Software Engineer at Netflix

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain audiences worldwide. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of storytelling, expanding global fandom, and transforming innovative ideas into reality.

Our team thrives on creativity, curiosity, and advanced technology, bringing together talented individuals who are passionate about discovering new possibilities. Join us and help shape the future of entertainment.

Job Overview

Netflix is seeking a skilled and passionate Software Engineer in Test to join its TV & Web Player Developer Experience and Release Quality team.

This team is responsible for end-to-end testing, build systems, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), and the infrastructure and tools that support reliable software development.

The role focuses on improving the quality, performance, and reliability of Netflix playback experiences across web browsers, smart TVs, and various streaming devices.

You will develop and maintain automated testing solutions, evaluate new player features, and ensure that software releases meet high-quality standards.

You will also help establish innovative testing strategies that keep pace with rapid development cycles while ensuring automated test results are dependable enough to support important release decisions.

About the Role

• Collaborate with player engineers during the early stages of feature development to establish comprehensive functional and end-to-end testing strategies. Identify essential user scenarios, determine which tests should be required before merging code or releasing updates, and coordinate the necessary test data and supporting infrastructure.
• Lead performance testing by developing automated tests and benchmarks to measure playback startup time, buffering, memory consumption, CPU usage, and frame rates across different TV devices. Identify performance issues early and help engineering teams investigate and resolve their underlying causes.
• Improve test automation by developing frameworks, testing environments, reusable tools, and AI-assisted solutions that make test creation faster, maintenance easier, and results more reliable. Collaborate with Netflix testing and developer tools teams to introduce new capabilities and influence future improvements.
• Develop tools that support realistic end-to-end testing, including utilities for managing test streams and services that generate consistent, repeatable test data. Work with other engineering teams to establish the infrastructure and integrations required.
• Monitor and improve testing performance indicators, including critical scenario coverage, production defects, test instability, and performance benchmarks. Reduce unreliable tests, address recurring issues, improve execution times, and eliminate tests that no longer provide meaningful value.
• Partner with engineers responsible for build systems and CI/CD pipelines to ensure automated testing functions effectively as part of the software delivery and quality assurance process.
• Support release preparation and live event readiness by communicating potential quality, performance, and reliability concerns to engineering, product, and release teams. Participate in on-call rotations supporting player client releases.
• Evaluate playback quality and application stability by monitoring A/B testing variations and analyzing performance metrics before approving wider production deployments.
• Promote Netflix’s workplace culture by demonstrating its values, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring every team member has an opportunity to contribute.

What Sets You Apart

Extensive experience maintaining the quality of consumer-facing web applications or device-based software at scale, with strong proficiency in JavaScript and TypeScript.

A strong software engineering background, including the ability to independently design and develop testing frameworks, automation tools, and supporting infrastructure.

Proven ability to improve testing processes and engineering practices rather than simply increasing the number of automated tests. Experience applying AI tools to test generation, failure investigation, identifying unstable tests, and addressing testing coverage gaps is an advantage.

Practical experience working with CI/CD platforms such as Jenkins, Spinnaker, or GitHub Actions, including troubleshooting and improving automated build and deployment pipelines.

An interest in audio and video technologies, particularly streaming systems, adaptive bitrate streaming, digital rights management (DRM), codecs, and browser media technologies such as Media Source Extensions (MSE) and Encrypted Media Extensions (EME).

Understanding of the challenges associated with browser compatibility and the wide range of TV and streaming devices, including different hardware capabilities and generations.

Experience conducting performance tests and profiling client applications, preferably on devices with limited computing resources. Ability to produce consistent measurements that identify performance regressions.

Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to investigate complex issues involving applications, networks, and backend systems, particularly when playback problems are difficult to reproduce.

Familiarity with A/B testing, experimentation processes, and performance evaluation.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with web and TV player engineers, testing specialists, release engineers, product managers, and data science teams.

Why Work at Netflix?

• Join a high-performing team that values collaboration, inclusion, honesty, and mutual support.
• Contribute to a globally recognized entertainment platform enjoyed by hundreds of millions of people.
• Work closely with colleagues and business partners at Netflix’s Los Gatos location.
• Benefit from comprehensive parental leave and family-forming support programs.

Salary and Compensation

Netflix offers an annual salary-based compensation structure without traditional bonuses. Employees can decide how much of their total compensation they would like to receive as salary versus stock options each year.

Compensation is determined using current market benchmarks and considers the position, professional background, qualifications, skills, and experience of each candidate.

Annual Salary Range: $266,000 – $442,000.

Employee Benefits

Netflix provides a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees’ financial security, health, and overall well-being. Benefits include:

• Health insurance plans.
• Mental health support.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Employee stock option program.
• Disability insurance and support programs.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Family-forming benefits.
• Life and serious injury insurance.
• Paid leave programs.

Full-time hourly employees receive 35 days of paid time off annually, covering vacation, holidays, and sick leave. Full-time salaried employees have access to flexible time off from the beginning of their employment.