Staff Software Development Engineer in Test United States, San Diego, CA

Staff Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) – Subscription Platform PlayStation is a global leader in interactive and digital entertainment. We are seeking a highly technical Staff Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to drive quality engineering strategy, automation architecture, and AI-driven testing innovation across the Subscription ecosystem. Role Overview As a Staff SDET for Subscription Services, you will lead the design and implementation of scalable test automation frameworks and quality engineering solutions supporting PlayStation subscription products and streaming experiences across multiple platforms. You will work closely with Software Engineering, Product Management, QE, Infrastructure, and Release teams to ensure reliable, performant, and seamless customer experiences across: Subscription and commerce platforms Streaming and cloud gaming services Mobile and companion applications Multi-device connected experiences This role will also help drive organizational quality engineering ambitions around efficiency, observability, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration by promoting shift-left testing practices, AI-driven quality strategies, scalable automation, and measurable quality insights across Subscription platforms. Responsibilities Define and drive enterprise-level QE and automation strategy for Subscription platform Architect scalable, maintainable, and reusable automation frameworks across web, mobile, console, and connected device ecosystems Promote a shift-left quality engineering mindset through early engagement, automation-first strategies, and scalable testing practices Drive observability initiatives by building dashboards, metrics, and quality visualization systems that improve visibility into release health, automation coverage, and platform reliability Partner across business, product, engineering, and platform teams to align QE strategy with broader organizational and customer experience goals Drive adoption of modern quality engineering practices focused on intelligent automation, AI-assisted testing, and continuous improvement Contribute reusable tools, frameworks, and best practices that improve engineering efficiency and encourage cross-team collaboration Lead automation initiatives for end-to-end subscription and streaming workflows, including authentication, commerce, entitlement validation, lifecycle management, retention journeys, and experiences across multiple platforms Design and implement AI-assisted quality engineering solutions and integrate into day-to-day engineering practices Lead testing initiatives across cloud gaming experiences, subscription services, gaming console devices, and cross-device ecosystems Build automation and validation strategies for native mobile applications, APIs, backend services, and distributed systems Partner with globally distributed teams to ensure high-quality releases and continuous delivery Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines and automation infrastructure using Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native tooling Establish quality reporting and operational insights that support data-driven engineering and release decisions Mentor and coach SDETs and QE engineers across teams on automation best practices, AI adoption, and quality engineering excellence Participate in architecture reviews and provide quality-focused technical leadership during feature design and implementation Lead defect triage, root cause analysis, production validation, and release readiness activities Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field 10+ years of experience in Software Development Engineering in Test, Quality Engineering, or Test Automation Proven experience leading large-scale automation architecture and QE strategy initiatives Strong hands-on experience with XCUITest, Appium, Selenium, and API automation frameworks Experience developing automation for streaming, media playback, or cloud gaming applications Experience testing mobile devices, gaming consoles, connected devices, or multi-device environments Hands-on experience integrating AI technologies into QE workflows and day-to-day testing practices Strong understanding of CI/CD pipelines, distributed systems, test framework design, and end-to-end automation strategies Experience with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Docker, Kubernetes, and Git-based workflows Experience with subscription-based consumer products or digital subscription platforms Strong expertise in API, backend, and microservices testing Excellent debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills Strong communication and leadership abilities with experience mentoring engineers across organizations 1+ years hands on experience building AI-powered QE tooling or internal developer productivity tools Preferred Qualifications Experience working on subscription or retention-focused products Experience testing commerce/payment systems and entitlement services Experience with live streaming platforms or video delivery systems Experience with React Native or cross-platform frameworks Experience developing or testing console, or gaming platforms Exposure to SDK testing Familiarity with observability and monitoring platforms Experience with performance, scalability, and reliability testing Exposure to accessibility (a11y) and localization (l10n) testing practices What We’re Looking For Passion for quality engineering and modern automation practices Strong ownership mindset and ability to drive initiatives across multiple teams Ability to balance strategic leadership with deep technical execution Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, especially AI-driven engineering solutions A collaborative leader who can influence engineering excellence across organizations Someone excited to help shape the future of Subscription and PlayStation experiences Benefits Top-tier benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and employee discounts for Sony products. This role may also be eligible for a bonus package. Base Pay Range $191,000 - $286,400 USD Background Check Policy Background checks are conducted at the offer stage for all new employees and may include criminal background checks. Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information on data usage. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr