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Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Fort Dodge, IA

Nuclear Engineer

Dayton, IA

$97K - $116K/yr

... in areas such as reactor and fluid systems design, reactor physics, materials development ... Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude ...

Nuclear Engineer

Rolfe, IA

$91K - $109K/yr

... in areas such as reactor and fluid systems design, reactor physics, materials development ... Achieving required test scores for your program, such as the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude ...

... software defined network (SDN), voice, video, data, collaboration, and Cloud components ... Personal & Professional Development * We also invest in your career because the better you are, the ...

... software defined network (SDN), voice, video, data, collaboration, and Cloud components ... Personal & Professional Development * We also invest in your career because the better you are, the ...

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Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Fort Dodge, IA salary details

$11

$53

$72

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

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for software development engineer in test in Fort Dodge, IA is $53.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $46.54 and $60.05 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is SDET still in demand?

Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) remain in demand due to the increasing emphasis on automation, quality assurance, and continuous integration in software development. SDETs with skills in programming, testing frameworks, and tools like Selenium or Jenkins are highly sought after across various industries, especially in organizations adopting Agile and DevOps practices.

What is the role of a software development engineer in testing?

A Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) designs, develops, and maintains automated test frameworks and scripts to ensure software quality. They collaborate with development teams to identify testing requirements, write test cases, and use tools like Selenium or JUnit to execute tests, often integrating testing into continuous integration pipelines.

Is SDET a good career?

A Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is a valuable role that combines software development and testing skills to improve product quality. SDETs often work with automation tools, programming languages, and testing frameworks, making it a technically demanding and in-demand career path with good growth prospects. It is suitable for those interested in both coding and quality assurance.

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

AspectSoftware Development Engineer In TestSoftware Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing automated tests, ensuring software qualityDeveloping software applications and features
Skills & CertificationsProgramming, testing frameworks, automation toolsProgramming, software design, system architecture
Work EnvironmentQuality assurance teams, development teams, testing labsDevelopment teams, product teams, engineering environments
Industry UsageTech companies, software firms, QA departmentsTech companies, startups, software product companies

While both roles require strong programming skills, Software Development Engineer In Test focuses on automation and testing to ensure software quality, whereas Software Engineers primarily develop new features and applications. Both roles are integral to software development but serve different aspects of the product lifecycle.

How does a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) typically collaborate with developers and QA teams during the software development lifecycle?

As an SDET, you'll work closely with both software developers and quality assurance teams throughout the development process. Your role involves participating in design and code reviews to ensure testability, creating automated test frameworks, and writing test cases alongside developers. You'll also help identify bugs early, contribute to continuous integration pipelines, and facilitate communication between development and QA to ensure high-quality releases. This collaborative environment allows you to bridge the gap between coding and testing, making you a key player in delivering reliable software.

What is a Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET)?

A Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET) is a professional who combines software development skills with expertise in testing to ensure the quality of software products. SDETs design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks, write test scripts, and work closely with developers to identify and resolve defects early in the software development lifecycle. They play a critical role in integrating testing into the development process, improving test coverage, and enabling continuous integration and delivery. SDETs often have strong programming abilities and a deep understanding of both software engineering and quality assurance best practices.

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

To thrive as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you need a solid background in software engineering principles, programming skills (often in languages like Java, Python, or C#), and a strong understanding of testing methodologies. Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (such as Selenium, JUnit, or TestNG), CI/CD tools, and sometimes certifications like ISTQB are typically required. Analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills that help SDETs collaborate with developers and identify issues efficiently. These skills are crucial to ensure robust, scalable, and high-quality software products through efficient test design and automation.

Will QA or SDET get replaced by AI?

Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) and QA professionals perform complex testing tasks that require critical thinking, creativity, and understanding of system design, which AI currently cannot fully replicate. While AI tools can automate repetitive testing and assist in identifying issues, human oversight and expertise remain essential for designing test strategies, interpreting results, and ensuring software quality. Therefore, SDET roles are likely to evolve with AI rather than be completely replaced.
Infographic showing various Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Fort Dodge, IA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,288 per year, or $53 per hour.
Senior Software Design Engineer

Senior Software Design Engineer

Kingland Systems LLC

Ames, IA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

COMPANY SUMMARY

Since 1992, Kingland has been a leading provider of enterprise software products, using innovative problem solving to address many of the most complex data, risk, and regulatory compliance challenges for some of the most integral companies in the world. Because our actions and decisions are guided by our purpose – delivering confidence to make the world work better – we create predictability, consistency, and trust in our business. This allows Kingland to serve like no one else can, upholding our values of authenticity, creativity, excellence, and ownership, enabling our clients to use data to confidently manage risk and comply with regulations.

