What does an SDET do?

Summary of the Article:

A Software Development Engineering Test (SDET) is different from a Quality Assurance (QA) engineer in terms of their roles and responsibilities. While a QA engineer focuses on using test tools, developing and running test cases, and tracking bugs, an SDET is proficient in implementing various programming languages and translating customer requirements into test scenarios.

The role of an SDET involves a wide range of activities in both white-box and black-box testing, including creating low-level unit tests, test planning, creating test cases, and manual software testing.

An SDET is considered to be better than a QA tester because they possess excellent programming skills, which allows them to perform development and testing tasks effectively.

In agile environments, an SDET plays a crucial role by closely collaborating with the development team to ensure the delivered software meets high-quality standards and client requirements.

The salary of an SDET varies based on their experience. A mid-career SDET with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹17.8 Lakhs per year, while an experienced SDET with 10-20 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹27 Lakhs per year.

A QA Test Engineer can become an SDET by enhancing their programming skills and expanding the automation scope of their projects. Being involved in both application development and testing is crucial for a successful transition.

The highest salary for SDETs in India is ₹13 Lakhs per annum, and the salary range for SDET 2 with less than 2 years to 8 years of experience is ₹10.9 Lakhs to ₹53 Lakhs per year.

The three main roles and responsibilities of an SDET are assessing and understanding the code flow, documenting processes for process improvement, and logging and tracking user issues and cases. Manual regression testing is also performed by an SDET.

Top technical skills for an SDET include knowledge of programming languages, experience in using test automation tools and frameworks, knowledge of testing methodologies, expertise in CI/CD, communication and collaboration skills, time management and organizational skills, certification, and contributing to open-source projects.

An SDET with 10 years of experience in India earns an average salary of ₹11 Lakhs per year (₹91.7k per month).

15 Questions about SDET:

1. How is SDET different from QA?
   A software development engineering test is an expert at implementing various programming languages and proficient at translating customer requirements into test scenarios. In contrast, QA software engineers are required to be proficient at using test tools, developing and running test cases, as well as tracking bugs.
2. What is the role of SDET?
   The role of an SDET involves both white-box and black-box testing, including creating low-level unit tests, test planning, creating test cases, and manual software testing.
3. Is SDET better than QA?
   An SDET is skilled in development and testing, whereas a QA tester is involved in preparing and executing test cases manually or by automation. Testers are limited when it comes to programming skills due to the heavy focus on functional testing. However, SDETs have excellent programming skills.
4. What is the role of SDET in agile?
   An SDET plays a crucial role in agile environments by working closely with the development team to ensure that the delivered software is of high quality and meets the client’s requirements.
5. What is the salary of SDET vs automation engineer?
   A mid-career SDET Automation Test Engineer with 4-9 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹17.8 Lakhs per year, while an experienced SDET Automation Test Engineer with 10-20 years of experience earns an average salary of ₹27 Lakhs per year.
6. Can a QA become an SDET?
   A QA Test Engineer can become an SDET by enhancing their programming skills and expanding the automation scope for the project. To become a successful SDET, one should be involved in both the development of the application as well as the testing of the software developed.
7. What is the highest salary for SDET?
   The highest salary of software development engineer testing SDETs in India is ₹13 Lakhs per annum.
8. What is the salary of SDET testing?
   The salary of an SDET 2 in India with less than 2 years of experience to 8 years ranges from ₹10.9 Lakhs to ₹53 Lakhs, with an average annual salary of ₹24.9 Lakhs based on 1.1k latest salaries.
9. What are the 3 roles and responsibilities of SDET?
   The three main roles and responsibilities of an SDET are assessing and understanding the flow of code and its interaction with various processes, documenting processes and client demands for process improvement, logging, managing, and tracking user issues and cases, and performing manual regression testing.
10. What are the top technical skills for SDET?
    Examples of top technical skills for an SDET include knowledge of programming languages, experience in using test automation tools and frameworks, knowledge of testing methodologies, expertise in continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), communication and collaboration skills, time management and organizational skills, getting certified, and contributing to open-source projects.
11. What is the salary of SDET with 10 years of experience?
    The average salary for an SDET in India with 10 years of experience is ₹11 Lakhs per year (₹91.7k per month). Salary estimates are based on 2844 latest salaries received from various SDETs across industries.