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What does a senior automation engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Craig Tidwell Ph.D.

A senior automation engineer is responsible for delivering technological solutions designed for software processes. You are expected to collaborate with other teams to help identify and eliminate issues by collecting requirements and executing process automation. Other duties that you will likely perform include identifying new automation opportunities for software processes, designing and implementing quality assurance tests, and identifying bugs and quality issues. You also have to work closely with other departments on how best to improve workflow through automation.

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Senior automation engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior automation engineer resumes:

  • Manage automate projects for daily regression run, data validation and project report analysis.
  • Perform feasibility analysis of applications to automate and feasibility analysis of smoke, regression and business scenario test suites.
  • Perform functional, UI, UAT, smoke, regression testing and record issues along with product enhancements.
  • Write new Perl modules or modify existing modules in the automation framework as per the new feature/functionality in Linux environment.
  • Debug Java and JavaScript code to fix functionality and usability issues discover during testing.
  • Work on Linux shell scripting, FTP.
  • Retrieve files using SQL statements and UNIX commands.
  • Develop and execute test cases in SoapUI testing tool.
  • Involve in integrating WPBN with QC through API programming.
  • Perform cross - platform testing on android, IOS using Appium.
  • Perform load, stress testing using open source tools like JMeter.
  • Create & modify ruby scripts for advance systems monitoring [sensu].
  • Convert UNIX script to meet the requirements for robot automation for load process.
  • Participate in the daily scrum meetings to discuss about project status and blockers if any.
  • Create API alerts in JSON format for storing and exchanging information between browsers and servers.

Senior automation engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of Senior Automation Engineers are proficient in Python, Java, and PLC.

We break down the percentage of Senior Automation Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Python, 9%

    Developed function library in Python to reduce redundant scripting.

  • Java, 8%

    Implemented Selenium WebDriver, Automated and executed scripts on different browser and different platform using Java.

  • PLC, 6%

    Key Achievements o Upgrade Automation/SCADA systems including the introduction of new PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) platform and HMI software.

  • HMI, 6%

    Coil Data Collection: Programmed and deployed stand-alone data collection system with HMI screen using VB6.

  • Jenkins, 4%

    Generated Jenkins reports for test executions.

  • SCADA, 4%

    Designed and programmed improvements to the SCADA, Manufacturing Execution Systems and Quality Control Systems at Mercedes Benz Alabama assembly facility.

Most senior automation engineers use their skills in "python," "java," and "plc" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential senior automation engineer responsibilities here:

Most common senior automation engineer skills

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Senior Automation Engineer Resume
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Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume
Senior Automation Engineer Resume

Compare different senior automation engineers

Senior automation engineer vs. Lead test technician

Lead test technicians are professionals who are responsible for leading a group of test professionals to test products and report their findings to engineers or product developers. These technicians are required to design and develop test plans and procedures so that they can validate the requirements of products. They are required to use various test equipment as well as to conduct maintenance to ensure the product's functionality and quality. Lead test technicians must also gather and analyze user feedback to improve the overall user experience and satisfaction.

If we compare the average senior automation engineer annual salary with that of a lead test technician, we find that lead test technicians typically earn a $26,300 lower salary than senior automation engineers make annually.Even though senior automation engineers and lead test technicians are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require java, jenkins, and scrum in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior automation engineer responsibilities require skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "scada." Meanwhile a typical lead test technician has skills in areas such as "selenium," "test cases," "test environment," and "test scripts." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Lead test technicians tend to make the most money working in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $99,944. In contrast, senior automation engineers make the biggest average salary, $110,323, in the technology industry.On average, lead test technicians reach lower levels of education than senior automation engineers. Lead test technicians are 5.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Senior automation engineer vs. Engineer lead quality assurance lead

Engineer Lead Quality Assurance Leads are responsible for managing the designing and operations of hardware or software testing. Their duties include developing testing plans, implement risk mitigation strategies, communicate process improvements to cross-teams such as marketing and engineering, resolve the conflict between teams, and ensures product or software adheres to the organization and industry standards. They are also involved in reviewing technical design and specification, setting performance targets, and writing progress reports for management updates.

On average, engineers lead quality assurance lead earn a $2,141 higher salary than senior automation engineers a year.A few skills overlap for senior automation engineers and engineers lead quality assurance lead. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "java," "jenkins," and "scrum. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior automation engineer resumes. While senior automation engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "scada," engineers lead quality assurance lead use skills like "api," "test scripts," "selenium webdriver," and "c++."

Engineers lead quality assurance lead may earn a higher salary than senior automation engineers, but engineers lead quality assurance lead earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $114,398. On the other hand, senior automation engineers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $110,323.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Engineers lead quality assurance lead tend to reach similar levels of education than senior automation engineers. In fact, they're 2.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior automation engineers in the next 3-5 years?

Craig Tidwell Ph.D.Craig Tidwell Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor/Program Manager, Seminole State College of Florida

Understanding cloud technologies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google are needed. Since many organizations have a hybrid structure, where they have internal and external cloud technologies, learning how to integrate them with existing technologies is critical.

Senior automation engineer vs. Functional tester

A functional tester's main responsibility is to validate the behavior of an application and analyzed the requirements of the clients. They are skilled in Java and database design for software development. The tasks they do are complex, including scanning IDs of the receiver and serial numbers on each unit, testing the units to make sure they work properly, and checking for any defects and damages. They are also trained in using numerical codes for passing or failing each unit and writing serial numbers on the production tracker.

On average scale, functional testers bring in lower salaries than senior automation engineers. In fact, they earn a $31,219 lower salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on senior automation engineers and functional testers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "java," "jenkins," and "jira.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior automation engineers are more likely to have skills like "python," "plc," "hmi," and "scada." But a functional tester is more likely to have skills like "test cases," "selenium," "test automation," and "test scripts."

Functional testers make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $74,785. On the other hand, senior automation engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $110,323.functional testers typically earn similar educational levels compared to senior automation engineers. Specifically, they're 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Senior automation engineer vs. Engineer

Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects. They should also be well-versed in different construction or industrial materials, and they ensure that appropriate materials are used for the project. They also ensure that the projects meet the requirements of the groups that hired them. They create spaces that would both address the needs of the end-users and the industry standards. They also ensure that the projects they make would stand the test of time.

Engineers tend to earn a lower pay than senior automation engineers by an average of $15,789 per year.According to resumes from senior automation engineers and engineers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "python," "java," and "plc. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between senior automation engineers and engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a senior automation engineer might have more use for skills like "hmi," "scada," "scrum," and "automation framework." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of engineers require skills like "cloud," "c++," "aws," and "troubleshoot. "

The automotive industry tends to pay the highest salaries for engineers, with average annual pay of $97,672. Comparatively, the highest senior automation engineer annual salary comes from the technology industry.engineers reach lower levels of education compared to senior automation engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 5.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of senior automation engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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