How QA Testers Can Work Effectively with SDET

By building a strong partnership, SDETs and QA testers can provide full coverage testing continuously, with increased efficiency and effectiveness—all to create higher-quality applications that customers love.

The world of testing is always changing. It changes, yet the base remains the same. AI, ML and other emerging technologies add to the constant debate of which testing method is best, and how to accomplish testing most effectively and efficiently. How can testing best guarantee the customer has a positive experience?

The traditional QA tester role is typically comprised of developing and testing a mix of UI-based manual and automated tests. A software developer in test (SDET) performs the role of a tester through coding. Now, sometimes an automated tool may be used, but the point is an SDET can create tests within the code. Testing within a code base is more straightforward and solves many UI-based automation testing problems.

This guide describes the QA tester and SDET roles, and the advantages of working as partners to deliver applications that inspire and delight.

What are the Typical Differences Between SDET and a QA Tester Role?

Traditional QA testers develop and design manual test cases and create test strategies and plans. QA testers may or may not perform automated test development with tools, like Progress Telerik Test Studio as an example. The roles vary between manual and automated test development, test execution planning and tracking defects. QA testers have a secondary role of acting as customers when reviewing user stories or requirements and during test execution.

QA testers follow a variety of testing techniques to get the maximum test coverage possible within the defined schedule. QA testers are involved in product design meetings and discussions, so they gain the background information necessary to test. What can’t a QA tester do?

QA testers normally cannot perform complex coding. An SDET performs highly technical testing tasks that involve complex coding knowledge. On some teams, SDETs develop test automation using tools or directly within the code base. SDETs often create test automation frameworks using custom code so application functionality can be more fully tested. SDETs are not only coders but are also experienced with software testing techniques and methodologies. SDETs know how to test and testing patterns, and how to develop code that tests all those areas QA testers often can’t reach. For example, performance, load, unit, backend and integrated messaging systems can be tested by an SDET.

SDETs can also generate test data and help to develop CI/CD pipelines and reporting. Reporting saves the development team time by pinpointing failures and their location. Less time spent debugging and searching through the code means lower costs and fewer defects.

Why is it Important to Work Together?

It takes a full QA team to develop a superior application product. That means, QA testers and SDETs work together to plan test strategies and the most effective test designs. By planning and developing test strategies and design together, the QA team eliminates waste in work processes.

For example, test cases are unique based on the type of test rather than simply having a set of manual and coded automation tests that execute the same functions. There’s no need to duplicate work effort. Work together to create unique tests that expand test coverage rather than simply adding to the number of tests.

Additionally, when working together, both SDETs and QA testers gain a solid understanding of what functionality is tested and the testing breadth and depth. Superficial testing may work for smoke testing, but it’s not effective when fully testing an application. Understanding the breadth and depth of tests ensures the full application functionality is covered.

Do you work on a QA team that never has time to take on performance, load, security or unit testing? Does the development team create reasons to not write unit tests? With an SDET, the QA team can potentially expand testing coverage into these previously ignored areas. Additionally, SDETs can peek behind the UI and find ways to effectively test backend processes and engines that are not directly accessible to QA testers.

Working together to build and plan testing creates more cohesive and efficient testing patterns and practices that cover the customer experience from various views.

What are the Advantages of Building a Partnership with an SDET?

Building a strong partnership between SDET and QA tester offers distinct advantages including:

• Efficient test design that eliminates wasted time and test efforts
• Reduced need for automated test failure analysis
• More effective test design including what tests are best for automation
• Education and job growth opportunities
• Quality testing backups to cover vacation schedules

Regardless of who codes test automation, it helps to have input from an experienced SDET to save the team time developing the wrong tests. SDETs can also serve as resources for questions and advice when setting verification checkpoints. Essentially, having an SDET on the QA team provides a technical lead that can save the team and the organization money by reducing test automation project frustration and inefficiencies.

Additionally, QA testers can learn on the job and improve their coding skills by working with an SDET. SDETs may also improve their testing understanding and skills by working alongside passionate QA testers who tirelessly attempt to identify defects before customers do.

Finally, having a qualified tester backup system is handy for any team. When an SDET is out, the QA testers can fill in executing tests and checking result reports. Vice versa, SDETs can fill in for QA testers, and the quality of testing is not impacted.

Keep the Goal in Mind: Exceptional Customer Experience

Improve your test coverage by leveraging the power of an SDET and QA tester combination. With the ability to test fully on multiple levels, software testing is increasing application quality without adding time to projects. Application quality improves with planned, strategic and focused testing that covers all the technical structures the application requires to function.

In this age of AI and ML technology impacting software testing and development, it’s good to know both SDETs and QA testers can continue to work together to improve the depth and breadth of test coverage even further. Both SDETs and QA testers may save time on automated test maintenance with self-healing abilities currently present in codeless automation tools like Test Studio.

Building a strong QA partnership between SDETs and QA testers can provide full coverage testing continuously, and with increased efficiency and effectiveness. Defects may become rare rather than a constant occurrence. Testing roles may change, but the end goal remains the same for both SDETs and QA testers—providing the customer with an exceptional experience that leaves them more than satisfied with the application.