Software Development Engineer in Test – Quality Frameworks
SDET role at The Elite Job in Dubai focused on designing, building, and maintaining reusable automated testing frameworks for web, mobile, API, and backend apps, integrated into CI/CD pipelines. Requires strong programming (Java, Python, JS, TypeScript, or C#), test automation tools like Selenium/Playwright/Appium, and 3-6 years of QA engineering experience.
Compensation
Not disclosed
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Work setup
Hybrid
Seniority
Not specified
Employment
Contract
Experience
3+ years
Category
Software engineering
Posted
Skills
acceptance-criteria
agile
api
api-testing
appium
authentication
automation
azure
azure-devops
bitbucket
ci-cd
cloud
containerization
corrective-action
csharp
cypress
design-patterns
devops
distributed-systems
git
github
github-actions
gitlab
integration-testing
java
javascript
jenkins
junit
linux
microservices
oop
playwright
postman
process-improvement
pytest
python
rdbms
rest
rest-assured
root-cause-analysis
scrum
selenium
sql
test-automation
testng
typescript
version-control
Must have
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline (or equivalent practical experience)
3-6 years of experience in software development, test automation, quality engineering, or related role
Strong programming proficiency in at least one of Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#
Practical knowledge of automated testing frameworks such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, or pytest
Experience designing reusable automation frameworks and maintainable test suites
Understanding of API testing: REST APIs, HTTP methods, status codes, authentication, response validation
Familiarity with API testing tools such as Postman or REST Assured
Working knowledge of Git and version control platforms (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
Familiarity with CI/CD systems such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps
Understanding of relational databases, SQL queries, data validation, and database testing
Knowledge of Agile and Scrum software development methodologies
Familiarity with Linux or command-line environments and basic scripting
Understanding of software architecture, OOP, debugging, and design principles
Strong understanding of software testing fundamentals, test planning, test case design, and defect lifecycle management
Demonstrated experience integrating test execution into development or deployment workflows
Nice to have
Relevant certifications in software testing, automation, cloud, or DevOps
Exposure to cloud-based testing environments, containerization, microservices, or distributed architectures
Full description
1. Job Summary
The Elite Job is seeking a skilled and quality-focused Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) – Quality Frameworks to design, develop, maintain, and enhance automated testing frameworks that support the delivery of reliable, scalable, and high-performing software applications. This role combines software development expertise with advanced testing methodologies to improve product quality, accelerate release cycles, and establish consistent quality engineering practices across development teams.
The successful candidate will work closely with software developers, quality assurance engineers, DevOps professionals, product managers, and other stakeholders to integrate automated testing throughout the software development lifecycle. The position involves creating reusable test automation components, developing testing utilities, improving test coverage, and implementing efficient strategies for identifying defects early in the development process.
The ideal candidate will have strong programming skills, a solid understanding of software testing principles, and hands‑on experience with automation frameworks, continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and modern development tools. They should be comfortable solving complex technical problems, analyzing application behavior, and building scalable solutions that support both functional and non-functional testing.
At The Elite Job, the SDET will contribute to a culture of engineering excellence by helping teams adopt best practices in test automation, quality assurance, code reviews, and continuous improvement.
2. Key Responsibilities
Quality Framework Design and Development
Design, build, and maintain scalable, reusable, and modular test automation frameworks for web, mobile, API, and backend applications.
Develop automation libraries, testing utilities, reusable components, and common test functions that improve testing efficiency across multiple projects.
Evaluate existing testing frameworks and recommend improvements to enhance maintainability, performance, reliability, and execution speed.
Establish standardized automation architecture, coding conventions, test design patterns, and framework documentation.
Develop flexible testing solutions that can accommodate changing application requirements and evolving technology stacks.
Automated Testing and Quality Assurance
Develop and maintain automated test scripts for functional, regression, integration, end-to-end, and smoke testing.
Create and execute automated test scenarios that validate application functionality, business logic, data integrity, and system behavior.
Implement API automation using suitable tools and libraries to verify service reliability, response accuracy, and integration behavior.
Software Development Engineer in Test – Quality Frameworks at The Elite Job (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) — aijobsearch
Identify opportunities to replace repetitive manual testing activities with efficient, maintainable automated solutions.
Ensure automated test suites provide meaningful coverage of critical business workflows and high-risk application components.
