Software Developer in Test (SDET)

Duties/Day to Day Overview

Responsibilities:

Design and build mocking framework for the backend service to remove Mobile app testing dependency on backend service.

Architect and maintain scalable test automation frameworks.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize automation frameworks.

Develop, maintain, and expand Playwright automation test cases to enhance regression coverage and test efficiency.

Conduct vehicle mission testing and provide detailed reporting and analysis on mission outcomes.

Utilize AI tools for process and test improvements.

Support ZPT triage and assist in identifying, reproducing, and verifying defects across environments (Dev, Staging, and Production).

Collaborate with developers, QA leads, and product managers to ensure test completeness and feature validation readiness.

Document test results, maintain traceability to requirements, and track issues to closure.

Contribute to ongoing process and automation improvements within the QA organization.

Top Requirements

(Must haves)

Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science or engineering

4+ years of experience as a Software Development in Test with experience in writing automation frameworks and tests.

Working experience with either Kotlin/JAVA, Swift, Python programming languages and experience with tools like version control systems like Git and CI/CD pipelines.

Knowledge on testing methodologies.

Working knowledge of AWS Cloud applications.

Working experience with AI tools and AI agents

Hands-on experience in API testing and test automation design patterns

Proficient with Testing tools like PyTest, Git, CI/CD pipelines, and JIRA

Infrastructure: Docker, Kubernetes, nginx

Core Technical Requirements

Python Critical Requirement

Because the project has already experienced some delays, manager would strongly prefer someone with significant Python experience who can contribute quickly.

Candidate expectations

Candidates should:

• Be proficient scripting/coding in Python.
• Be able to understand an existing Python codebase.
• Build test cases and reusable functions.
• Be comfortable answering technical Python questions.
• Be able to complete a Python coding exercise during the interview process.

Test Automation Frameworks

The team currently uses/testing includes:

• pytest
• Appium
• Playwright
• Python-based automation

Nature of the Testing

Primarily cross-system, end-to-end integration testing.

The testing environment can include:

Mobile Device APIs Simulated Vehicle Logs / System Behavior

The engineer will be interacting with a simulated Zoox vehicle rather than simply validating an isolated application.

Testing may involve:

• Android/mobile devices
• Mobile application behavior
• Simulated vehicle behavior
• APIs
• API POST operations
• Vehicle/simulation logs
• Hardware-in-the-loop systems
• Cross-system interactions

API Experience

The engineer will interact with APIs as part of the automated workflows and use existing API scripts/functions to retrieve or manipulate information needed for testing.

Database Requirements

Direct database development or database infrastructure experience is NOT required.

The engineer may need information that ultimately resides in a database, but manager explained that the team generally accesses that information through existing APIs/scripts.

AI / AI-Assisted Development

Looking for someone who is comfortable using AI coding agents/tools to increase development speed and productivity.

Referenced tools such as:

• Cursor
• AI coding agents / coding assistants

Many of the test scenarios have a repetitive underlying structure.

For example, Zoox ride scenarios may repeatedly involve similar workflows such as:

1. Hail
2. Ride
3. Drop-off

Because tests share a similar baseline manager wants someone who thinks about scalability and reuse, rather than manually rebuilding each test individually.

Wants someone comfortable using AI tools to:

• Understand an existing codebase.
• Gather information faster.
• Accelerate scripting.
• Create reusable approaches.
• Potentially build AI-assisted skills/workflows.
• Scale repetitive test automation.

Experience Level

Manager is willing to consider different experience combinations.

She suggested someone could potentially have:

• Approximately 2+ years of development experience, plus
• Another 1 2 years of testing experience

However, years alone are not the deciding factor.

Real priority

Wants someone who can:

Hit the ground running.

A less experienced engineer could work if they demonstrate:

• Strong technical fundamentals.
• Strong Python capability.
• Ability to learn quickly.
• Relevant automation/testing experience.
• High initiative and drive.