Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (Python)

Job Summary
We are looking for a highly motivated Software Engineer (SDET) to join NetApp’s ONTAP Engineering team, focusing on SAN and block storage solutions. ONTAP is a feature-rich storage platform used in mission-critical environments across cloud, hybrid, and on-prem deployments.As an Senior Engineer, you will be responsible for designing and developing scalable test frameworks, automation infrastructure, and validation pipelines that ensure high product quality for complex distributed storage systems. You will work across multiple subsystems, understand end-to-end customer workflows, and drive quality at scale.This is an advanced IC role requiring strong technical depth, ownership of features/modules, and the ability to operate with limited supervision while influencing test strategy, automation direction, and cross-team quality outcomes.
Job Requirements
Design, develop, and maintain scalable test automation frameworks and infrastructure using Python and related technologies
Own end-to-end validation for SAN/block storage features, including test design, execution, and defect lifecycle management
Collaborate with development teams to understand feature design, define validation strategies, and drive testability improvements early in the cycle.
Develop functional, integration, stress, and scale tests for distributed storage systems
Drive automation-first testing approaches and improve code/test coverage across components
Analyze failures, debug complex issues across software layers, and drive root cause resolution.
Participate in product design discussions and contribute to improving reliability, observability, and diagnosability
Lead or significantly contribute to test planning, quality reviews, and release readiness.
Work across cross-functional teams (Dev, QA, Field Support) to understand customer use cases and ensure production readiness.
Mentor junior engineers and influence engineering best practices within the team.
Strong programming skills in Python (mandatory) with experience building automation frameworks.
Experience with system-level testing and debugging of distributed systems
Solid understanding of Linux/Unix systems, multithreading, and system internals
Experience in storage technologies, with strong preference for SAN protocols (FC, iSCSI, NVMe-oF)
Understanding of file systems, data paths, replication, or high-availability systems
Experience in test automation for scale, performance, and stress scenarios
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, test infrastructure, and modern development workflows.
Strong debugging skills across software and system layers.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field (Master’s preferred).
8-12 years of relevant industry experience Proven track record of owning and delivering quality outcomes for complex subsystems
Demonstrated ability to work independently on moderately to highly complex problems and drive solutions
Preferred Qualifications
Deep expertise in SAN/block storage domain (ONTAP, SnapMirror, SVM, HA/MetroCluster, etc.)
Experience in large-scale system validation and customer scenario testing
Exposure to cloud-integrated storage or hybrid cloud architectures
Prior experience in SDET roles driving automation strategy at team level