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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 ...

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 Programmer

Santa Monica, CA ยท 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 ยท 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 ...

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

New

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

New

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

New

The Senior Software Development Engineer in Test is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that improve software quality, reduce production risk, and ...

New

Showing results 21-40

Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Los Angeles, CA salary details

$12

$59

$80

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

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for software development engineer in test in Los Angeles, CA is $59.01, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51.83 and $66.83 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software development engineer in test?

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?

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.

How does a software development engineer in test 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 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.

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 cities near Los Angeles, CA are hiring for Software Development Engineer In Test jobs?

Cities near Los Angeles, CA with the most Software Development Engineer In Test job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,734 per year, or $59 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$123K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.

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

If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.


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