Hey devs! ๐
Been thinking about transitioning to SDET? Or maybe you're curious about what SDETs actually do beyond "testing stuff"? I recently deep-dived into this topic after reading an insightful guide from TestLeaf - SDET Role, Responsibilities, and Salary Comparison, and here's my breakdown of the SDET landscape.
What Actually Is an SDET? ๐ค
Forget the "tester who codes" stereotype. SDETs are hybrid engineers who:
Build automation frameworks from scratch
Integrate testing into CI/CD pipelines
Debug performance bottlenecks
Collaborate directly with dev teams on architecture decisions
It's essentially software engineering with a quality-first mindset.
The Salary Reality ๐ฐ
Here's the data that caught my attention:
India ๐ฎ๐ณ
Junior: โน5-7 LPA
Mid-level: โน8-15 LPA
Senior: โน20+ LPA
US ๐บ๐ธ
Junior: $70K-90K
Mid-level: $100K-120K
Senior: $150K+
UK ๐ฌ๐ง
Junior: ยฃ30K-40K
Mid-level: ยฃ50K-70K
Senior: ยฃ80K-100K
My Take on Career Progression ๐
What I love about the SDET path is the vertical growth:
SDET โ Lead SDET โ Test Architect โ Director of Quality Engineering
Each level adds strategic thinking to technical execution. You're not just automating tests; you're architecting quality systems.
Skills That Actually Matter ๐ ๏ธ
From what I've observed:
Programming: Java/Python/C# (obviously)
DevOps mindset: CI/CD, containerization
Performance testing: Beyond functional automation
Communication: You're bridging dev and QA teams
Getting Started ๐ฏ
If you're considering this path, upskilling through a software testing course in chennai or exploring software testing course online options can provide structured learning. But honestly, hands-on practice with automation frameworks is where you'll learn the most.
Bottom Line
SDET roles are exploding because companies finally understand that quality isn't just a phaseโit's a culture. The blend of development skills with testing mindset creates unique value that's hard to replicate.
What's your experience with SDET roles? Drop your thoughts below!
Top comments (0)