, 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 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:
Infographic showing various Software Developer Engineer In Test job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $105,612 per year, or $50.8 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor (SDET Contractor)

PlayStation Global

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$54 - $69.50/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago


Job description

SDET (Contractor)

Responsibilities:

We are looking for a highly skilled Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for backend services and APIs. The ideal candidate is a strong Java engineer with deep testing expertise, capable of working closely with developers, product owners, and scrum teams to ensure high-quality delivery of complex services and integrations.

This role involves building robust automation, validating API contracts and flows, working with microservice-based systems, and contributing to continuous integration and quality strategies.


What You'll Do

  • Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and backend test suites using Java.

  • Write high-quality JUnit tests for RESTful APIs, service layers, and backend components.

  • Validate API schemas, request/response structures, and error-handling scenarios.

  • Create and execute API automation covering functional, regression, and integration layers.

  • Collaborate with developers to ensure testability, observability, and quality in new feature design.

  • Analyze logs, metrics, and service behavior to diagnose and troubleshoot failures.

  • Participate in Agile processes: refinement, planning, retrospectives, and daily scrums.

  • Drive improvements in CI/CD pipelines through automation and quality gates.

  • Contribute to scaling QE across microservices by building reusable test components and libraries.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field-or equivalent practical experience.

  • 3+ years of experience in software QE, test automation, or development roles.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative Scrum team

  • Interest in working as part of an agile, collaborative and cross-functional team that works on modern software design and development

  • Exposure to version control systems (preferably Git)

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills


Required Skills:

  • Strong experience with Java programming (advanced OOP concepts, collections, generics, lambdas).

  • Hands-on experience writing tests with JUnit (JUnit5 preferred).

  • Expertise in API testing for REST-based services (familiarity with gRPC is a plus).

  • Solid understanding of API schema validation, including OpenAPI/Swagger specifications.

  • Experience building and maintaining automation frameworks for backend or microservice architectures.

  • Familiarity with Git, branching strategies, and CI/CD tools (e.g. Jenkins, GitHub Actions).

  • Strong problem-solving and debugging skills. Including analyzing logs and diagnosing service failures.

.

Preferred Skills (Good to Have):

  • Experience designing test plans, writing detailed test scenarios, and performing domain-driven test analysis.

  • Familiarity with Spring Boot-based micro services and common backend service patterns.

  • Experience using IntelliJ IDEA or similar Java-focused development environments.

  • Hands-on experience with log analysis and observability tools (Splunk preferred).

  • Understanding of gRPC service testing and related tooling.

  • Familiarity with cloud environments (AWS).

  • Exposure to writing scripts using Python or Node.jsย 

  • Exposure to a web-front-end technology such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS