SDET Career Path: What skills are actually required in real-world projects?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently working as a QA Engineer with 1.5 years of experience. In my current project, I work with Playwright + TypeScript for Dynamics 365 CRM UI automation.
I’m planning to move toward an SDET role and would like to understand what SDETs actually do in real-world IT companies.
I’d really appreciate advice from experienced SDETs:
- What does your day-to-day work look like?
- What technical skills are actually expected from an SDET?
- Beyond UI automation, how important are API testing, SQL, CI/CD, Git, Docker/cloud, DSA, and system design?
- Which skills/tools are commonly expected in SDET interviews?
- With around 1.5–2 years of experience, what should I realistically be good at to apply for SDET roles?
- What skills helped you grow into higher-paying SDET positions?
I’m mainly looking for real-world experience and practical advice about the role and skill expectations.
Thanks.