Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor (SDET Contractor)

Sony Interactive Entertainment; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 71,635 - 107,452; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision coverage

Job summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment in San Mateo, California is seeking a Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor to help ensure the quality of PlayStation peripherals and firmware. This role involves developing automated tests in C and Python, owning automation suites, and collaborating with QA and development teams. Ideal candidates should have strong Python skills, experience in C/C++, and familiarity with CI/CD pipelines. The position offers a pay range of $52 — $78 per hour and benefits like medical, dental, and vision.

Qualifications

• Strong Python scripting skills and hands-on experience with automation tools.
• Experience programming in C or C++ (modern C++ preferred).
• Solid experience using Git for version control and CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience with test case management tools like qTest or TestRail.
• Understanding of embedded firmware testing and hardware/software integration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automated tests in C and Python.
• Own automation suites for assigned features.
• Support and enhance automation frameworks.
• Perform firmware integration testing on PlayStation devices.
• Monitor test infrastructure and troubleshoot automation failures.
• Analyze test execution data to optimize testing.

Skills

Python scripting

Automation tools (pytest, Appium)

C or C++ (modern C++ preferred)

Git

CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins

Test case management tools (qTest, TestRail)

Embedded firmware testing

Effective communication

Tools

pytest

Appium

qTest

TestRail

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting‑edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor (SDET Contractor)

Would you like to help ensure the quality of PlayStation peripherals and firmware? Join the team delivering innovative test solutions for PlayStation Link devices, where your work will directly impact performance, stability, and the player experience.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has a great opportunity in the Quality Engineering department! We are seeking a self‑motivated engineer who focuses on quality, consistency, and thoughtful testing practices to develop and maintain automated tests that support the performance and reliability of our products.

As a Software Development Engineer in Test Contractor, you'll work hands‑on with our peripherals, independently own and drive automated test coverage for specific features, and collaborate with senior engineers and development teams to ensure system quality across multiple platforms.

We value collaboration, thoughtful testing, and continuous learning as a team.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automated tests in C for embedded firmware and Python for platform integration
• Own automation suites for assigned features, ensuring test reliability and comprehensive coverage
• Support and enhance automation frameworks used across hardware and platform‑level testing
• Perform firmware integration testing on PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portal, and Windows
• Monitor test infrastructure, troubleshoot automation failures, and improve performance and stability
• Analyze test execution data to identify flaky or slow tests and contribute to runtime optimization
• Evaluate and integrate new tools and methodologies to improve testing efficiency and scalability
• Collaborate with QA, Development, and Product teams to align on test coverage and integration

Qualifications

• Strong Python scripting skills and hands‑on experience with automation tools like pytest and Appium
• Experience programming in C or C++ (modern C++ preferred, e.g., C++17)
• Solid experience using Git for version control and working with CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins, including configuring jobs and troubleshooting failures
• Experience using test case management tools like qTest or TestRail
• Understanding of embedded firmware testing and hardware/software integration
• Ability to design and troubleshoot automated tests with minimal supervision
• Effective communication and collaboration skills in a cross‑functional team

Nice to Have

• Experience with GitHub Actions
• Experience testing or interacting with Windows‑based drivers
• Familiarity with PlayStation SDK development
• Familiarity with basic electrical concepts such as current draw, voltage levels, battery diagnostics, and microcontroller‑based measurements
• Curiosity about PlayStation products and games

At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location. Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job‑related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click here to learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.

$52 — $78 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about how we process your personal information, and your data protection rights. Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

Equal Opportunity Statement: Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category. We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond. Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.