Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Kforce has a client that is seeking a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)/QA Automation Engineer in Fremont, CA (onsite 5 days per week) for a 6-12 Month+ contract with possible extension/conversion. About the Opportunity: We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)/QA Automation Engineer to join a fast-paced engineering team. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building automation frameworks, solving complex technical problems, and working across UI, API, backend, and database layers. This is a hands-on engineering role where strong software development skills are equally important as testing expertise. The successful candidate will help design scalable automation solutions, improve software quality, modernize existing frameworks, and contribute to the development of internal engineering tools. Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automation frameworks using Python, Playwright/Selenium and SQL
• Build automated tests for web applications, APIs, backend systems, and end-to-end workflows
• Develop reusable automation libraries, utilities, and testing components
• Perform UI, API, integration, regression, functional, and database testing
• Write complex SQL queries for data validation, troubleshooting, and backend verification
• Support modernization efforts, including migration of legacy automation frameworks
• Troubleshoot application issues and perform root cause analysis on production defects
• Collaborate closely with software engineers, product teams, and business stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle
• Contribute to automation strategy, framework architecture, and testing best practices
• Participate in code reviews and drive engineering excellence
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to support rapid and reliable software releases
• Help improve software reliability, scalability, and overall user experience
• 5+ years of experience in SDET, QA Automation Engineering, or Software Quality Engineering
• Strong hands-on programming experience with Python
• Strong experience with Playwright for test automation
• Experience with Selenium and automation framework maintenance or migration
• Experience building automation frameworks from the ground up

• Data Structures & Algorithms
• Design Patterns
• Software Engineering Best Practices
• API Testing
• Debugging and Troubleshooting
• Advanced SQL skills, including data validation, joins, and backend analysis
• Experience with end-to-end test automation across UI, API, and database layers
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

• Experience with CI/CD pipelines
• Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or similar automation tools
• Docker and Kubernetes
• Cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or GCP
• Performance and load testing experience
• Experience supporting high-volume production applications
• Familiarity with microservices and distributed systems
• Agile development experience

• Thinks like a software engineer, not just a tester
• Can build and maintain automation frameworks, not just execute test cases
• Has strong coding and debugging skills
• Takes ownership of problems from investigation through resolution
• Can clearly explain architecture decisions and technical tradeoffs
• Learns quickly and thrives in a fast-moving environment
• Works independently with minimal supervision
• Demonstrates curiosity, accountability, and a continuous improvement mindset