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.
JOB SUMMARY
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)
WORK LOCATION – Taylor, TX:
- Employees will be required to be on-site in Taylor, TX at minimum 2 days per week, or more, as needed based on the business needs as determined by management
- On-site schedules are flexible or may be rotated based on business needs as determined by the Manager
- Remote work is required to be performed from your Texas residence.
- Employees may opt to work on-site more than required or 100% of the time
The foregoing description reflects the minimum qualifications and the essential functions of the position that must be performed proficiently with or without reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. It is not an exhaustive list of the duties expected to be performed, and management may, at its discretion, revise or require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This job description is not intended to create a contract of employment with ERCOT. Both ERCOT and the employee may exercise their employment-at-will rights at any time. #LI-DN
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:
$90,220 - $153,380Top Skills
What We Do
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 (ISO) for the region, ERCOT schedules power on an electric grid that connects more than 54,100 miles of transmission lines and 1,250+ generation units, including Private Use Networks. 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.
