400+ Automation Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

I have worked in the Test Automation position for 5 years.

• I have 5 years of experience in Test Automation.

• I have successfully automated test cases for various projects.

• I have expertise in using tools like Selenium, Appium, and JUnit.

• I have worked on creating automation frameworks from scratch.

• I have experience in integrating automation tests into CI/CD pipelines.

To move to a child window in Selenium, we need to switch to the window using window handles.

• Get the window handle of the parent window using driver.getWindowHandle()

• Get all the window handles using driver.getWindowHandles()

• Switch to the child window using driver.switchTo().window(childWindowHandle)

• Perform actions on the child window

• Switch back to the parent window using driver.switchTo().window(parentWindowHandle)

NO and NC contacts are types of electrical switches. A motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Servo and AC drives are motor controllers.

• NO (Normally Open) and NC (Normally Closed) contacts are types of electrical switches used in control circuits.

• A switch is an electrical component that can be used to make or break an electrical circuit.

• A motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to perform work.

• A servo drive i...read more

Non-SQL databases can be automated using programming languages and APIs.

• Use programming languages like Python, Java, or Ruby to automate non-SQL databases.

• Use APIs provided by the database vendor to automate database operations.

• Create scripts to automate repetitive tasks like data backups, data migration, and data synchronization.

• Use tools like Apache NiFi, Talend, or Pentaho to automate data integration and processing.

• Automate database monitoring and alerting using tools lik...read more

POM stands for Page Object Model. It is a design pattern used in automation testing to create a structured and maintainable framework.

• POM separates the test scripts from the web elements, making the code more readable and reusable.

• Each web page is represented as a separate class, containing its own web elements and methods.

• POM improves test maintenance by reducing code duplication and enhancing code reusability.

• It enhances collaboration between developers and testers as they ...read more

To locate the Xpath for the 'Today's Deal' menu item on Amazon, inspect the element using browser developer tools.

• Open the Amazon website and right-click on the 'Today's Deal' menu item.

• Select 'Inspect' to open the browser developer tools.

• Look for the HTML code corresponding to the 'Today's Deal' menu item.

• Right-click on the HTML code and choose 'Copy' > 'Copy XPath'.

• The copied XPath can be used to locate the 'Today's Deal' menu item in automation scripts.

The median is the middle value in a list of numbers when they are ordered from smallest to largest.

• The median can be found by arranging the numbers in order and selecting the middle value. If there is an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle values.

• For example, in the list 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, the median is 6. In the list 1, 3, 5, 7, the median is 4.

• The median is a measure of central tendency that is less affected by extreme values compared to the mean...read more

Yes, the CTC offering matches my expectation.

• I have researched the industry standards and found that your offering is competitive.

• The benefits and compensation package align with my expectations.

• I am satisfied with the CTC offering discussed during the interview.

PLC is a digital computer used for automation of electromechanical processes in industries.

• PLC is a hardware device that receives inputs from sensors and other devices, processes them using a program, and then generates outputs to control machines or processes.

• It is used in industries for automation of various processes such as assembly lines, packaging, and material handling.

• PLCs can be programmed using ladder logic, function block diagrams, or structured text.

• Examples of PL...read more

The UNIX command for copying a file is 'cp'.

• The 'cp' command is used to create a copy of a file or directory.

• The basic syntax of the 'cp' command is 'cp source_file destination_file'.

• If the destination file already exists, it will be overwritten unless the '-i' option is used.

• To copy a directory and its contents, the '-r' or '-R' option is used.

• Examples: 'cp file1.txt file2.txt' or 'cp -r directory1 directory2'

Having knowledge of how a drive runs and its safe start and stop conditions is advantageous for an Automation Engineer.

• Understanding the different types of drives and their functions

• Knowing the safety protocols for starting and stopping drives

• Familiarity with drive control systems and programming

• Ability to troubleshoot drive issues and perform maintenance

• Examples: AC drives, DC drives, servo drives, VFDs

My approach involves writing automated tests using Playwright to simulate user interactions and verify functionality.

• Identify key user flows and functionalities to be tested

• Write test scripts using Playwright to interact with elements on the page

• Include assertions to verify expected outcomes

• Utilize Playwright's features like selectors, actions, and page objects for efficient testing

• Run tests locally and on CI/CD pipelines for continuous integration

Use Java Selenium code to validate new and old prices of mobile phones on Amazon.

• Use WebDriver to open Amazon website

• Locate the elements for new and old prices using XPath or CSS selectors

• Get the text of both elements and compare them to validate

Grooming comes before sprint planning.

