careers in test

Test Automation Engineer

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a job where innovation and automation work hand-in-hand? That’s the craft of a Test Automation Engineer.”

A Test Automation Engineer designs and develops automated test scripts and frameworks to streamline the software testing process. They use scripting and coding skills to create robust and reusable automated test cases that enhance the coverage and efficiency of testing.

The Test Automation Engineer works closely with development teams to integrate testing into continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, ensuring quick and reliable feedback loops during the software development lifecycle.

Knowledge Required
  • Programming languages (e.g., Python, Java, C#)
  • Automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Appium)
  • CI/CD and DevOps practices
  • API testing automation
  • Test data and environment management
Skills Required
  • Automation Framework Design
  • Continuous Integration (CI) / Continuous Deployment (CD) Integration
  • Scripting and Coding Skills (e.g., Python, Java)
  • Test Tool Proficiency (e.g., Selenium, Appium)
  • Test Data Management
Typical Responsibilities
  • Designing and developing automated test scripts
  • Integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines
  • Identifying areas suitable for automation and improving testing efficiency
  • Collaborating with manual testers to enhance coverage
  • Troubleshooting and maintaining test scripts
Common Tools

Selenium, Appium, Cypress, TestComplete, Katalon Studio

Connect & Facilitate

This role overlaps with DevOps Engineers and Technical Test Analysts, especially in automation and CI/CD practices.

Rate Table (National Average)

Please note that rate averages will change slightly by state, and precision of practice can also influence rates (testing for avionics, medical, or safety equipment can require compliance with particularly rigorous government standards etc)

RemunerationValue
Daily Rate (contract)$750 – $950
FTE Salary (Permanent)$115,000 – $135,000

Project Hiring Cost (average)

These percentages are derived from an annualized amount. Given the costs involved in sourcing, vetting, and correspondence for a role of this type, a recruiter would expect a minimum fixed fee of 15K, although most recruiters operate on percentages nowadays.

Project Hiring CostValue
Internal HR15-20%
Recruiters25%
Interview Questions

Here are some interview questions you will most likely encounter for this role. While we don’t provide answers, we do clarify the intent behind the questions, which makes them a great resource when researching the role in readiness for an interview.

To evaluate experience and criteria for selecting frameworks.

To assess strategies for dealing with unreliable automated tests.

To understand integration of automated tests in CI/CD pipelines.

To gauge the impact of automation on testing efficiency.

To evaluate code quality, structure, and long-term sustainability of scripts.

ATS Keyphrases

These keywords are commonly used by recruiter Application Tracking Systems to determine the relevance of a CV or cover letter to a specific position description. By ensuring at least a few of these key phrases appear throughout your CV and cover letter, you increase your relevance where an ATS is being used.

Test Automation Frameworks, Selenium WebDriver, Continuous Integration (CI), Continuous Delivery (CD), Automated Test Scripts, API Automation, TestNG, JUnit, Cucumber, Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), Page Object Model (POM), Keyword-Driven Testing, Data-Driven Testing, Automated Regression Testing, Jenkins, Maven, Git, CI/CD Pipelines, Cross-Browser Testing, Web Application Automation, Mobile Automation Testing, Performance Automation, Test Strategy for Automation, Test Coverage Optimization, Script Debugging