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What is a software automation engineer and how to become one
In IT, a software automation engineer refers to someone who delivers automated solutions for software processes. Automation engineers work closely with other teams to discover and eliminate problems by gathering requirements and implementing process automation. Sometimes, this will include hardware or software, but other times they might be asked to automate service or business processes.
They need at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a similar field to become an automation engineer. They also want a program that includes courses on robotics, databases, statistics, AI, control systems, and artificial neural networks (ANN). Some employers also want applicants to have a master's degree and experience with manual and automated testing procedures depending on the role.
The software automation engineering jobs fall under the role of QA engineer. So, the average salary for QA automation engineers, and similar job titles, is $100,580 per year. Senior QA automation engineers reportedly earn an average salary of $124,000 per year.
What general advice would you give to a software automation engineer?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Avg. Salary $102,812
Avg. Salary $59,228
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%
Genderfemale 21.92%
male 78.08%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Software automation engineer career paths
Key steps to become a software automation engineer
Explore software automation engineer education requirements
Start to develop specific software automation engineer skills
Skills Percentages Python 13.90% Java 10.27% C # 7.91% Jenkins 5.14% Linux 4.53% Complete relevant software automation engineer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New software automation 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 software automation engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real software automation engineer resumes.Research software automation engineer duties and responsibilities
- Involve in using JIRA for managing the defect.
- Help team members to automate their test case verification and debugging process to effectively reduce the testing phase.
- Provide overarching strategic recommendations for productivity improvements and achieve QMS - ISO certification.
- Develop Java and C++ modules for automation team to improve development.
Prepare your software automation engineer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your software automation 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 software automation 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 software automation engineer resume templates
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Apply for software automation engineer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a software automation engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first software automation engineer job
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Average software automation engineer salary
The average software automation engineer salary in the United States is $102,812 per year or $49 per hour. Software automation engineer salaries range between $76,000 and $138,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do software automation engineers rate their job?
Software automation engineer reviews
Problem solving and cutting edge technology - always learning and evolving my skill set
Still have to deal with people :)
Some things you test can be really picky to pass. It's likely they will always fail the first time. Some test seem to always pass and seek insufficient. I always look at productivity but also efficiency. So if not necessary by customer and always passes I can't see why a part of the test he removed especially if another part of the test will fail if it does. Options I am always open to.
I enjoyed working on creative problems that dealt with the user interface
I didn't like how technical it could become
Updated January 8, 2025
