Lead Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Overview

Who we are

Toyota does not offer support or sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas or any other work authorization for this role now or in the future. You must have the right to work in the United States and not require Toyota support or sponsorship for immigration-related employment (e.g., H-1B, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, TN, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, ‘job flexibility benefits’ [also known as I-140 or Adjustment of Status portability], etc.) now or in the future. You should not apply for this role if you will require Toyota to assist with immigration support or sponsorship now or in the future.

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking a Lead Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join our team as an individual contributor. In this role, you will design, build, and maintain scalable test automation frameworks and quality engineering solutions that enable rapid, reliable delivery of software. You will partner closely with engineering, product, and DevOps teams to improve test strategy, increase automation coverage, and shift quality earlier in the development lifecycle.

A key part of this role is the ability to leverage AI-powered development tools such as GitHub Copilot and Claude Code to accelerate test case generation, automate repetitive testing tasks, and build high-quality test data and utilities more efficiently.

What you’ll be doing

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for UI, API, integration, and regression testing.
• Create scalable, reusable, and maintainable test automation solutions.
• Partner with developers and product teams to define acceptance criteria and test strategies.
• Analyze product requirements and translate them into effective test coverage.
• Use AI tools such as GitHub Copilot and Claude Code to:
  • generate and refine automated test cases.
  • accelerate scripting and framework development.
  • create synthetic or masked test data.
  • improve productivity in debugging and test maintenance.
• Build and maintain test data generation utilities and test environments.
• Integrate automation suites into CI/CD pipelines.
• Identify gaps in test coverage and recommend improvements to quality processes.
• Troubleshoot test failures and provide root-cause analysis.
• Champion engineering best practices for quality, observability, and reliability.
• Mentor other engineers and SDETs through technical guidance and code reviews, while remaining an individual contributor.
• Contribute to quality strategy and help raise the overall bar for test automation across the team.

What you bring

• 7+ years of experience in software quality engineering, test automation, or SDET roles.
• Strong programming skills in one or more languages such as Java, Python, and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Hands-on experience building automation frameworks and scalable test suites.
• Experience testing APIs, services and web applications.
• Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines and automation in modern development workflows.
• Experience with test data creation, management, and environment readiness.
• Proven ability to work independently as a senior-level individual contributor.
• Demonstrated experience using AI coding tools such as GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, or similar tools to improve automation productivity.
• Experience with Playwright/Cypress/Selenium or similar UI testing tools.
• Experience with Karate/Cucumber/REST Assured or similar API testing tools.
• Experience with Gatling/k6/jMeter/LoadRunner or similar Performance testing tools.
• Experience with cloud platforms, containerized environments, or test infrastructure.
• Strong debugging, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Added bonus if you have

• Familiarity with contract, chaos, event, and security testing.
• Experience in mobile applications
• Experience using AI-assisted workflows to generate tests, refactor code, or create test utilities.
• Background in quality engineering practices such as shift-left testing, risk-based testing, or behavior-driven development.

What we’ll bring

During your interview process, our team can fill you in on all the details of our industry-leading benefits and career development opportunities. A few highlights include:

• A work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career, as well as tuition reimbursement.
• Team Member Vehicle Purchase Discount.
• Toyota Team Member Lease Vehicle Program (if applicable).
• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans for your entire family.
• Toyota 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match, as well as an annual retirement contribution from Toyota regardless of whether you contribute (if applicable).
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• Referral services related to prenatal services, adoption, childcare, schools and more.
• Tax Advantaged Accounts (Health Savings Account, Health Care FSA, Dependent Care FSA).
• Relocation assistance (if applicable).

Belonging at Toyota

Our success begins and ends with our people. We embrace all perspectives and value unique human experiences. Respect for all is our North Star.

Applicants for our positions are considered without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, military or veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Have a question, need assistance with your application or do you require any special accommodations? Please send an email to talent.acquisition@toyota.com.

About Us

At Toyota, we don’t just have a vision, but a group of talented, dedicated people who work hard every day to turn that vision into reality.

Our mission is to build a future where everyone has the freedom to move.

We believe that nothing is impossible. We have big dreams and persevere through any obstacles. We work together to create the future of mobility and make the world a better place.

Career Possibilities:

Toyota is a place for people who dream big and are determined to make those dreams a reality. We encourage innovation and look for people who will challenge the status quo in order to make the world a better place. We thrive on teamwork and collaboration and know diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are not only the right thing for our people, they are a business imperative. Together, we’re empowered to forge our own paths — to be agile, curious and embrace a growth mindset and immerse ourselves in situations to gain new perspectives and to inspire bold, innovative ways of thinking and working.

Our success as a company is directly tied to our team members’ success, and our collective ability to give back to society through an unwavering commitment to delight our customers and make people’s lives better. If you want to be part of the next-generation of innovations that help keep the world moving, then join us. And let’s start our impossible, together.