Your Complete Guide to Landing a 6-Figure SDET Role
If you’re reading this, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the vast amount of information out there about becoming an SDET. Maybe you’re:
- π A manual tester looking to transition into automation
- π A fresher hoping to start your career as an SDET
- π¨βπ» A developer wanting to specialize in test automation
- π Someone from a non-IT background dreaming of a tech career
I get it. I’ve been there. And after 10 years as an SDET and training hundreds of successful students, I know exactly what works and what doesn’t.
π “Before finding Jatin’s roadmap, I spent 6 months jumping between random YouTube tutorials. After following his structured approach, I landed a Β 25 Lacs SDET role at a top tech company in just 4 months!” – Kajal. SDET Masterclass Graduate
Watch here Journey here:
What You ACTUALLY Need to Know in 2025 to Master Test Automation
1. β Core Java Mastery: Beyond “Just Enough Java”
β οΈ Why This Matters
In 2022-24, I noticed a troubling trend: many SDET candidates were rejected because they only learned “Java for Testing.”
In 2025, companies expect much more.
π What You Need to Learn
A. Java Fundamentals
1. π― OOP Concepts
- Classes, Objects, and Constructors
- Inheritance, Polymorphism, Abstraction, Encapsulation
- Interface vs Abstract Class
- Static vs Non-static
- Access modifiers and their scope
Recently Asked Interview Questions:
- π‘ “Explain the difference between method overloading and overriding with examples”
- π‘ “When would you use an interface vs an abstract class in your framework?”
- π‘ “What is the diamond problem in Java and how is it resolved?”
- π‘ “Explain the concept of loose coupling and how interfaces help achieve it”
π Recommended Books:
Over the course 10+ years these 3 books have been my go to guide for learning Java!
- π “Head First Java” by Kathy Sierra
- π “Effective Java” by Joshua Bloch
- π “Clean Code” by Robert C. Martin
- π “Elegant Objects” by Yegor Bugayenko
2. π Collections Framework
- List implementations (ArrayList, LinkedList)
- Set implementations (HashSet, TreeSet)
- Map implementations (HashMap, TreeMap)
- Queue and Deque
- Choosing the right collection for performance
- Custom sorting with Comparator and Comparable
π― Interview Focus Areas:
- π HashMap internal working and time complexity
- π ArrayList vs LinkedList performance scenarios
- π Concurrent collections and thread safety
- π Custom sorting implementation
π‘ Quick Course Preview:
In our $1 SDET Foundation Masterclass, you’ll build a complete Java console application that implements these concepts. This exact project helped one of our students clear their SDET interview! π―
B. π₯ Advanced Java Concepts
1. β‘ Multithreading
-
- Thread lifecycle
- Synchronization
- Executor Framework
- Thread pools
- Future and CompletableFuture
π “The Java concepts I learned in SDET Masterclass weren’t just theory – they were exactly what I needed in my interview. The interviewer was impressed by how I implemented my framework!” – Renuka S., Senior SDET at Accenture
2. π» Logic Building with Leet Code Questions
For anyone currently interviewing for testing positions, you’re probably aware that coding rounds are now MANDATORY for testers! If your goal is to secure a high-paying package, you’ll need to master Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) – there’s no way around it!
