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Sr Software Test Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sr. Software Test Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$129K - $168K/yr

As a Software Test Engineer within the Future Forward engineering team, you will be responsible for all the aspects relating to software testing. You will partner with the development team and with ...

Sr. Software Test Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$129K - $168K/yr

As a Software Test Engineer within the Future Forward engineering team, you will be responsible for all the aspects relating to software testing. You will partner with the development team and with ...

Sr. Software Test Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$129K - $168K/yr

As a Software Test Engineer within the Future Forward engineering team, you will be responsible for all the aspects relating to software testing. You will partner with the development team and with ...

Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance test processes, increase automation, and reduce cycle times Networking / Key Relationships: Collaborate closely with Software Developers, System ...

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Sr Software Test Engineer information

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$22.5K

$125.6K

$163.5K

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

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for sr software test engineer in the United States is $125,561.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Sr Software Test Engineer, you need expertise in software testing methodologies, strong analytical skills, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Proficiency with test automation tools (such as Selenium or JUnit), defect tracking systems, and scripting languages is commonly required. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure thorough test coverage, rapid identification of defects, and seamless collaboration within development teams, leading to high-quality software releases.

What are some common challenges faced by a Sr Software Test Engineer when working with cross-functional teams?

Sr Software Test Engineers often collaborate with development, product management, and operations teams to ensure product quality. One common challenge is aligning testing priorities with fast-paced development cycles, which requires strong communication and adaptability. Additionally, balancing the need for thorough testing with tight release schedules can be demanding. Building mutual understanding of testing goals and regularly syncing with other teams can help mitigate these challenges and promote efficient workflows.

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

AspectSr Software Test EngineerSoftware Test Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's degree in CS or related field, experience in testing, sometimes certifications like ISTQBBachelor's degree in CS or related field, entry-level to mid-level testing experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigning test plans, leading testing efforts, mentoring juniors, analyzing complex issuesExecuting test cases, reporting bugs, basic test documentation
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with development teams, often in Agile settings, may lead testing projectsWorks under supervision, focuses on executing tests and reporting results

The main difference between a Sr Software Test Engineer and a Software Test Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. The senior role involves designing test strategies, mentoring, and handling complex issues, while the software test engineer primarily executes test cases and reports bugs. Both roles are essential in software quality assurance, but the senior position requires more experience and leadership skills.

How much salary is a senior test engineer?

The salary for a senior software test engineer typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Factors such as proficiency with automation tools and certifications can influence compensation levels.

What does a Sr Software Test Engineer do?

A Sr Software Test Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and executing test plans to ensure the quality of software applications. They lead testing efforts, identify and document defects, and collaborate closely with developers and other stakeholders to resolve issues. Senior Test Engineers often mentor junior testers, help define testing strategies, and may also automate testing processes to improve efficiency. Their work ensures that software products meet functional and performance requirements before release.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software test engineers with extensive experience, specialized skills in automation, and certifications can reach or exceed a $300,000 annual salary, especially in high-cost-of-living areas or within large tech companies. Achieving this level often requires advanced knowledge of testing tools, programming languages, and a strong understanding of software development processes.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

Senior Software Test Engineers in high-demand industries or with specialized skills such as automation, performance testing, or experience with advanced tools can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually, especially with bonuses and stock options. Such compensation typically requires extensive experience, leadership roles, or working at large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

Are QA testers in demand in 2026?

As of 2026, QA testers, including senior software test engineers, remain in demand due to the ongoing need for quality assurance in software development. Skills in automation tools, scripting, and understanding of agile environments enhance employability in this field.
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Infographic showing various Sr Software Test Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,561 per year, or $60.4 per hour.
Senior Software Test Engineer

$107K - $139K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago


Job description

We are a cutting-edge Defense Innovation Company seeking a Senior QA Engineer to join our engineering organization and raise the bar for quality across our web application portfolio. This is not a manual testing role — it is a hands-on, heavy coding position for an engineer who treats test automation as a software discipline. You will architect, build, and maintain automation frameworks with the same rigor applied to production code, with Playwright at the center of your toolkit.

You'll operate with the autonomy and pace of a startup engineer, backed by the scale and resources of an enterprise. The ideal candidate has thrived on small, fast-moving teams and knows how to deliver quality at speed without heavyweight process.

This role is ideally based near one of FTI's office locations in Chesapeake, VA, Beavercreek, OH, Colorado Springs, CO, or Northern Virginia. Candidates in these markets will receive primary consideration. Exceptional remote candidates with highly relevant experience may also be considered.


  • Design, develop, and maintain robust end-to-end automation suites for complex web application workflows using Playwright with TypeScript/JavaScript
  • Leverage frontier LLM models to increase development velocity and code quality
  • Architect scalable, maintainable test frameworks and shared libraries adopted across multiple engineering teams
  • Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to enable fast, confident, continuous delivery
  • Write production-quality code daily — page objects, fixtures, custom utilities, API test harnesses, and tooling
  • Partner with developers, product managers, and DevOps to shift quality left and embed testability into design and architecture decisions
  • Triage, root-cause, and drive resolution of defects and flaky tests; champion test reliability and meaningful coverage metrics
  • Mentor engineers on automation best practices and code review test code with a critical eye
  • Evaluate and introduce tools and practices that improve quality engineering velocity

Required Qualifications

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen AND possess an active U.S. Dept. of Defense Secret security clearance with TS/SCI eligibility.
  • Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (required)
  • 5+ years of software quality engineering or software development experience
  • Extensive, demonstrable experience using Playwright to automate workflows in modern web applications
  • Strong professional experience writing JavaScript/TypeScript — you will be evaluated as a coder
  • Experience working in startups or small, fast-moving teams where you owned outcomes end-to-end
  • Solid understanding of CI/CD practices and integrating automated tests into build pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, ADO)
  • Deep knowledge of testing strategy: E2E, API, integration, and component testing trade-offs
  • Strong debugging skills across the stack — browser internals, network traffic, async behavior, race conditions
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence quality practices across teams

Preferred Qualifications

  • BS in Computer Science or a closely related field (greatly preferred)
  • MS in Computer Science (preferred)
  • Experience with cloud platforms — GCP, AWS, or Azure
  • Experience with API testing, contract testing, or performance/load testing
  • Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and infrastructure-as-code
  • Prior experience with scaling test automation in a large engineering organization

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