We believe that every employee plays an important role in the business and contributes to the success that we continue to experience. We seek individuals with unique skill sets that have the desire to work on mission-critical programs. We believe in the value of in-person connection and interactions within our US offices in Ames and Clear Lake, Iowa and Fort Myers, Florida, while also offering team members flexibility that supports the unique needs of both their work and personal lives. By using best practices in developing and maintaining enterprise-class software solutions and services, you can be a part of an amazing team committed to our purpose and values. We hope that you will choose to launch yourself into an exciting new adventure at Kingland.

POSITION SUMMARY | Senior Software Design Engineer

We are seeking a highly analytical and hands-on Software Design Engineer to join our engineering team. This is a unique, high-impact role designed for a skilled developer who loves both high-level system architecture and deep-dive coding.

In this role, you won't just hand off blueprints—you will actively write production code, design system workflows, and own the technical implementation lifecycle – bridging the gap between abstract product vision and clean, concrete execution. Because our development organization lives and breathes in Jira, you will also act as a tactical champion of our workspace, translating complex architectural designs into highly structured, actionable Jira Epics, Stories, and tasks that you and the team will execute.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES | Senior Software Design Engineer

  • Hands-On Development: Write clean, maintainable, and scalable production code. Actively participate in code reviews and contribute to core repository development. Leverage automated build and deploy processes to create and execute integration tests. Identify, fix and communicate defects throughout the software engineering process.
  • System & Technical Architecture: Design robust software architectures, API contracts, data models, and component workflows that align with long-term product strategy.
  • Jira-Driven Execution: Own the technical handoff and sprint readiness. Translate architectural designs into comprehensive Jira Epics, technical User Stories, and granular sub-tasks with clear acceptance criteria.
  • Agile Leadership & Refinement: Lead backlog grooming and technical spikes. Ensure that dependencies, technical debt, and architectural runway are clearly mapped and prioritized on the Jira board.
  • Collaborative Problem Solving: Partner with Product Managers and Solution Architects to evaluate feasibility, scope technical effort, and decompose massive initiatives into bite-sized sprint items.
  • Mentorship and Continuous Improvement: Provide guidance on engineering principles and mentoring others on the team. Assist with onboarding new engineers and maintaining engineering routines. Continually improve engineering principles to ensure the team delivers quality and velocity.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS | Senior Software Engineer

  • Engineering Excellence: Bachelor’s degree and requisite experience in Computer Science, Software Engineering or Computer Engineering. 4+ years of hands-on software engineering experience delivering production-grade applications.
  • Advanced Jira Proficiency: Exceptional experience utilizing Jira as a primary work management tool. Ability to structure a board for maximum engineering velocity, track work components seamlessly, and maintain a pristine backlog.
  • System Design: Strong background in software design patterns, system architecture, API design, and data modeling.
  • Documentation & Precision: Ability to write precise technical documentation, architectural diagrams (e.g., Mermaid, Lucidchart), and explicit Jira ticket requirements that eliminate ambiguity for the team.
  • Communication: Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical trade-offs to both business stakeholders and engineering peers.
  • Preferred Skills:
    • Experience building automated workflows or custom reporting scripts utilizing Jira Cloud APIs (or integrating Jira data with external tracking tools).
    • Familiarity with Jira Automation rules, advanced road mapping, or JQL power-searching.
    • Experience guiding or mentoring junior engineers through structured technical design reviews.

BENEFITS

Kingland has a suite of world class benefits and perks. Because we understand that each team member is unique, we offer generous and flexible health and welfare, wellness, lifestyle, and total rewards benefits that are carefully picked and well designed. We are authentic in our commitment to providing team members with an exceptional experience and work hard to ensure that each individual feels valued and supported in their role and can advance their career through development plans and growth opportunities. Visit Kingland.com/Careers for additional details.

LOCATION

  • This is a hybrid position. Kingland offers modern office locations in Ames, Iowa; Clear Lake, Iowa; or Fort Myers, Florida.