Rather than simply listing the important topics, I’ll provide you with both the essential topics AND the relevant LeetCode questions you should practice…
Make sure you bookmark this blog post
π Β Weekly Breakdown
Week 1: Array Basics & Two Pointers
Building Your Foundation
Before diving in, make sure you understand:
- Array data structure fundamentals
- Time complexity analysis
- Two-pointer technique basics
- Essential array operations
Days 1-3: Array Fundamentals
- LeetCode #26: Remove Duplicates from Sorted Array – Day 1 Focus
- LeetCode #977: Squares of a Sorted Array – Day 2 Focus
- LeetCode #283: Move Zeroes – Day 3 Focus
Days 4-5: Two Pointers
- LeetCode #167: Two Sum II – Essential for interviews
- LeetCode #680: Valid Palindrome II – Common interview question
π‘ Weekend Project: Create a simple array manipulation program to reinforce your learning
Week 2: String Manipulation
Mastering Text Processing
Key concepts to review:
- String methods in your chosen language
- StringBuilder/StringBuffer usage
- ASCII value manipulation
- Character handling techniques
Days 6-8: String Basics
- LeetCode #242: Valid Anagram – Frequently asked
- LeetCode #387: First Unique Character
- LeetCode #14: Longest Common Prefix
Days 9-10: String Operations
- LeetCode #67: Add Binary
- LeetCode #9: Palindrome Number – Classic problem
Week 3: HashSet & HashMap
Efficient Data Storage and Retrieval
Prerequisites:
- Hash table concept
- Set operations
- Map operations
- Time complexity of hash operations
Days 11-13: HashSet Problems
- LeetCode #136: Single Number – Key concept problem
- LeetCode #268: Missing Number
- LeetCode #448: Find All Numbers Disappeared
Days 14-15: HashMap Applications
- LeetCode #1: Two Sum – Most frequently asked
- LeetCode #169: Majority Element
π First Review Weekend: Challenge yourself with 2 random problems from weeks 1-3
Week 4: Dynamic Programming Introduction
Building Problem-Solving Patterns
Core concepts to master:
- Recursion basics
- Memoization techniques
- Bottom-up vs Top-down approaches
- Time/Space complexity analysis
Days 16-18: Basic DP
- LeetCode #70: Climbing Stairs – Foundation DP problem
- LeetCode #746: Min Cost Climbing Stairs
- LeetCode #338: Counting Bits
Days 19-20: DP Applications
- LeetCode #53: Maximum Subarray – Must-know problem
- LeetCode #121: Best Time to Buy and Sell Stock
Week 5: Stack & Queue
Understanding Data Flow
Essential knowledge:
- Stack operations
- Queue concepts
- LIFO vs FIFO
- Stack applications
Days 21-23: Stack Problems
- LeetCode #20: Valid Parentheses – Very common interview question
- LeetCode #155: Min Stack
- LeetCode #232: Implement Queue using Stacks
Weeks 6-7: Linked Lists
Mastering Linear Data Structures
Key concepts:
- Linked List structure
- Pointer manipulation
- Floyd’s cycle detection
- Dummy nodes
Days 26-30: Basic Linked List Operations
- LeetCode #206: Reverse Linked List – Essential concept
- LeetCode #21: Merge Two Sorted Lists
- LeetCode #876: Middle of the Linked List
- LeetCode #234: Palindrome Linked List
- LeetCode #141: Linked List Cycle – Floyd’s algorithm implementation
Days 31-35: Advanced Linked List Concepts
- LeetCode #203: Remove Linked List Elements
- LeetCode #83: Remove Duplicates from Sorted List
- LeetCode #160: Intersection of Two Linked Lists – Popular interview question
Weeks 8-9: Binary Trees
Conquering Hierarchical Data Structures
Must-know concepts:
- Tree traversals
- Recursion with trees
- Binary Search Tree properties
- Tree height/depth concepts
Days 36-45: Tree Problem Set
- LeetCode #104: Maximum Depth of Binary Tree – Fundamental problem
- LeetCode #100: Same Tree
- LeetCode #101: Symmetric Tree
- LeetCode #108: Convert Sorted Array to BST
- LeetCode #110: Balanced Binary Tree
- LeetCode #235: Lowest Common Ancestor of BST – Advanced concept
- LeetCode #572: Subtree of Another Tree
- LeetCode #617: Merge Two Binary Trees
- LeetCode #938: Range Sum of BST
3. π API TestingΒ
After mastering data structures and algorithms, the next crucial skill for SDETs is API testing and security validation. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the essential concepts, tools, and practices you need to master.
