Software Test Automation Engineer w/ TS/SCI clearance

Software Test Automation EngineerGDIT is seeking a Software Test Automation Engineer to support a mission-critical software application within the NCE Testing Organization (NTO) in Springfield, Virginia.This role is an opportunity to help mature the software testing process for an established application. Working alongside developers and an existing tester, you will build an initial automated testing framework, develop and maintain regression tests, create effective test cases, and improve how the team validates software changes.The ideal candidate is a hands-on test engineer who can move between manual and automated testing, write or modify test scripts, and take initiative in establishing practical, repeatable testing practices. Experience introducing automation into a program with limited existing automation is especially valuable.This position is primarily focused on software quality and test automation, rather than general DevOps engineering. The selected candidate must be comfortable working on-site five days per week in a classified environment.ResponsibilitiesEstablish and implement an automated testing framework appropriate for the application's architecture and technology stack.Assess existing testing practices and identify opportunities to introduce automation, improve coverage, and reduce repetitive manual testing.Design, develop, execute, and maintain automated regression tests to validate existing functionality and identify unintended impacts from software changes.Create clear, repeatable test cases based on requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, and expected application behavior.Perform functional, integration, end-to-end, and exploratory testing across the application's components.Develop and maintain test scripts using appropriate programming or scripting languages and automation tools.Identify opportunities to incorporate automated tests into existing build, integration, and CI/CD workflows.Work closely with software developers, product stakeholders, and the existing tester to establish effective testing practices throughout the development lifecycle.Participate in Agile ceremonies, contribute to test planning and estimation, and identify testing needs early in the development process.Document test procedures, execution results, defects, and coverage in tools such as JIRA and Confluence.Track defects through resolution, validate fixes, and maintain regression coverage for previously identified issues.Support formal test events, including test planning, test configuration, execution, results analysis, and coordination with the customer testing organization.Evaluate test results, identify quality risks, and communicate findings and recommendations to the team.Conduct performance or load testing when required to support application validation.Assist with test environment configuration, troubleshooting, and upgrades as needed.Required QualificationsActive TS/SCI clearance with the required polygraph.Five or more years of experience in software testing, quality assurance, test engineering, or a related discipline.Hands-on experience creating, executing, and documenting software test cases.Practical experience developing or implementing automated tests using a programming or scripting language.Experience designing and executing regression tests for software applications.Ability to translate requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria into effective test scenarios.Experience identifying, documenting, tracking, and retesting software defects.Ability to collaborate effectively with software developers and other technical team members.Strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.Ability to work on-site five days per week in Springfield, Virginia.U.S. citizenship, as required for the position and customer environment.Preferred QualificationsExperience introducing automated testing into a software program that previously relied primarily on manual testing.Experience building an initial automation framework or establishing a maintainable automated regression suite.Familiarity with one or more test automation frameworks, such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, JUnit, pytest, or equivalent tools.Experience testing applications with a combination of user interfaces, APIs, services, and backend components.Experience integrating automated tests into an existing CI/CD pipeline.Familiarity with Linux, containerized applications, Kubernetes, or OpenShift environments.Experience with integration, end-to-end, performance, or load testing.Familiarity with Agile software development practices and tools such as JIRA and Confluence.Experience supporting government software testing organizations or formal customer test events.Relevant industry certifications, such as Security+, when required by the customer.What Success Looks LikeEstablishing a practical starting point for automated testing and expanding it as the application and team evolve.Creating a useful, repeatable regression suite that helps identify defects earlier and reduces repetitive manual effort.Improving test case quality, consistency, traceability, and documentation.Collaborating with the existing tester and development team to make testing a more integrated part of software delivery.Providing actionable feedback that improves application quality and confidence in each release.