Software automation test engineers play a crucial role when it comes to testing software for accuracy, speed, and coverage. They have become an integral part of an organization ever since the usage of software and applications has gone up. They perform automation testing to improve the quality of software.
Automation testing eliminates the need to spend countless hours on the manual test processes, ensuring the optimization of the software. Hence, it is essential for the candidate looking for opportunities in this domain to know their roles and responsibilities. Their primary job is to validate the functionalities of the software and save the company’s time, resources, or cost.
The various roles they can perform are software test engineer, API tester, quality assurance analyst, database tester, or back-end tester. If you are planning to build your career in this domain, you should know what roles and responsibilities you’ll have to carry as a software automation test engineer. Read this comprehensive guide to learn who software automation engineers are and what they do in detail. Let’s dive in….
A software automation engineer, also known as a test automation engineer, is an individual who creates automated solutions to improve the performance and quality of software applications. They develop, test, and automate software tools or programs to identify the system’s vulnerabilities, defects, or errors. These engineers collaborate with developers and quality assurance teams to create automation test frameworks and troubleshoot errors or bugs.
They are considered the most valuable asset in an organization as they play a crucial role. A software automation test engineer has to be knowledgeable and qualified to perform the task with precision. They possess expertise in programming and test scripting languages, which is crucial for enhancing the overall software development process.
Let’s now take a look at the roles and responsibilities that an automation test engineer plays. Read on…
Understanding the Roles and Responsibilities of an Automation Test Engineer
Take a look at the following roles and responsibilities of an automation test engineer:
1. Decide Which Tests Should be Automated
One of the major roles of a software automation test engineer is to identify which test cases should be automated first. They develop a strategy aimed at maximising the benefits of automation testing. They analyze the software requirements (functional specifications, databases, operating systems, etc.) and users’ participation (higher participation means less likelihood of automation).
When prioritizing test cases, they select the most suitable ones for automation. Typically, they choose test cases that incorporate more intricate features, as these are more likely to be automated. Doing so allows them to achieve maximum benefits while guaranteeing comprehensive test coverage.
2. Design the Best Automation Test Strategy
Another important role of automation test engineers is to design robust automation test strategies. The software automation test engineer role provides a functional structured strategy to design and execute automated tests. They design reliable, reusable, extendable, and scalable strategies to maximize benefits. To do so, the automation test engineer first understands the test’s basic requirements and flows.
It helps them document an effective strategy. It includes a set of guidelines, standards, and rules to reduce costs, improve efficiency, foster team collaboration, and enhance the quality of software products. This way, they document the best automation structure that allows testers to focus on the test case design and development. It saves their time from manual testing.
3. Write and Maintain Automate Testing Scripts
Once the automation test structure is designed, software automation test engineers write and maintain automated testing scripts. The test scripts are specific sets of code of instructions that are written using programming languages such as JavaScript, Java, Python, C++, etc.
To ensure the efficiency of the software functionalities, they combine testing scripts with advanced testing tools and framework like BrowserStack Automate, Appium, Playwright and Selenium automation framework. These scripts mimic the users’ interactions with applications and log results. In the later stages, the software automation engineer is accountable for regularly updating scripts and assessing the changes.
4. Create an Automation Test Plan
Before initiating the automated test cases, a software automation engineer creates a detailed blueprint of the test plan. It is known as an automation test plan. It includes all testing activities, ensuring an organized and comprehensive test coverage. The automation test engineer ensures that the automation test plan is fully functional.
It should incorporate the scope, goals and objectives, resource planning, test environment, execution strategy, timeline, and performance metrics. Besides these components, they make sure to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each member of the team, ensuring team collaboration and shared accountability. Their comprehensive test plan ensures a seamless testing process from beginning to end.
5. Configure Selenium Test Environment (STE)
Selenium is an open-source automated testing tool. Usually, software automation test engineers perform the test using Selenium, which ensures the reusability of test scripts, debugging test scripts, improvement in the locator functionality, etc.
The main advantage of the Selenium Test Environment (STE) configuration is that it develops effective test cases to detect bugs and errors in the initial stage. With its integration, the automation test engineer improves test practices, preventing the risk of severe damage to the system in the final stage.
6. Participate in STE with an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
Now that you have read how a software automation engineer configures the Selenium Test Environment (STE) let’s understand how they organize every tool and infrastructure used in the testing in a group. For this, they harness the power of an integrated development environment that helps them get a single and unified environment.
It aids them in identifying, deploying, integrating, and managing tools, ensuring increased productivity. The inclusion of the IDE with STE in the development process eliminates the necessity for manual testing. Consequently, the automation engineer enhances the software’s productivity and code quality.
7. Implementation of an Automated Framework
Another critical role and responsibility of a software test automation engineer is to implement the automated testing framework effectively, ensuring the reliability and reusability of the test suite. For this, they make sure the automated framework includes the following key components:
Define the test case data, including input values and forecasted outcomes
Page Object Model (POM) that promotes the maintainable and usable test code
API test scripts to make them more interactive
Comprehensive reports on test execution results
Management of the test environment configurations to ensure consistency.
8. Create, Enhance, Debug, and Run the Test Cases
Software automation test engineers create, enhance, debug, and run the test cases to validate the application’s optimal functionality. They create new test scripts that cover various scenarios using appropriate automation testing tools and frameworks. They are accountable for reviewing and upgrading existing scripts to adapt them to application changes.
Moreover, they debug the test cases, ensuring the identification of defects or errors on time. Finally, they execute automated tests in different environments to achieve optimal results. Consequently, their proficiency in creating, reviewing, debugging, and executing the test cases improves processes, enhances safety, and reduces cost or time.