Analyze test failures, distinguish genuine software defects from automation issues, and implement appropriate corrective actions.
Continuous Integration and Delivery
Integrate automated test frameworks into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous testing and faster software releases.
Collaborate with DevOps and development teams to configure automated test execution within build, deployment, and release workflows.
Establish automated quality gates and testing criteria that help identify defects before code reaches production.
Improve test execution time through parallel testing, efficient test selection, environment optimization, and resource management.
Monitor pipeline failures and resolve issues affecting automated test reliability or delivery efficiency.
Software Development and Code Quality
Write clean, maintainable, efficient, and well-documented code using programming languages such as Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#.
Participate in code reviews and contribute to improvements in automation architecture, testability, and software quality.
Work with developers to design testable software components and encourage development practices that reduce defect rates.
Apply object-oriented programming, design patterns, data structures, and software engineering principles when developing test frameworks.
Maintain version-controlled test automation code and follow established branching, merging, and release management practices.
Defect Management and Reporting
Investigate test failures, reproduce reported defects, analyze root causes, and document findings with clear technical evidence.
Collaborate with developers and QA teams to prioritize defects based on severity, business impact, and release risk.
Prepare test execution reports, automation coverage summaries, defect trends, and quality metrics for stakeholders.
Track recurring failures and identify opportunities to improve application stability and test reliability.
Maintain accurate records of test scenarios, execution results, framework changes, and known limitations.
Performance, Security, and Reliability Testing
Support performance, load, stress, and scalability testing activities using appropriate tools and techniques.
Contribute to testing strategies that validate application resilience, response times, resource utilization, and system stability.
Incorporate relevant security checks into automated testing workflows in collaboration with security and engineering teams.
Help validate system behavior under different operating conditions, data volumes, and integration scenarios.
Recommend practical improvements that reduce production defects and strengthen overall software reliability.
Collaboration and Continuous Improvement
Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to define test strategies, acceptance criteria, and quality standards.
Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, technical discussions, retrospectives, and release readiness reviews.
Mentor junior engineers when appropriate and share knowledge about automation tools, framework design, and testing best practices.
Research emerging testing technologies and recommend tools that offer measurable improvements in quality and productivity.
Contribute to a continuous improvement culture focused on prevention of defects, engineering efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
3. Required Skills and Qualifications
Educational Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Equivalent practical experience and demonstrated software engineering capabilities may be considered where appropriate.
Relevant certifications in software testing, automation engineering, cloud technologies, or DevOps are advantageous but not mandatory.
Technical Skills
Strong programming proficiency in at least one language, such as Java, Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#.
Practical knowledge of automated testing frameworks, such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, pytest, or comparable tools.
Experience designing reusable automation frameworks and developing maintainable test suites.
Understanding of API testing tools and techniques, including REST APIs, HTTP methods, status codes, authentication, and response validation.
Familiarity with tools such as Postman, REST Assured, or equivalent API testing solutions.
Working knowledge of Git and version control platforms such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
Familiarity with CI/CD systems such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps.
Understanding of relational databases, SQL queries, data validation, and database testing.
Knowledge of software development methodologies, including Agile and Scrum.
Familiarity with Linux or command-line environments and basic scripting.
Understanding of software architecture, object-oriented programming, debugging, and design principles.
Testing and Quality Engineering Knowledge
Strong understanding of software testing fundamentals, test planning, test case design, and defect lifecycle management.
Ability to determine appropriate automation coverage based on business priorities, technical complexity, and risk.
Knowledge of regression testing, integration testing, system testing, end-to-end testing, and exploratory testing.
Ability to create stable, reliable automated tests that minimize flaky results and unnecessary maintenance.
Understanding of test data management, test environment configuration, and dependency management.
Familiarity with quality metrics, test reporting, root-cause analysis, and continuous testing practices.
4. Experience
Typically, 3–6 years of experience in software development, test automation, quality engineering, or a closely related technical role.
Demonstrated experience developing or maintaining automated testing frameworks in a professional software environment.
Hands‑on experience writing automation scripts and integrating test execution into development or deployment workflows.
Experience working with web applications, APIs, databases, distributed systems, or enterprise software platforms.
Proven ability to investigate complex test failures and collaborate with developers to identify underlying issues.
Experience working within Agile teams and participating in iterative software delivery processes.
