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Sr Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Sr. SDET

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$108K - $163K/yr

Job Title Sr. SDET About Clover Clover is a pioneer in the fintech space, dedicated to transforming the way small and medium-sized businesses operate. As a part of Fiserv, we provide an all-in-one ...

Autonomous Mobility & Advanced Software Systems About the Opportunity Comrise is looking for a self-driven, senior Software Developer in Test (SDET) to help build scalable automation frameworks from ...

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Sr Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Santa Clara, CA salary details

$26.4K

$147.5K

$192K

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

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr software development engineer in test in Santa Clara, CA is $147,463.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,800.00 and $168,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

AspectSr Software Development Engineer In TestSoftware Development Engineer In Test
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS or related, experience in automation testingBachelor's in CS or related, focus on automation skills
Work EnvironmentDesigns and develops complex test frameworks, leads testing initiativesDevelops and maintains test scripts, executes testing
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in tech companies, especially in QA and testing teamsCommon in software development companies, focusing on testing automation

The main difference is that a Sr Software Development Engineer In Test typically has more experience, leads testing efforts, and designs complex testing frameworks, while a Software Development Engineer In Test primarily focuses on developing and executing test scripts. Both roles require strong automation skills and are vital in ensuring software quality, but the senior role involves more leadership and strategic testing responsibilities.

What are some common challenges faced by a Sr Software Development Engineer in Test when working on large-scale projects?

Sr Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) often encounter challenges such as managing complex test automation frameworks, ensuring comprehensive test coverage for rapidly evolving codebases, and coordinating with multiple development and QA teams. Balancing the need for speed in continuous integration pipelines with maintaining high-quality standards can also be demanding. Additionally, SDETs are frequently responsible for mentoring junior testers and advocating for best testing practices across cross-functional teams, which requires strong communication and leadership skills.

What is a Sr Software Development Engineer in Test?

A Sr Software Development Engineer In Test (Sr SDET) is a senior-level professional responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks and tools to ensure the quality of software products. They work closely with developers and other QA team members to create robust testing strategies, identify defects, and improve the overall software development process. Sr SDETs have advanced programming skills, deep knowledge of test automation, and often mentor junior team members. Their goal is to enable efficient, reliable, and scalable automated testing throughout the software development lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Sr Software Development Engineer in Test?

To thrive as a Sr Software Development Engineer In Test, you need advanced programming skills (such as Java, Python, or C#), deep understanding of software testing methodologies, and a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with automation frameworks (like Selenium or Cypress), CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Git), and test management systems is typically required, along with certifications such as ISTQB being beneficial. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and strong collaboration and communication skills distinguish standout professionals in this role. These competencies ensure the delivery of high-quality, reliable software products through efficient test automation and seamless teamwork.
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Infographic showing various Sr Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Santa Clara, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,463 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test

Portage Ventures GP Inc.

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$100 - $140/hr

Other

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Your Role

As a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test on the Platform Team, you will be responsible for improving the automated and manual testing infrastructure at Alpaca - helping our developers quickly and reliably deliver new features.

We are looking for experienced engineers who not only understand testing best practices and CI pipelines, but also have in-depth knowledge of Kubernetes and can dig deep into application code when necessary.

Things You Get To Do
  • Develop a comprehensive testing strategy for our API surface
  • Improve developer experience by standardizing tooling and infrastructure
  • Coordinate with other teams to improve test coverage, reliability and speed
  • Mentor and guide product engineers, fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement within the team.
  • Design and execute load, stress, and scalability tests to ensure our platform can handle growing user demands.
Who You Are (must-haves)
  • You have 5+ years of experience as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) or Senior Quality Assurance Engineer.
  • You have written code in strongly typed languages before and have at least 1 year of experience with Go.
  • You have built and maintained CI pipelines before - we use a mix of GitHub Actions and Google Cloud Build pipelines.
  • You have worked with microservices before and understand the challenges they pose for building reliable integrations and end-to-end tests. You have experience designing and building automated test frameworks.
  • You are familiar with Kubernetes beyond the basics - you can write a Helm chart for a new service with relative ease, you understand best practices around security, and you have prior job experience or certifications to prove this.
  • You have worked at a startup before - you understand that things don’t always go according to plan, that there is significant technical debt, that some tasks just need to be done, and that sometimes there are no processes or documentation to guide your hand.
  • You are not afraid of taking a task from start to finish - gathering requirements, figuring out and implementing the best technical solution, then deploying and monitoring the results.
Who You Might Be (nice-to-haves)
  • You have written code in Python or TypeScript. You have experience writing efficient Dockerfiles and building secure container images.
  • You have implemented load tests with k6 (REST) and ghz (gRPC) and have experience analyzing pprof/trace output.
  • You have done IaC deployments with Argo CD or Terraform, or have used Google Cloud Platform and Google Kubernetes Engine before. You are familiar with Tilt and have written a Kubernetes Operator before.
  • You are familiar with testing event-driven systems using Kafka (or even better, Redpanda).
How We Take Care of You
  • Competitive Salary & Stock Options
  • Health Benefits
  • New Hire Home-Office Setup: One-time USD $500
  • Monthly Stipend: USD $150 per month via a Brex Card

Alpaca is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce.

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