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What is a senior automation test engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Christian Hansen Ph.D.

Senior automation test engineers are in charge of testing a company's products to make sure that they are working as they should. They usually fall under the quality assurance department of a technology or finance company. Senior automation test engineers design processes that automate testing procedures in order to ensure that a company's products meet quality standards. They use tools like selenium and appium to run tests. Senior automation test engineers need to be proficient in multiple coding languages, like Java or Python, in order to design and create tests. They also need to have good people skills since they are in charge of a whole team of engineers dedicated to automated testing.

On average, senior automation test engineers make $94,653 a year. However, they need to put in a lot of work before they can start earning that lucrative salary.

Most senior automation test engineers have bachelor's or even master's degrees in computer science or engineering. They also have several years of work experience as quality assurance or automation test engineers before earning a more senior position.

What's a day at work look like for a senior automation test engineer?

Christian Hansen Ph.D.Christian Hansen Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor and Department Chair, Eastern Washington University

In the post-pandemic era, a typical workday for a recent graduate will likely involve some form of remote work. I predict that many businesses will benefit from the reduced cost of remote infrastructure compared to the cost of maintaining brick and mortar office space. Many new graduates will continue to spend their day on a computer while collaborating in teams via Zoom and other teleconference tools. People working in disciplines that have traditionally been "on the ground" will move towards more hybrid modes of work, reducing the need for travel and participating in face-to-face meetings and training.
ScoreSenior Automation Test EngineerUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $97,825

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
4.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 11.99%

Black or African American 6.24%

Hispanic or Latino 8.82%

Unknown 4.70%

White 67.73%

Gender

female 26.55%

male 73.45%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
5.1

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.1

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.0

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Senior automation test engineer career paths

Key steps to become a senior automation test engineer

  1. Explore senior automation test engineer education requirements

    Most common senior automation test engineer degrees

    Bachelor's

    72.1 %

    Master's

    19.2 %

    Diploma

    5.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior automation test engineer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Java9.89%
    Api Testing9.35%
    Mobile Testing6.06%
    Python4.28%
    Jira3.72%
  3. Complete relevant senior automation test engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior automation test engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior automation test engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior automation test engineer resumes.
  4. Research senior automation test engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Perform inter-departmental audits documenting ISO compliant results with associate corrective action requests in order to achieve company-wide certification.
    • Prepare automation test framework (Junit).
    • Attend daily project scrum meetings and weekly team status meetings.
    • Involve in web UI application over HTTP client request protocol.
  5. Get senior automation test engineer experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior automation test engineer. The most common roles before becoming a senior automation test engineer include quality assurance engineer, automation test engineer team lead and quality assurance analyst.
  6. Prepare your senior automation test engineer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior automation test engineer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior automation test engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior automation test engineer resume templates

    Build a professional senior automation test engineer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior automation test engineer resume.
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
    Senior Automation Test Engineer Resume
  7. Apply for senior automation test engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior automation test engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior automation test engineer job

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Average senior automation test engineer salary

The average senior automation test engineer salary in the United States is $97,825 per year or $47 per hour. Senior automation test engineer salaries range between $78,000 and $122,000 per year.

Average senior automation test engineer salary
$97,825 Yearly
$47.03 hourly

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Senior automation test engineer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Cons

I prefer having fun joking while working, a barrier between people doesn't make me feel good.


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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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