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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Developer In Test

💰 $80,000 - $145,000

Software TestingQA AutomationDevOps

🎯 Role Definition

A Developer In Test (DIT), also known as an SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test), is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks and tools that validate the quality and performance of software products. This hybrid role bridges development and quality assurance by embedding testing throughout the software development lifecycle. The Developer In Test collaborates with engineers, QA teams, and product managers to ensure that code is efficient, testable, and meets high reliability standards before release.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • QA Automation Engineer
  • Software Developer
  • Test Engineer

Advancement To:

  • Senior Developer In Test
  • QA Architect / Test Automation Architect
  • Software Engineering Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • DevOps Engineer
  • Performance Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  1. Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks, tools, and scripts for backend and frontend systems.
  2. Write reusable test automation code using languages like Python, Java, JavaScript, or C#.
  3. Collaborate with software developers to integrate testing into CI/CD pipelines.
  4. Create comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test data to ensure complete coverage.
  5. Perform functional, regression, integration, and performance testing using automation tools.
  6. Evaluate and recommend new testing tools and automation frameworks for adoption.
  7. Analyze software requirements and identify test scenarios for automation.
  8. Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve issues related to test environments and scripts.
  9. Develop and maintain unit, integration, and end-to-end automated tests.
  10. Implement continuous testing practices in agile and DevOps workflows.
  11. Collaborate with developers to ensure code quality and adherence to best testing practices.
  12. Monitor automated test executions and analyze results to detect failures and defects.
  13. Develop performance, load, and stress tests to evaluate system scalability.
  14. Work closely with QA, development, and operations teams to ensure high-quality software releases.
  15. Participate in design and code reviews to ensure testability and maintainability.
  16. Contribute to quality metrics and testing dashboards for project transparency.
  17. Maintain version control of test scripts and automation assets using Git or similar systems.
  18. Implement mock services, test stubs, and data simulation for integration testing.
  19. Stay current with emerging tools, technologies, and testing practices.
  20. Mentor junior automation engineers and share knowledge of test automation strategies.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory testing tasks.
  • Contribute to improving the organization’s overall quality strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with DevOps teams to optimize CI/CD testing workflows.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies as part of the development process.
  • Support product owners and QA leads with test reports and impact analyses.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Strong programming skills in Python, Java, JavaScript, or C#
  • Experience with automation frameworks (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, or TestNG)
  • Familiarity with API testing tools such as Postman, REST Assured, or Karate
  • Experience integrating test automation into CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps)
  • Knowledge of cloud platforms and testing in virtualized environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Strong understanding of testing methodologies (unit, integration, regression, acceptance)
  • Knowledge of performance and load testing tools (JMeter, Gatling, Locust)
  • Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Familiarity with BDD/TDD frameworks like Cucumber or PyTest
  • Solid understanding of version control systems and code collaboration tools (Git, Bitbucket)

Soft Skills

  • Analytical and critical thinking to identify test scenarios and risks
  • Strong communication skills for collaborating with developers and QA teams
  • Attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality products
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time in a fast-paced agile environment
  • Team-oriented mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving
  • Continuous learner with curiosity for new testing technologies
  • Strong documentation and reporting abilities
  • Creative approach to automating complex testing challenges
  • Adaptability to evolving technologies and project requirements
  • Ownership mindset and accountability for end-to-end quality assurance

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Software Quality Assurance, Computer Science, or Information Technology

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Information Systems
  • Quality Assurance Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–6 years in software testing or automation development

Preferred:

  • Proven experience developing automated testing frameworks from scratch
  • Hands-on experience in integrating automation into CI/CD workflows
  • Exposure to performance testing, cloud environments, and microservice testing
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