Explore Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) roles that combine software engineering and quality assurance. SDETs design and build automated testing systems, strengthen product reliability, and help development teams deliver high-quality software. Ladders features vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more, including roles across software, technology, and product organizations.
SDETs create and maintain automated test frameworks, write code to validate applications, and integrate testing into continuous integration and delivery workflows. They may test APIs, web and mobile applications, distributed systems, and cloud services. The role often includes identifying defects, analyzing test results, collaborating with developers, and improving quality practices throughout the software development lifecycle.
Employers commonly seek experience with programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, or C#, along with test automation tools and frameworks. Familiarity with API testing, databases, version control, CI/CD pipelines, cloud platforms, and Agile development can also be valuable. Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills help SDETs turn product requirements into reliable test strategies.
SDET careers can progress into senior or staff engineering roles, test automation leadership, quality engineering management, or broader software engineering positions. Some professionals specialize in performance, security, mobile, or platform testing. Career opportunities and requirements vary by employer, product, and level of responsibility.
Browse vetted SDET and software quality engineering opportunities on Ladders. Discover professional roles with salaries of $100,000 or more, and compare positions based on responsibilities, required skills, and career level.
Embedded Software Engineer II, Autonomy Platform, Data and Tools
$143K - $194K *
Join a team that's developing cutting-edge autonomy software for Amazon's first fully autonomous warehouse robot, focusing on platform optimization, sensor integration, and software development for ro...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Manager III, Software Development, EC2 Capacity Blocks, EC2 Capacity Blocks
$184K - $250K *
Lead the charge in developing innovative solutions for GPU and HPC capacity on EC2. Manage a dynamic team, drive technical direction, and enhance customer experience through strategic roadmap executio...
1 week ago
Software Development Manager, Promotions Purchase Execution & Experience (PPEX)
$184K - $250K *
Drive a transformative engineering team that shapes core promotional services, balancing feature delivery and operational excellence while fostering talent development and collaboration with cross-fun...
3 weeks ago
Software Engineering & Development
$186K - $204K *
Lead the charge in developing high-volume transactional systems, building integrations across platforms, and guiding a talented team. Collaborate with business and technical stakeholders in an Agile e...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Sr. AI Software Engineer (Compute Test, North Reading)
$161K - $258K *
Advance your career by leading the development of a robust AI retrieval platform. Collaborate across teams to enhance engineering tools and ensure operational excellence while tackling complex technic...
3 weeks ago
Sr. AI Software Engineer (Compute Test, North Reading)
$161K - $258K *
Lead the charge in developing a reliable AI retrieval platform, collaborating across teams to enhance engineering tools and documentation access while ensuring operational excellence and measurable ou...
3 weeks ago
$107K - $139K *
Unlock your potential by designing and implementing scalable software solutions. Collaborate with a dynamic team to tackle complex challenges and deliver high-quality, production-ready systems using m...
3 days ago
Electrical Engineer - Test & QA
$95K - $120K *
Drive quality assurance and testing for electrical systems, troubleshoot failures, and support custom hardware integrations. Collaborate with design teams to enhance product reliability while growing...
3 weeks ago
Senior Software Quality Assurance Aanlyst and Tester
$105K - $160K *
Transform quality assurance processes by leading test strategies, developing test plans, and ensuring software integrity. Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality products through rigorous testi...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $132K *
Pioneer your career by leading quality assurance initiatives in a dynamic environment. Drive root cause analysis, enhance manufacturing processes, and ensure compliance in regulated aerospace settings...
1 week ago
Software Engineer - Agentic Code Review (Gitar)
$145K - $190K *
Drive innovation in AI-native code validation, enhancing developer workflows through advanced program analysis, real-time feedback, and automated pull request management, while collaborating with engi...
Reposted 1 week ago
$90K - $110K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of e-commerce by owning our full technical stack. You'll influence architecture and tooling decisions while building scalable solutions in a high-autonomy environ...
Reposted 2 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic team to own and evolve our full technical stack, influencing architecture and product direction. This high-autonomy role is perfect for a self-starter eager to build impactful solutions...
Reposted 2 days ago
Senior Software Engineer (Big Data)
$135K - $150K *
Join a dynamic team to architect and enhance scalable data pipelines, delivering actionable security insights. Collaborate across disciplines to support large data volumes and refine algorithms, makin...
3 weeks ago
$127K - $236K *
Drive the development of cutting-edge AI systems that transform expert solutions across legal, tax, and compliance sectors. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to innovate and scale enterprise-gra...
1 week ago
Software Engineer - Data Platform
$113K - $191K *
Innovate by designing and operating scalable data infrastructure for petabytes of data, enabling customer-facing features and analytics across global industries, while enhancing systems for reliabilit...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Développeur(euse) Logiciel Drivers / Drivers Software Developer
$80K - $95K *
Innovate within a dynamic Agile environment by developing and maintaining low-level software drivers and communication protocols to enhance system performance and maximize client satisfaction...
3 weeks ago
$120K - $145K *
Drive innovative test solutions as a Senior Applications Engineer, leading technical engagements and ensuring seamless integration of semiconductor test systems while building strong customer relation...
3 days ago
Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
$110K - $145K *
Empower innovation by designing and implementing automated testing solutions for cloud-based big data analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance product quality and streamline testi...
3 weeks ago
Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
$110K - $145K *
Shape the future of cloud-based testing by designing and implementing automated solutions for big data analytics. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance quality and efficiency in a dynamic...
3 weeks ago
Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
$110K - $145K *
Advance your career by designing and maintaining test automation frameworks for cloud applications. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality and enhance testing processes while mentor...
3 weeks ago
Senior Quality Assurance Automation Engineer
$110K - $145K *
Engineer automated testing solutions for a cloud-based big data platform. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance quality assurance processes and ensure robust application performance in an...
3 weeks ago
$96K - $154K *
Optimize testing processes by designing and building automated regression suites. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance software quality and reliability through scalable Playwright and Ty...
2 days ago
$96K - $154K *
Drive the development of automated regression capabilities, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design and implement scalable Playwright and TypeScript automation, ensuring faster releases wi...
2 days ago
$96K - $154K *
Accelerate progress at our company by designing and building automated regression capabilities. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance testing efficiency and reliability, ensuring faster r...
2 days ago
What is a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)?
An SDET is a software engineering professional who builds testing tools, automated test systems, and quality processes to help ensure software works reliably.
What does an SDET do day to day?
Typical work includes writing automated tests, developing test frameworks, validating APIs and applications, investigating defects, and collaborating with software teams to improve product quality.
What skills are commonly required for SDET jobs?
Requirements often include programming ability, test automation experience, API testing, CI/CD knowledge, and familiarity with software development practices. Specific tools and qualifications vary by role.
Are SDET jobs available with salaries of $100,000 or more?
Yes. Compensation depends on factors such as experience, location, specialization, and employer. Ladders focuses on vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.
How can I find an SDET job on Ladders?
Search Ladders for Software Development Engineer in Test, SDET, test automation, or quality engineering roles, then review each listing’s responsibilities, qualifications, and compensation details.