WHAT DOES AN AUTOMATION TEST ENGINEER DO?

The Automation Test Engineer trains and develops manual testers in using and developing automation tools and scripts. They liaise with customers, business analysts, and IT infrastructure teams to understand software requirements and ensure proper implementation of test tools. Additionally, they design, develop, and execute test plans and scripts to ensure the delivery of quality software products that meet customer specifications.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Automation Test Engineer

1. Automation Test Engineer Duties

  • Test Automation: Define, develop, and implement test automation practices and procedures.
  • Test Strategy: Create and maintain reusable, scalable, and robust test strategies.
  • Regression Suites: Maintain regression suites of delivered functionality.
  • Testing Framework: Develop and maintain automation testing framework.
  • System Fault Investigation: Investigate live system faults, diagnose problems, propose and provide analysis to the development team.
  • Automation Testing: Conduct automation on system testing, integration/API testing.
  • Market Research: Research market and industry trends in the development.
  • Test Tools Maintenance: Maintain test tools and frameworks to validate unit, integration, and functional tests of the system.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Co-work with cross-functional teams to support product quality-related tasks and assignments.
  • Issue Follow-up: Follow up on issues reported from automation tests and get a resolution to unblock the software approval process.

2. Automation Test Engineer Details

  • Automated Test Case Development: Design and develop automated test cases based on design specifications.
  • Automated Test Scripts: Create a set of automated test scripts for a React-based web application.
  • Test Tools Implementation: Propose and implement the use of test tools to aid with the automation of test scripts.
  • Test Plans Documentation: Produce automated test plans and documentation for scripts.
  • Manual Test Script Development: Assist in the design and development of manual test scripts, including the planning and execution of the scripts.
  • Test Script Correction: Ensure all failed test scripts are corrected and re-executed successfully.
  • Issue Tracking: Raise issues found in the software and track through to resolution.
  • Developer Liaison: Liaise with developers to ensure all issues are resolved in a timely manner.
  • Issue Explanation: Liaise with the development team to ensure that all issues are clearly explained.
  • Code Fix Detail: Provide sufficient detail to ensure a code fix can be carried out

3. Automation Test Engineer Responsibilities

  • Automation Training: Train and develop manual testers in how to use and develop automation tools and scripts.
  • Requirement Analysis: Liaise with customers and business analysts to help understand software requirements.
  • Test Tool Implementation: Liaise with the IT infrastructure teams to ensure that all test tools are implemented in line with set processes.
  • 3rd Line Support: Assist with 3rd line support for existing software.
  • Support Requirements: Work with the business analysts to help define support requirements for new software products.
  • Test Plan Development: Design, develop, and execute test plans and scripts for all components of a product.
  • Quality Assurance: Ensure the delivery of quality software products that meet customer specifications.
  • Technology Learning: Learn new technologies and software, willing to understand and learn the business area of the product.
  • Debug Analysis: Participate in debug analysis of issues/defects and in finding possible solutions.
  • User Story Writing: Lead the product development team in writing actionable, testable product requirements in the form of user stories.

4. Automation Test Engineer Job Summary

  • Production Test Strategy: Define production test strategy and ensure the right tools and method for testability study.
  • R&D Cooperation: Creative and constructive cooperation with the R&D design team through the DFT process.
  • Test Methodology Application: Apply test methodology (the translation from test specification to equipment specification).
  • Practical Test Solutions: Provide practical test solutions with cost consideration and participate in the choice of the subcontractor.
  • Test System Standardization: Formulate the standard of a test system and test methodology and standardization.
  • Test System Design: Test system design, creation, and validation, and set up test equipment specifications.
  • Subcontractor Management: Pilot and follow subcontractor's progress with test equipment.
  • Test System Validation: Validate and qualify test system and deliver to mass production.
  • Test System Upgrades: Upgrade and update test system-based requirements of test specification changes and product evolution.
  • Defect Analysis Participation: Participate in cross-functional team Escaped Defect Analysis (EDA).

5. Automation Test Engineer Accountabilities

  • Test Documentation: Writing Test Specification document and Test Instruction document.
  • Design Review Participation: Participate in Function Design Reviews and execute the verification activities.
  • Problem Solving: Problem-solving, troubleshooting, and writing trouble reports.
  • Feedback and Reporting: Feedback design faults to designers and write test reports.
  • Data Flow Design: Design and bring to life data flows and architectures, create clever and practical solutions.
  • Test Technology Improvement: Continuously improve test technology and system capability.
  • Technical Support: Provide technical support to other functions on test technology.
  • Test Failure Diagnosis: Diagnose test failures, especially focusing on test equipment issues and related actions.
  • Test Methodology Integration: Integrate engineering and product teams in designing and developing enterprise-level automated test methodologies.