Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Taylor, TX

Full time

R2546

At ERCOT, our diverse and dynamic work environment provides a platform on which employees can work together to build the future of the Texas power grid and wholesale market utilizing the latest technologies and resources. We encourage you to join our talented, dedicated workforce to develop world-class solutions for today and tomorrow’s energy challenges while learning new skills and growing your career.

ERCOT is committed to fostering inclusion at all levels of our company. It is the cornerstone of our corporate values of accountability, leadership, innovation, trust, and expertise. We know that individuals with a wide variety of talents, ideas, and experiences propel the innovation that drives our success. An inclusive and diverse workforce strengthens us and allows for a collaborative environment to solve the challenges that face our industry today and in the future.

The Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is a software engineering professional specializing in automation, quality engineering, and intelligent system validation. This role designs, develops, deploys, and maintains scalable automated solutions to ensure the reliability, performance, security, accessibility, and resilience of enterprise applications, system integrations, and automated business workflows.

The SDET combines strong programming expertise with modern engineering practices to build automation frameworks, validate APIs and distributed systems, support CI/CD and cloud-native execution models, and test AI-enabled systems and process automation platforms. Working closely with Development, DevOps, Architecture, Product teams, QA Leads, and other stakeholders, the SDET improves system testability, drives shift-left and continuous testing practices, and embeds automation throughout the software delivery lifecycle while maintaining enterprise quality and governance standards.

JOB DUTIES

• Design, develop, and maintain automated solutions for functional, regression, integration, performance, security, accessibility, and end-to-end testing

• Build and enhance automation frameworks for APIs, user interfaces, backend services, and enterprise workflows using tools such as Selenium, Playwright, Rest Assured, Postman, Tosca, or similar technologies

• Write clean, scalable, and maintainable automation code using Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar languages

• Perform validation across APIs, distributed systems, databases (relational and NoSQL), and system integrations

• Define and support test data management practices to improve automation reliability and coverage

• Integrate automation into CI/CD pipelines with quality gates, including functional, performance, and security validations

• Support scalable and containerized test execution across cloud environments (Azure, AWS, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes)

• Install, configure, and maintain automation tools and supporting infrastructure across Windows and Linux platforms

• Develop validation approaches for AI-enabled features, distributed systems, and automated business workflows (including RPA where applicable)

• Contribute to automation standards, governance practices, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Support shift-left and continuous testing practices and contribute to test strategy and risk-based validation

• Monitor and improve automation effectiveness by tracking key quality metrics and reducing flaky tests

• Utilize mocking, stubbing, or service virtualization techniques to enable reliable testing of dependent systems

• Participate in code reviews and advocate for testability in system design and development practices

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and communicate effectively to ensure alignment on quality objectives

• Apply sound engineering judgment and enterprise standards in automation design and execution

• Leverage approved Generative AI tools to enhance automation quality, productivity, and intelligent test design

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship appropriate to role level while continuously learning and adopting new technologies

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Strong knowledge of software engineering and quality engineering principles

• Experience with UI and/or API automation frameworks

• Programming experience in Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or similar languages

• Experience integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines

• Experience with Git-based version control

• Experience supporting applications on Windows and/or Linux platforms

• Working knowledge of Agile methodologies and SDLC practices

Level 2: Requires minimum 2 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

Senior Level: Requires minimum 5 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

Lead Level: Requires minimum 8 years job related work experience in excess of degree requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) or multi-cloud environments

• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or distributed test infrastructure

• Experience with performance and/or security testing tools

• Experience with enterprise validation tools (Tosca, NeoLoad, qTest, Invicti, etc.)

• Experience implementing or supporting ServiceNow ATF automation

• Experience validating AI-enabled systems or familiarity with AI-assisted testing tools

• Experience influencing system design for testability, scalability, and resilience

• Experience supporting DevOps or DevSecOps practices

• Familiarity with BDD frameworks (e.g., Cucumber, Gherkin)

• Experience testing event-driven architectures or message queue systems (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ)

• Familiarity with mobile testing tools and frameworks (e.g., Appium)

• Familiarity with resilience testing or chaos engineering principles

• Familiarity with RPA tools and validation of automated business workflows (e.g., UiPath, Power Automate)

• Familiarity with observability or monitoring tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana)

ERCOT is firmly committed to equal employment for all qualified persons without regard to race, sex, medical condition, religion, age, creed, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected category under federal, state or local law.

Expected Salary Range:

$121,000 - $167,000

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) manages the flow of electric power to 27 million Texas customers - representing about 90 percent of the state's electric load. As the independent system operator for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250 generating units. ERCOT also performs financial settlement for the competitive wholesale bulk-power market and administers retail switching for 8 million premises in competitive choice areas. ERCOT is a membership-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation, governed by a board of directors and subject to oversight by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Texas Legislature. ERCOT's members include consumers, cooperatives, generators, power marketers, retail electric providers, investor-owned electric utilities (transmission and distribution providers,) and municipal-owned electric utilities.

ERCOT offers an excellent benefits package, which includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, long/short-term disability insurance, long-term care insurance, Section 125 Flexible Spending Account, and a Retirement Savings Plan.

The medical, dental, vision (https://www.ercot.com/files/docs/2023/11/29/Benefits-Highlights-2024.pdf) , and quality-of-life benefits offered by ERCOT are second to none. Full-time employees are eligible to enroll in benefits on the first of the month following the date of hire. Additionally, 401(k) plans (https://www.ercot.com/files/docs/2019/09/23/ERCOT\_401K\_Sept\_2019\_FINAL.pdf) are available to help employees plan for the future.

The ERCOT Internship Program provides college students the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional work environment. Each intern will receive unique projects and assignments that aim to solve real challenges facing the electric industry. ERCOT internships provide professional learning experiences that offer meaningful, practical work related to each student's desired career path.

Eligible candidates should be enrolled in an academic bachelors or post graduate degree program maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The ERCOT Engineer Development Program (EDP) is a 12- to 16-month, self-paced program geared toward entry-level engineers looking to start a career in the power industry. Through the program, an EDP Engineer receives one-on-one mentoring, specialized training, and exposure to the work performed by each of the engineering groups at ERCOT.

The program allows engineers to develop the fundamental skills necessary to reach their full potential while gaining an understanding of the types of engineering work ERCOT has to offer. EDP management supports participants each step of the way as they progress through the program. Upon completion, graduates are placed as full-time engineers within one of ERCOT’s engineering groups.

The GMS Development Program (GDP) is designed to provide entry-level and early career professionals with the skills necessary to become successful Power System and Computer Engineers.

The program, which is based in ERCOT’s Grid and Market Solutions (GMS) Department, will provide experience in day-to-day work and instruction in the fundamentals of electric power systems engineering, grid and market applications, software programming, and IT service and operations management. The GDP offers one-on-one mentoring, training, field trips, and special assignments. These assignments allow GDP engineers to become knowledgeable and familiar with the various business areas at ERCOT. The GMS leadership team prepares GDP engineers for a future career at ERCOT in power systems and computer engineering.

The System Operator Development Program (ODP) is intended to combine real-time daily operations in an exciting work setting to prepare participants with the vital skills necessary to be successful in such a critical position — providing 24x7x365 on-demand support to manage the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texas customers. If you are new to the industry, this program introduces you to the Bulk Electric System by combining introductory courses with the NERC Certification Exam Preparation Program in preparation to pass the NERC Certification Exam.