• Grooming is the process of refining the product backlog items and making them ready for sprint planning.

• Sprint planning is the process of selecting the backlog items for the upcoming sprint and creating a plan for their implementation.

• Grooming helps in identifying dependencies, clarifying requirements, and estimating the effort required for each backlog item.

• Sprint planning builds on the output of grooming and involves the entire team in ...read more

Username & password can be passed to the system through various methods such as environment variables, configuration files, or user input.

• Environment variables can be set and accessed through code

• Configuration files can be read and parsed to retrieve login credentials

• User input can be accepted through a GUI or command line interface

• Encryption and secure storage should be used to protect sensitive information

Schneider PLC timers are not retentive by default, but can be made retentive using the appropriate programming instructions.

• Schneider PLC timers are not retentive by default

• Retentive timers can be created using the RET instruction

• The RET instruction stores the current timer value in a specified memory location

• The stored value can be used to resume the timer from where it left off after a power cycle or program restart

There are various types of testing such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, and regression testing.

• Unit testing: Testing individual units or components of the software.

• Integration testing: Testing how different units or components of the software work together.

• System testing: Testing the entire system as a whole.

• Acceptance testing: Testing whether the software meets the requirements and specifications of the client or end-user.

• Regression ...read more

I have used various types of sensors with PLC.

• Proximity sensors

• Temperature sensors

• Pressure sensors

• Level sensors

• Flow sensors

• Position sensors

• Photoelectric sensors

• Ultrasonic sensors

• Humidity sensors

• Gas sensors

I break down the complex task into smaller manageable parts, prioritize them, and use problem-solving skills to tackle each part effectively.

• Break down the task into smaller components

• Prioritize the components based on importance and dependencies

• Utilize problem-solving skills to address each component effectively

• Collaborate with team members for input and support

• Regularly review progress and adjust strategies as needed

Dynamic web elements can be automated using techniques like XPath, CSS selectors, and waiting strategies.

• Use XPath or CSS selectors to locate elements based on their attributes rather than fixed locators.

• Implement waiting strategies like explicit waits to handle dynamic loading of elements.

• Utilize frameworks like Selenium WebDriver to interact with dynamic web elements efficiently.

Browser context is a specific environment within a web browser where web pages are loaded and executed.

• Browser context is a part of the web browser that includes the DOM, cookies, and other resources for a specific web page.

• Multiple browser contexts can exist within a single web browser, allowing for isolation of web page resources.

• Each browser context has its own set of cookies, local storage, and other data specific to that context.

• For example, when using incognito mode in ...read more

The == operator checks for equality of values, while the === operator checks for equality of values and data types.

• The == operator performs type coercion before comparing two values, while the === operator does not.

• For example, 5 == '5' would return true because the values are equal after type coercion, but 5 === '5' would return false because the data types are different.

• Using === is generally considered safer and more reliable for strict equality checks in programming.

Different protocols used in automation engineering

• Modbus

• Profibus

• DeviceNet

• Ethernet/IP

• CANopen

• AS-Interface

• Foundation Fieldbus

• HART

• BACnet

• LonWorks

Validating APIs using Rest Assured involves writing scripts to send requests and verify responses.

• Use Rest Assured library to send HTTP requests and validate responses

• Write test scripts using given(), when(), then() methods to set up request, send request, and validate response

• Verify status code, response body, headers, etc. in the script

• Use assertions to check expected values against actual values

Xceptor is used for data extraction and Automation Anywhere is used for automating repetitive tasks.

• Xceptor is used in financial services for data extraction and processing.

• Automation Anywhere is used for automating repetitive tasks like data entry, invoice processing, etc.

• Xceptor can be used for reconciling trades and managing risk in financial services.

• Automation Anywhere can be used for automating HR processes like onboarding and offboarding employees.

• Xceptor can be used f...read more

Lists, tuples, and dictionaries are data structures in Python used to store collections of items.

• Lists are mutable and ordered collections of items, accessed by index. Example: my_list = [1, 2, 3]

• Tuples are immutable and ordered collections of items, accessed by index. Example: my_tuple = (1, 2, 3)

• Dictionaries are unordered collections of key-value pairs, accessed by key. Example: my_dict = {'key': 'value'}

VFD selection depends on motor voltage, current, and power rating.

• Check motor nameplate data for voltage, current, and power rating

• Select VFD with compatible voltage and current rating

• Ensure VFD power rating is equal to or greater than motor power rating

• Consider additional features such as overload protection and communication protocols

• Consult manufacturer's specifications and guidelines