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Software Engineer In Test Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

SDET

Pleasanton, CA ยท On-site

$55.75 - $71.75/hr

Software Development Engineers in Test are involved in all aspects of quality assurance activities for a scrum team. Working closely with other Quality Engineers, SDETs, Developers and Product ...

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Software Engineer In Test information

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

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for software engineer in test in Santa Clara, CA is $60.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49.38 and $68.85 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a software engineer in test?

A Software Engineer In Test (SET) is a professional who specializes in developing and maintaining automated tests and testing frameworks to ensure software quality. Unlike traditional testers, SETs are skilled in programming and work closely with development teams to design testable software, automate repetitive testing tasks, and identify bugs early in the development cycle. Their main goal is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and coverage of software testing processes, often contributing to both code quality and faster release cycles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software engineer in test?

To thrive as a Software Engineer in Test, you need a solid background in computer science, strong programming skills (often in Java, Python, or similar languages), and experience with automated testing frameworks. Familiarity with tools such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, and CI/CD systems, as well as knowledge of test management platforms, is typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and clear communication are critical soft skills that help you design effective test cases and collaborate with development teams. These skills ensure that software products are reliable, scalable, and meet quality standards before release.

What are some common challenges faced by software engineers in test when collaborating with development teams?

Software Engineers In Test (SETs) often face the challenge of ensuring their testing processes keep pace with rapid development cycles. Coordinating closely with developers is essential to identify potential issues early and to align on testing priorities. Communication gaps can sometimes lead to misunderstandings about requirements or missed edge cases, so proactive collaboration is key. Additionally, SETs may need to advocate for sufficient time for thorough test automation, balancing quality with project deadlines.

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

AspectSoftware Engineer In TestQA Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, coding skillsBachelor's in CS, QA certifications optional
Work EnvironmentDevelops automated tests, collaborates with developersDesigns test plans, manual and automated testing
Industry UsageTech companies, software firmsVariety of industries, including tech and manufacturing
Search IntentAutomation, testing, developmentManual testing, quality assurance

Software Engineer In Test roles focus on developing automated testing solutions and collaborating closely with developers, requiring coding skills. QA Engineers typically design test plans and perform manual and automated testing, often with less emphasis on coding. Both roles aim to ensure software quality but differ in technical depth and responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Software Engineer In Test jobs in Santa Clara, CA?

For Software Engineer In Test jobs in Santa Clara, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Santa Clara, CA are hiring for Software Engineer In Test jobs?

Cities near Santa Clara, CA with the most Software Engineer In Test job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Engineer In Test job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,640 per year, or $60.4 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test, ML/AI

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

San Mateo, CA โ€ข On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.
Software Development Engineer In Test, ML/AI
PlayStation offers more than just the Best Place to Play; it is also a top workplace. Today, we are a global entertainment leader. Our portfolio includes PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PlayStation Plus, and well-known software from PlayStation Studios.
PlayStation works to foster an inclusive environment where employees feel supported and diversity is valued. We encourage individuals with passion and curiosity for innovation, technology, and play to apply for our open roles and become part of our growing distributed team.
The PlayStation brand falls under Sony Interactive Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation.
At SIE, we believe in making play safer for everyone. Within our Information Security team, we protect our people, platforms, and products with smart, scalable, and thoughtful solutions. Our mission is to provide clear, actionable risk and security insights that guide the business and enable amazing player experiences.
We're building a team that thrives on collaboration, curiosity, and delivering real value. Come help us make a difference!
Overview
We are hiring a Software Engineer in Test specializing in ML/AI quality, including automation for model evaluation, LLM-assisted test generation, and validation of AI-powered workflows. The role includes guiding quality strategy and developing automation frameworks. You will also manage implementation for complex, cross-functional, machine learning-powered products and services. This role involves more than test development. You will lead quality initiatives from start to finish, ensuring teams stay synchronized, dependencies are managed, and releases are delivered confidently. You will work closely with ML, engineering, product, and infrastructure teams. You will shape how quality is built, monitored, and expanded while leading embedded QE efforts within projects.
What you'll do
  • Define and complete quality strategies, test plans, and automation coverage for ML-powered services and platform components.
  • Use LLMs and other AI-assisted techniques to generate, expand, and maintain high-value test cases for ML-powered workflows.
  • Design scenario-based test suites for AI features, including adversarial prompts, edge cases, ambiguous inputs, and underrepresented user scenarios.
  • Lead QE efforts for multi-functional projects, driving risk assessment, dependency management, and release readiness.
  • Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks for backend services, APIs, and ML inference systems using Python and/or Java.
  • Build automated validation for ML and LLM outputs, including ranking behavior, score distributions, prompt/response quality, hallucination indicators, and probabilistic model evaluation.
  • Debug test failures, service anomalies, model inconsistencies, and AI behavior regressions to identify root causes and drive resolution.
  • Perform functional, integration, regression, API, end-to-end, performance, and reliability testing for distributed systems.
  • Improve automation reliability, reduce flakiness, and optimize execution efficiency.
  • Partner with engineering and ML teams to integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and release workflows.
  • Collaborate across teams to establish scalable quality standards, tooling, and guidelines.
Required qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
  • 3+ years of experience as an SDET or QE engineer focused on backend and distributed systems.
  • Experience using LLMs to generate, transform, and prioritize test cases for AI-powered experiences.
  • Experience with AI evaluation tooling, prompt evaluation frameworks, model monitoring, or human-in-the-loop review workflows.
  • Strong experience testing RESTful APIs, microservices, and distributed architectures.
  • Proficiency in Python, Java, JS or similar languages for automation development.
  • Hands-on experience with automation frameworks such as pytest, JUnit, Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, or Appium.
  • Experience with CI/CD systems and test pipelines (Jenkins, GitHub Actions, etc.).
  • Experience with cloud and container technologies (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes, Docker).
  • Familiarity with databases, monitoring, and observability tools.
  • Strong understanding of SDLC, Agile methodologies, and release processes.
  • Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and communication skills.
Preferred qualifications
  • Experience validating ML outputs using statistical analysis or scenario-based testing approaches.
  • Familiarity with ML infrastructure, data pipelines, or model-serving platforms (Seldon, KServe, Ray Serve, etc.).
  • Prior work in content moderation ML, security, fraud detection, or adversarial ML.
  • Experience testing high-scale, low-latency online services.
  • Experience with Databricks or similar ML platform tooling.
  • Familiarity with Node.js, React, or modern frontend technologies.
  • Experience testing mobile, console, or other non-PC platforms.
What sets you apart
  • Strong combination of automation engineering and delivery ownership.
  • Ability to drive quality across complex cross-functional initiatives.
  • Practical understanding of how to test non-deterministic AI systems and separate model variance from quality regressions.
  • Proven risk management and dependency coordination skills.
  • Ability to influence engineering teams and promote quality guidelines.
  • Passion for scalable, reliable, and maintainable automation systems.

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$140,500-$210,700 USD
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.