Certified Software Development Engineer in Tests (SDETs)

Who is a certified Software Development Engineer in Tests?

A Certified Software Development Engineer in Tests (SDET) is an engineer who comes up with reliable means of automating testing activities and developing appropriate testing tools.

Challenges

Mature domain-based SDETs engage from the design phase through the Quality Engineering (QE) lifecycle. There are several challenges that one may face when employing Certified Software Development Engineers. Some of the challenges that organizations face include:

• Limited budget and tight deadlines: SDETs mostly work with tight accomplishment deadlines which make retaining resources a challenge. Also, limited budget may pose a challenge in hiring the right resources.
• Unstable test environment: Test environment needs to be stable for accuracy. Maintaining a stable environment can be a challenge.
• Lack of communication and collaboration: Coordinating different teams can lead to a breakdown of communication.
• Integration and compatibility issues: Multiple tools and multiple teams can lead to compatibility issues.
• Need for specific domain alignment and future-ready SDETs.
• Keeping up with industry trends and technologies: SDET has to be ahead of the curve. Cross-functional QA skills rank the highest in successful agile development and faster deployments. SDET certifications, upskilling or reskilling is a “must-have” to elevate traditional test engineers to the role of SDETs.

Why is and where is certified Software Development Engineer needed?

The role of SDETs evolved as a result of the challenges and requirements facing modern software development today. Some of these reasons include complexities or software systems, agile development practices, continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD), increasing demand for automation, growing complexity of test scenarios and end-to-end testing that resulted in the evolution of SDETs as a critical part of the system.

SDETs are indispensable in today’s agile development and testing of applications. Domain-aligned SDETs understand the user journey and play a significant role in releasing defect-free applications. SDETs have deep functional knowledge and bring experience in automation use cases. For example, SDETs with expertise in the banking domain write automation code, test applications, and engage at a higher level with product teams to improve end-user journeys.

These professionals are also widely applicable across different industries and sectors like software development companies, IT service providers, online shopping platforms, and more. They could be involved in projects involving web and desktop applications testing, low-code or no-code application development, API testing, and software optimization.

Future of SDETs

The evolution of modern Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) was driven by the challenges experienced in modern-day software development. Some of these factors include the complexity of software systems, agile development practices, CI/CD, growing prevalence of AI, and ML.

There exist several job opportunities for SDETs in sectors such as software development firms, IT service providers, e-commerce, and manufacturing industries.

Testing across a plethora of channels, platforms, and devices will gain significant traction, as customers expect seamless and consistent experiences across touchpoints.

Benefits

SDETs are expected to be highly skilled and in high demand, especially in software testing and related industries. Though there are many challenges in the making of a competent SDET, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. The many benefits include:

• Ensuring high-quality software products: SDETs contribute to the development process and ensure that products meet a high standard of quality.
• Minimizing testing cycles: SDETs can work independently, building, deploying, running, and managing applications, preventing defects at the beginning stages, and minimizing testing cycles.
• Automating test processes: SDETs can leverage their programming skills to automate acceptance tests and reduce manual testing efforts.
• Working with Agile and DevOps methodologies: SDETs are experienced in working with Agile and DevOps processes, which helps in delivering high-quality software products.
• Strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills: SDETs possess strong analytical skills and can effectively identify and resolve issues in software products.

Business Outcomes

The most important business outcomes of deploying a Certified Software Development Engineer in Tests (SDET) include improved product quality, faster time-to-market for new products, enhanced CX with the development of user-friendly UX/CX, cost savings, and adaptability to new technologies.

Mature your QE capabilities with the right team of SDETs; adopt an automation-first approach; leverage industry-leading tools and frameworks to accelerate agile development and testing at scale. Navigate the nuances with the right partner.