Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

The Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is a software engineering professional specializing in automation, quality engineering, and intelligent system validation. This role designs, develops, deploys, and maintains scalable automated solutions to ensure the reliability, performance, security, accessibility, and resilience of enterprise applications, system integrations, and automated business workflows.

The SDET combines strong programming expertise with modern engineering practices to build automation frameworks, validate APIs and distributed systems, support CI/CD and cloud-native execution models, and test AI-enabled systems and process automation platforms. Working closely with Development, DevOps, Architecture, Product teams, QA Leads, and other stakeholders, the SDET improves system testability, drives shift-left and continuous testing practices, and embeds automation throughout the software delivery lifecycle while maintaining enterprise quality and governance standards.

JOB DUTIES

• Design, develop, and maintain automated solutions for functional, regression, integration, performance, security, accessibility, and end-to-end testing
• Build and enhance automation frameworks for APIs, user interfaces, backend services, and enterprise workflows using tools such as Selenium, Playwright, Rest Assured, Postman, Tosca, or similar technologies
• Write clean, scalable, and maintainable automation code using Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar languages
• Perform validation across APIs, distributed systems, databases (relational and NoSQL), and system integrations
• Define and support test data management practices to improve automation reliability and coverage
• Integrate automation into CI/CD pipelines with quality gates, including functional, performance, and security validations
• Support scalable and containerized test execution across cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes)
• Install, configure, and maintain automation tools and supporting infrastructure across Windows and Linux platforms
• Develop validation approaches for AI-enabled features, distributed systems, and automated business workflows (including RPA where applicable)
• Contribute to automation standards, governance practices, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support shift-left and continuous testing practices and contribute to test strategy and risk-based validation
• Monitor and improve automation effectiveness by tracking key quality metrics and reducing flaky tests
• Utilize mocking, stubbing, or service virtualization techniques to enable reliable testing of dependent systems
• Participate in code reviews and advocate for testability in system design and development practices
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively to ensure alignment on quality objectives
• Apply sound engineering judgment and enterprise standards in automation design and execution
• Leverage approved Generative AI tools to enhance automation quality, productivity, and intelligent test design
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship appropriate to role level while continuously learning and adopting new technologies

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Strong knowledge of software engineering and quality engineering principles
• Experience with UI and/or API automation frameworks
• Programming experience in Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar languages
• Experience integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with Git-based version control
• Experience supporting applications on Windows and/or Linux platforms
• Working knowledge of Agile methodologies and SDLC practices

Level 2: Requires minimum 2 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

Senior Level: Requires minimum 5 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

Lead Level: Requires minimum 8 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) or multi-cloud environments
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or distributed test infrastructure
• Experience with performance and/or security testing tools
• Experience with enterprise validation tools (Tosca, NeoLoad, qTest, Invicti, etc.)
• Experience implementing or supporting ServiceNow ATF automation
• Experience validating AI-enabled systems or familiarity with AI-assisted testing tools
• Experience influencing system design for testability, scalability, and resilience
• Experience supporting DevOps or DevSecOps practices
• Familiarity with BDD frameworks (e.g., Cucumber, Gherkin)
• Experience testing event-driven architectures or message queue systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ)
• Familiarity with mobile testing tools and frameworks (e.g., Appium)
• Familiarity with resilience testing or chaos engineering principles
• Familiarity with RPA tools and validation of automated business workflows (e.g., UiPath, Power Automate)
• Familiarity with observability or monitoring tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana)

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

$121,000 - $167,000