π― Part 1: API Testing Fundamentals
Core Concepts to Master:
- HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH)
- Status Codes and Their Meanings
- Request/Response Structure
- Authentication Methods
- API Documentation (Swagger/OpenAPI)
1. Essential API Testing Tools
- Manual Testing Tools:
- Postman – API development and testing
- Insomnia – REST and GraphQL client
- Swagger UI – API documentation and testing
- Automation Tools:
- Rest Assured – Java library for API testing
- Karate DSL – Behavior Driven Testing
- Pytest with requests library – Python testing
2. API Testing Checklist
For each API endpoint, verify:
- Response Status Code
- Success scenarios (2XX)
- Client errors (4XX)
- Server errors (5XX)
- Response Time
- Average response time
- Peak response time
- Response time under load
- Response Data
- Schema validation
- Data types verification
- Mandatory fields presence
π Part 2: Security Testing EssentialsΒ
1. Security Testing Areas
- Authentication Testing
- Password policies
- Session management
- Multi-factor authentication
- Authorization Testing
- Role-based access
- Resource permissions
- API endpoint access
- Data Security
- Encryption in transit
- Sensitive data handling
- Input validation
2. Common Security Tests
- Authentication Tests
- Brute force prevention
- Password complexity
- Session timeout
- Invalid login attempts
- Authorization Tests
- Vertical privilege escalation
- Horizontal privilege escalation
- Resource access control
- Input Validation Tests
- SQL injection
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Command injection
3. Security Testing Tools
- OWASP ZAP – Web app security scanner
- Burp Suite – Security testing platform
- JMeter – Performance and security testing
- SonarQube – Code security analysis
π Best Practices
- Documentation First
- Always review API documentation before testing
- Maintain updated test documentation
- Document security findings properly
- Test Environment
- Use isolated test environments
- Never test security on production
- Maintain test data consistency
- Automation Strategy
- Automate repetitive security checks
- Implement continuous security testing
- Regular vulnerability scanning
π―Project Ideas or POC:
Build and test these projects to gain hands-on experience:
- RESTful API Testing Project
- Create a test suite for a public API
- Implement both positive and negative tests
- Add performance test scenarios
- Security Testing Project
- Set up OWASP ZAP scanning
- Implement authentication tests
- Create authorization test suite
- CI/CD Integration Project
- Set up automated API tests in CI pipeline
- Implement security scanning in pipeline
- Create test reports and dashboards
π Resources
- Books:
- “REST API Testing with Rest Assured”
- “Web Security Testing Cookbook”
- “The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook”
- Online Courses:
- API Testing Masterclass
- OWASP Security Testing Guide
- Postman Complete Guide
- Practice Platforms:
- API Security Labs
- OWASP Juice Shop
- Public APIs for Testing
π― Ready to Master Core Java for SDET?
Option 1: π Self-Study Path
Many people feel intimidated by the self-study journey due to the overwhelming amount of content available online and offline. So how can you learn Automation Testing efficiently while saving time?
If you plan to study independently, it typically takes about 7 to 9 months. to learn things thoroughly, assuming you dedicate 1 hour per day.
However, through extensive trial and error, we have developed an effective approach that allows you to learn automation in depth and prepare for a career change in just 3 months!
Option 2: π Accelerated Learning
β¨ Start with SDET Foundation Masterclass ($1):
- π οΈ Build a complete Java console application
- π Learn core OOP concepts through practical implementation
- π» Get hands-on experience with collections and file handling
- π― Perfect for beginners
- π± Access to basic learning materials
π Then Upgrade to SDET Masterclass:
- π₯ Deep dive into advanced Java concepts
- ποΈ Build enterprise-level frameworks
- π― Mock interviews focusing on Java concepts
- πΌ Real-world projects from top companies
- π― Logic Building Sessions
- π Community Support