With 5G connectivity and organizations adopting AI applications across industries, automation skills are appreciated. As a result, an automation tester’s job is considered an essential role in the software development life cycle. Automation testing is replacing manual testing with the help of software testing tools and technologies like Selenium, Auto IT, etc. This means all the manual processes are tested through automation to deliver quicker results and quality products.
An automation engineer’s skills are highly recognized in today’s day and age. With digital evolution, different technologies and software positively influence everything we do on smartphones. For example, mobile games and vacuum robots all require testing before they are delivered to the end user. Automation testing skills improve productivity, save operational costs, and increase the scalability of the software company. In return, automation allows the company to reach a larger audience, saving time and effort. So, now that you understand the roles and responsibilities of automation testers, the demand for highly skilled automation professionals is rapidly increasing in the tech world.
The article will focus on the career paths professionals can choose to leverage their automation testing skills. First, engineers must take automation testing courses to become experts in the automation field.
Demand for Automation Testers in India
As per a report by Mordor Intelligence, the growth trend and forecast for automation tester skills in Asia Pacific, precisely till 2028, say it is the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 19.2%. So, increased automation demand means the availability of several online resources to study to enhance automation skills.
As a prerequisite and fundamental requirement, an automation course requires an educational computer science or engineering background with prior knowledge of programming skills. However, the automation tester job is also for anyone, from engineers, software developers, IT test engineers, IT professionals, and analysts. So furthermore, let us help you understand the skills required for automation testing and their roles and responsibilities.
Role and Responsibilities of an Automation Tester
An automation engineer is required to do the following for the software to run and perform as expected:
- One of the significant responsibilities of an automation tester is to use various test strategies to check the software’s progress.
- Creating and implementing testing plans
- Coordinating with top management to approval for different strategies and plan
- Monitor and compare the performance and progression of the test by maintaining Excel sheets.
- To interact with various teams to understand and explore other methods to achieve faster results.
- To come up with alternative solutions to manage errors
- To engage with clients and customers to resolve difficulties and provide status updates.
Types of Automation Tester Skillsets required for Career Progression
You’ll need technical and soft skills to succeed in the testing industry. The following are some of the skills required for automation testing engineers:
1.Proficient in Programming Languages
One of the best ways to learn programming languages like Java and Python is through an automation testing course. However, the basics of programming skills are the key to advancing your career in automation. Coding skills are essential as companies rely on testers to create automated frameworks and execute tests.
2.Automated Testing Tools
A thorough understanding of test automation tools is one of the primary skills required for automation testing. An engineer must be familiar with numerous tools for web, mobile, API, visual testing, etc. Some examples of automation testing tools are Selenium, SoapUI, Appium, Apache HTTP, etc.
3.Experience with Projects in Manual Testing
Manual testing is required to understand the core concepts and mechanisms of testing. It is essential to have practical knowledge of manual testing, as many IT companies will need it to demonstrate your skills.
Automation test code might have errors. Manual testing might help you identify false positives and negatives. Overall, manual and automated testers are more reliable.
4.Soft skills
We strongly recommend that, apart from the technical skills, professionals work on soft skills like communication, critical thinking, and interaction and collaboration between stakeholders, clients, and teams.
Time management is another crucial skill that professionals must adhere to, as they must follow a strict schedule to deliver quality products and services on time.
Career options for an Automation Test Engineer
To advance your career, here is a guide to understanding various levels to climb up the ladder in the automation industry:
1.Junior Automation Tester
This is an entry-level position. Junior testers might know how to code but need more experience handling projects. So, once the automation framework is completed, a junior tester can start adding tests to the suite. According to Glassdoor, the salary of an automation tester in India who is just beginning is Rs.6 lakhs.
2.Mid Senior- Level Automation Tester
Compared to junior automation testers, mid-level testers have enough experience to start a new project to develop and create frameworks and tests. In addition, they can manage existing frameworks without the supervision of seniors.
3.Senior Automation Engineers
This engineer level is expected to analyze code commits related to testing and provide suggestions for improving the team’s processes. Automation experts can help decide which tests should be automated and guide developers through writing code that can be easily tested.
The salary of a senior automation engineer is Rs.11 Lakhs, according to Glassdoor.
4.Automation Architect
They may also start from scratch and construct test projects in a reusable and straightforward format to maintain and modify. An experienced automation architect can script tests at all three levels of aggregation: unit, integration, and end-to-end. The best architects also have experience optimizing test suites using various methods and resources.
5.Consulting Automation Tester
Many IT companies hire consultants temporarily to assist companies with technical know-how and help businesses foster an environment that supports automation projects. Expert-level automation engineers have worked on various projects and examined their collective knowledge to determine the most prevalent issues, methods, and approaches to automation. This allows them to anticipate challenges before they happen and provide guidance on effectively dealing with them.
Conclusion
The demand for automation testers is high in India. Therefore, the career path is very promising for IT professionals and software engineers. Professionals must upgrade their skillset with automation test courses, as earning a certification at the end of the program can add value to their resumes.