9. Integrate Automated Tests with CI/CD Pipelines
Software automation test engineer plays a significant role in integrating automation tests with CI/CD pipelines. This integration enhances the security of the testing process and improves the software quality. It speeds up the testing, debugging, and distribution of software applications.
Some common types of testing that are included within CI/CD pipelines are unit testing, end-to-end testing, and performance testing. These effective test procedures enable the test to adapt to an environment, ensuring rapid identification of bugs and reliable software development.
10. Monitor the Defects in Real-Time
Going ahead on the list, another role and responsibility of a software automation test engineer is to monitor the defect in real time and improve the process. It is a crucial step in automated testing because no project can go without defects. The automation engineer utilizes a defect tracking system to fix the defects or at least minimize their impacts.
The best part is that the cutting-edge tool helps to automatically capture failures and troubleshoot them. They make use of the best tools to ensure the best product. The regular monitoring of defects during the development stage guarantees that the end product adheres to quality standards. Furthermore, they document updates on failures to stakeholders to notify them about every step.
11. Manage the Changes and Execute Regression Tests
Automation test engineers also play a crucial role in managing changes and executing regression tests. The automation test engineer modifies some elements of the software and executes robust regression tests, ensuring no changes negatively impact the existing system. By doing so, they verify that the developed software operates as intended.
Those who implement the regression testing in the mature project do not need to incorporate it from scratch. With its effective application, they regularly update test designs. They utilize various advanced tools and frameworks to perform regression testing. Some of the renowned tools and frameworks used for regression testing include Selenium, Cypress, Appium, Playwright, Browserstack Automate, and Puppeteer.
12. Provide Solutions for Problems Related to Object Identity and Error Handling
Another significant role and responsibility of a software automation engineer is to provide solutions for problems regarding object identity and error handling. By doing so, they ensure the test process runs smoothly from the beginning to the end. Expert software automation test engineers often view errors as an advantageous sign.
They believe that errors highlight essential areas for improvement in the application. This aids in identifying the issue promptly and reducing the possibility of false positives or negatives. With their effective error handling, they maintain the trustworthiness of the test suite, ensuring minimal use of resources and time.
13. Interact with Clients to Solve Issues and Update Them on the Situation
The next role and responsibility of a skilled automation test engineer is to interact with customers or clients to understand various software issues and requirements. For this, they clearly listen to their concerns and provide effective potential solutions. Also, they keep them updated on the progress of their product.
Additionally, they follow up with their clients until they get optimal results and complete satisfaction with the product. All this becomes possible with their ability to communicate effectively and maximize customer satisfaction. Effective communication skills help software automation test engineers contribute to the overall success of the product development cycle.
14. Collaborate with Development and QA Teams
Having good collaboration skills is yet another important requirement for a software automation test engineer. Collaboration with development and quality assurance teams gives them greater peace of mind as it ensures that the quality of the testing process is up to the mark.
Therefore, they work closely with developers to design automation test frameworks and attain valuable insight into the whole software development process. Their collaboration with the quality assurance engineers ensures that they get prompt feedback and achieve better code quality.
Also, it helps them set up and maintain regression testing. This team collaboration is achieved through effective communication because it helps them avoid negative opinions or conflicts throughout the process.
15. Continuous Research and Learning
We are living in an era of advancements and developments. Whatever is in the mainstream today may not be in use tomorrow. Hence, it becomes crucial for automation test engineers to stay abreast by indulging in continuous research and learning. Those who want to become a skilled automation test engineer should know that the field of automation testing is constantly evolving.
To stay ahead of the curve, it is essential to continuously conduct research in the domain to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. You must improve your skills and capabilities to learn how to reduce the test coverage time or cost, enhance the reliability of the test, and improve the coverage.
Doing so will help you stay abreast with the latest advancements and get better opportunities in the upcoming years to explore more, improve more, and achieve success.
16. Ensure Ethical Compliance and Security Testing
Test automation engineers ensure that the entire testing process, from scratch to the end, adheres to ethical standards and security measures. For this, they adhere to industry-specific regulations and codes. Also, they make sure that there is no vulnerability in the system, and every testing activity enhances data security and privacy.
Their negligence in maintaining compliance with industry regulations can damage an organization’s reputation. Hence, they should understand this crucial accountability and follow the whole test procedure accordingly.
17. Knowledge Sharing with New Team Members
Last but not least, automation test engineers indulge in knowledge sharing with new team members. A software automation engineer is accountable for documenting the complete process, including the test automation framework, test scripts, defects, issues, and results. Their effective knowledge-sharing serves as a reference for the new members.
To enhance the efficiency of the team, they may conduct training sessions to foster a culture of continuous learning and collective development within an organization. Proper documentation and knowledge sharing allow them to avoid defects, errors, or failures in the next projects.
The Bottom Line
So, these are the different roles and responsibilities that a Software Automation Test Engineer undertakes. They play a pivotal role in an organization. They ensure the quality and efficiency of software products. By leveraging automation tools and frameworks, they streamline testing processes, minimize manual effort, and improve accuracy.
Their responsibilities encompass designing test plans, scripting automated test cases, debugging issues, and collaborating with development teams to address software vulnerabilities. This role demands a combination of technical expertise, analytical skills, and attention to detail.
Hence, it is crucial that you are well-trained, possess good communication skills, and have abilities to identify vulnerabilities and employ advanced technical tools or programs before you apply for the role of software automation testing engineer. Additionally, you should have the ability to work in different working environments if you really want to grow in this field.
Thanks for reading! Hopefully, this article has been informative for you and helped you gain deep insights into the role and responsibilities of a software automation test engineer role.