Exposure to cloud-based testing environments, containerization, microservices, or distributed application architectures is beneficial.
Candidates with less experience may be considered for appropriately scoped opportunities if they demonstrate strong programming fundamentals and practical automation skills.
5. Working Hours
Standard full-time working hours, generally 40 hours per week, subject to company policy and project requirements.
Working schedules will depend on the assigned team, client requirements, and employment arrangement.
Remote and hybrid employees are expected to maintain reliable communication and participate in scheduled team meetings.
Occasional flexibility may be required to support critical releases, production issues, or coordinated testing activities across time zones.
Any additional hours or on‑call responsibilities will be governed by the applicable employment terms and company policies.
Employees are expected to plan their work effectively, meet agreed deadlines, and maintain a healthy balance between productivity and personal well‑being.
6. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Analytical and Problem‑Solving Skills
Ability to analyze complex software behavior and identify weaknesses in application functionality or testing approaches.
Strong logical reasoning and troubleshooting skills, supported by evidence‑based investigation.
Ability to identify root causes, evaluate possible solutions, and implement sustainable improvements.
Software Engineering Skills
Ability to write clean, reusable, modular, and maintainable automation code.
Understanding of framework architecture, abstraction, dependency management, and code organization.
Ability to balance test coverage, execution speed, reliability, and maintenance costs.
Communication and Collaboration
Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting defects, explaining technical issues, and sharing test results.
Ability to work effectively with developers, testers, product owners, DevOps teams, and business stakeholders.
Willingness to share technical knowledge and contribute to team learning.
Organizational and Project Management Skills
Ability to prioritize tasks, manage competing deadlines, and support release schedules.
Attention to detail when validating requirements, designing test scenarios, and reviewing test results.
Ability to adapt to changing project requirements and evolving technologies.
Commitment to documentation, accountability, and consistent delivery of high‑quality work.
Professional Attributes
A proactive approach to identifying quality risks before they affect customers.
Curiosity and willingness to learn new frameworks, programming techniques, and testing tools.
Commitment to continuous learning, technical excellence, and ethical professional conduct.
Ability to work independently while seeking guidance and collaborating whenever necessary.
7. Benefits
The Elite Job aims to provide a supportive and professional working environment. Depending on the employment arrangement, role eligibility, and applicable company policies, potential benefits may include:
Competitive compensation aligned with experience, technical expertise, and role responsibilities.
Remote or hybrid working opportunities where supported by the position.
Flexible scheduling options where compatible with project and business requirements.
Opportunities to work with modern automation frameworks, development tools, and quality engineering practices.
Professional development opportunities through technical training, workshops, and knowledge‑sharing sessions.
Support for relevant certifications and skill development, subject to company policy.
Collaborative working relationships with software engineers, QA specialists, and cross‑functional teams.
Opportunities to contribute to technically challenging projects and improve software delivery processes.
Performance feedback and opportunities for career progression.
Applicable leave, statutory benefits, and other employment benefits in accordance with the employment contract and local regulations.
Specific benefits, compensation, and eligibility will be communicated during the recruitment process.
8. Why Join The Elite Job?
Joining The Elite Job offers an opportunity for software quality professionals to strengthen their engineering expertise and contribute to the development of dependable, high‑quality software products.
As a Software Development Engineer in Test – Quality Frameworks, you will have the opportunity to approach testing as an engineering discipline rather than simply a final verification step. You will help create automation solutions that improve development productivity, reduce repetitive work, and support reliable software releases.
Build Scalable Quality Solutions: Design and enhance reusable frameworks that support multiple applications, teams, and testing requirements.
Make a Measurable Impact: Help reduce regression effort, identify defects earlier, improve release confidence, and strengthen application reliability.
Develop Your Technical Expertise: Expand your knowledge of programming, automation architecture, CI/CD, API testing, cloud environments, and modern quality engineering practices.
Collaborate with Skilled Professionals: Work alongside engineering and product teams to solve challenging technical problems and improve software delivery.
Grow Your Career: Build a foundation for future opportunities in senior SDET roles, automation architecture, quality engineering leadership, test infrastructure engineering, or software engineering.
Contribute to Continuous Improvement: Participate in an environment that values technical curiosity, collaboration, process improvement, and customer‑focused quality.
The Elite Job welcomes professionals who are passionate about engineering excellence, automation innovation, and delivering dependable software experiences.