Principal Software Engineer – Test Automation

About the role

This is where your work saves lives. The investigations we perform and the products we build improve patient outcomes globally. As a Principal Software Development Engineer in Test at Baxter, your role has a direct effect on creating positive change for others. It's complex work—and support is always available. Our teams collaborate across functions and lead through persuasion. Whether steering a team through a project or supervising direct reports, our research and development team takes responsibility for motivating others to deliver results.

Responsibilities

• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and implement effective test strategies that ensure product quality, compliance, and on-time delivery.
• Collaborate with software engineers to promote testability and quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Lead test planning, estimation, and execution activities for complex software features and releases.
• Analyze business requirements and user needs to design, develop, and maintain automated and manual test cases.
• Design, implement, and enhance scalable test automation frameworks, tools, dashboards, and reusable test components.
• Execute front-end, back-end, API, and exploratory testing; identify, document, and track defects through resolution.
• Drive verification and validation (V&V) activities, perform root cause analysis, and provide comprehensive test reporting and quality metrics.
• Create and maintain test plans, test suites, test cases, protocols, and related quality documentation to ensure complete test coverage and traceability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of experience in Software Test Automation/SDET roles within a product development environment.
• Proven experience delivering high-quality software products from development through release.
• Strong expertise in test planning, test case design, execution, defect tracking, and test reporting/documentation.
• Experience analyzing requirements and customer needs to develop effective automated test strategies and scripts.
• Proficiency in Python, Java, or C/C++.
• Experience with test automation frameworks such as PyTest, Selenium, Robot Framework, or Cucumber.
• Hands-on experience testing REST APIs and/or GraphQL services, with strong exploratory testing and bug investigation skills.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, BDD/test-first methodologies, configuration management, and issue-tracking tools; regulated industry experience is a plus.

Qualifications

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards and compliance requirements.
• Experience with continuous integration and deployment tools.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with agile methodologies.
• Knowledge of DevOps practices.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Benefits

Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits.

Pay

The estimated base salary for this position is $112,000-$154,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

Schedule

Baxter has a flexible workplace policy that mandates a minimum number of days onsite each week. This policy offers the advantages of in-person connection and collaboration to advance our Mission. The flexible workplace policy adheres to local laws and legal regulations. Baxter reserves the right to modify, pause, or end this policy as business needs evolve.