Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) at Nautical, your main responsibilities include planning, developing, running, and maintaining a suite of automated tests for our applications. You'll work collaboratively with product teams and engineers to design automated tests focused on user behavior, ensuring that our eCommerce technology delivers the quality our customers expect.

To apply for the Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) position at Nautical, you should have experience in writing automated test suites that integrate well with the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Additionally, familiarity with technologies such as Typescript, Django, and cloud infrastructure will be beneficial. Strong attention to detail in identifying bugs and a willingness to educate the team about testing practices are key attributes we are looking for.

Nautical utilizes a robust tech stack that includes frontend technologies like Typescript, Remix, and Next.js, and backend technologies such as Django and PostgreSQL. For infrastructure, we work with GCP, Kubernetes, and Terraform. As an SDET, you'll be engaging with these technologies to ensure our automated tests are efficient and effective.

At Nautical, we promote a hybrid work environment that values collaboration and teamwork. Employees are expected to work in the office three days a week (Tuesday to Thursday) to facilitate in-person collaboration. This setting allows SDETs to engage directly with engineers and product teams, fostering innovation and a cohesive team dynamic.

At Nautical, we believe in continuous learning and growth. As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you'll have the opportunity to enhance your skills through collaboration and knowledge sharing within the team. We encourage you to take initiative and share your insights on testing, enabling personal and professional development in a supportive environment.

When asked about your experience with automated testing frameworks, highlight specific frameworks you've used, like Selenium or Cypress, and describe projects where they were implemented. Focus on your understanding of setting up test environments, writing tests, and maintaining those tests over time to ensure product quality.

In answering how you ensure adequate test coverage, discuss your approach to identifying critical user interactions and writing tests that cover those paths. Explain the use of tools like code coverage analyzers to assess the percentage of your codebase covered by tests and how you prioritize adding tests for uncovered areas.

When asked about your strategies for debugging failed tests, it's important to emphasize a methodological approach. Start by examining logs and output messages for clues on the failure, and then isolate the problematic tests. Discuss any tools you utilize to help narrow down issues, and highlight the importance of collaborating with the development team to resolve bugs efficiently.

In your answer, share a specific example of a challenging testing scenario, such as a rapidly changing feature or complex user interaction. Outline the steps you took to acquire the necessary information, your problem-solving process, and the result of your efforts. Emphasize your adaptability and commitment to ensuring product quality despite challenges.

To show your commitment to continuous learning, discuss the resources you use to stay informed about industry trends and advancements. Mention relevant blogs, forums, or conferences focused on automated testing, as well as any online courses or certifications you have pursued to deepen your knowledge and skill set.

In addressing your experience with CI/CD pipelines, elaborate on how you've integrated automated tests into these workflows. Discuss how you’ve set up processes that automatically run tests upon code changes and the benefits of this automation in ensuring quick feedback loops and maintaining product quality.

When discussing your approach to writing tests for a new feature, emphasize the importance of collaboration with product managers and developers to understand user requirements. Describe your process for writing both unit tests and integration tests that reflect user interactions, ensuring that the tests evolve alongside the feature's development.

When explaining the difference between manual and automated testing, clarify that manual testing involves human testers executing test cases without automation, while automated testing uses scripts and tools to execute tests. Discuss the advantages of each approach, such as the efficiency of automated testing for repetitive tasks and the nuanced understanding human testers bring to exploratory testing.

In discussing metrics that evaluate the effectiveness of your automated tests, mention key performance indicators like test pass rate, test execution time, and coverage percentage. Explain how you analyze these metrics to identify areas for improvement in your testing strategy and uphold high-quality standards.

In responding to why you want to work as an SDET at Nautical, express your enthusiasm for the company’s mission to democratize access to eCommerce technology. Highlight how your experience aligns with the role and your excitement about collaborating with a team that values innovation and continuous improvement, contributing to meaningful products that empower marketplace creators.