Staff Software Engineer, Test Automation

Job Description

About the Role :

We are seeking an experienced and innovative Staff Software Engineer, Test Automation to lead the design, development, and implementation of robust automated testing frameworks for our software products.

This role requires a strategic thinker with hands-on experience in building scalable test automation architectures and a deep understanding of software quality assurance practices.

As a key contributor to our development team, you will shape our automation strategy, establish best practices, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities :

• Architect and Implement Automation Frameworks : Design and develop scalable, maintainable, and effective test automation frameworks from scratch or enhance existing ones to support comprehensive testing strategies.
• Automation Strategy Development : Define, implement, and continuously improve the automation testing strategy aligned with project and company goals, ensuring efficiency and scalability.
• Technology Leadership : Research, evaluate, and implement cutting-edge tools and technologies in test automation, CI / CD integration, and quality assurance.
• Collaborate Across Teams : Work closely with development, QA, DevOps, and product management teams to integrate automated testing into the software development lifecycle and ensure quality checkpoints throughout.
• Mentorship and Training : Mentor and train QA engineers and software developers on test automation best practices, tool usage, and framework architecture.
• Code Reviews and Quality Checks : Conduct code reviews of automated test scripts to ensure adherence to best practices, reusability, and maintainability.
• Monitoring and Reporting : Establish automated reporting tools and dashboards for tracking testing progress and metrics to provide insights on code quality and release readiness.
• Continuous Improvement : Champion a culture of quality and continuous improvement, identifying areas for process optimization and workflow enhancements.

Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience : 7+ years of experience in software quality assurance, with at least 3 years focused on test automation and framework development.

Technical Skills :

• Strong programming skills in one or more languages such as Java, Python, C#, or JavaScript.
• Expertise in test automation tools and frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Appium, Cypress, TestNG, JUnit).
• Familiarity with CI / CD tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or Azure DevOps.
• Experience with cloud-based test automation solutions (e.g., AWS Device Farm, Sauce Labs, BrowserStack) is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, including unit, functional, integration, and performance testing.
• Analytical Skills : Strong problem-solving skills with a deep understanding of software architecture and design principles.
• Communication Skills : Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Leadership and Mentorship : Proven ability to lead, mentor, and guide QA teams and developers in test automation practices and tools.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Certifications : ISTQB Certification or similar is a plus.
• Agile Experience : Experience working in Agile / Scrum environments.
• Industry Experience : Experience in biotech or similar.

Additional Information

Hybrid Work Model : At Guardant Health, we have defined days for in-person / onsite collaboration and work-from-home days for individual-focused time.

All U.S. employees who live within 50 miles of a Guardant facility will be required to be onsite on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

We have found aligning our scheduled in-office days allows our teams to do the best work and creates the focused thinking time our innovative work requires.

At Guardant, our work model has created flexibility for better work-life balance while keeping teams connected to advance our science for our patients.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $130,800 to $209,300. The range does not include benefits, and if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity.

The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries across all US locations for the posted role with the exception of any locations specifically referenced below (if any).

For positions based in Palo Alto, CA or Redwood City, CA, the base salary range for this full-time position is $174,400 to $235,400.

The range does not include benefits, and if applicable, bonus, commission, or equity.

Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including, but not limited to, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

If you are selected to move forward, the recruiting team will provide details specific to the factors above.

Employee may be required to lift routine office supplies and use office equipment. Majority of the work is performed in a desk / office environment;

however, there may be exposure to high noise levels, fumes, and biohazard material in the laboratory environment. Ability to sit for extended periods of time.