Senior Quality Software Engineer

Senior Quality Software Engineer – NODA AILocation: Austin, TX (On-site, with less than 10% travel)Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a security clearanceAbout NODANODA is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company transforming how unmanned systems collaborate in complex, mission-critical environments. Our distributed orchestration platform enables autonomous coordination of heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space, with vital applications in the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.Quality engineering at NODA is an engineering discipline built into the development process, not a gate at the end of it. This is a foundational hire. You will build QE for Core Engineering from zero, own the metrics and dashboards that drive release decisions, and engage with program and mission stakeholders on quality outcomes.The RoleWe are seeking a Senior Quality Software Engineer to own the quality function for Core Engineering. You will build the test automation infrastructure, set the coverage standard, make quality measurable and visible, and issue go/no-go recommendations that leadership can act on. You will embed security and compliance validation into the Core Engineering quality function as first-class citizens alongside functional quality, ensuring every release upholds NODA's five-phase Security & Compliance Maturity Roadmap. This is a build-and-own role with a clear path to leading QE across Core Engineering as the team grows.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn the test automation framework across Rust and Python, covering unit, integration, regression, and scenario-level testing.Integrate test suites into CI/CD with enforced gates at every stage, including security checks (SAST, dependency scanning, vulnerability).Enforce NODA's compliance boundary so CUI and export-controlled data never reach clean-zone or vendor-accessible test paths.Drive build quality metrics: coverage, flake rate, false positive rate, and mean time to detect and triage.Maintain a component-level quality dashboard feeding into the program-level go/no-go view for engineering and program leadership.Own go/no-go checklists and issue release recommendations backed by functional, security, and compliance evidence.Triage failures before routing, giving engineers a diagnosis rather than a symptom.Keep the test suite healthy: review cadence, deprecation of stale tests, and coverage gap identification.Translate quality state into language that drives release decisions at leadership level.Grow the QE function under Core Engineering as headcount scales.Required Qualifications7+ years in software QE, with a track record of building test infrastructure, not inheriting it.Engineering fundamentals to match: test code is production quality, test harnesses are maintained like products.Python required; Rust or a clear plan to get there.Hands-on CI/CD integration: you've built the gates, debugged the flakes, and enforced the blocks.Owned quality dashboards and metrics that drive go/no-go decisions.Fluent in distributed and concurrent systems and how they fail.Integrated security testing into CI/CD (SAST, dependency scanning, compliance validation aligned to NIST 800-171 or equivalent).Designed test infrastructure that respects security boundaries and vendor guardrails while supporting restricted core components.Background in defence, robotics, aerospace, or autonomous systems.US Citizenship with ability to obtain a security clearance.Preferred QualificationsHardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing experience.Simulation-based test pipelines.Edge or resource-constrained testing experience.Active security clearance.Skills & AttributesBuilds with rigor: Test infrastructure is a product you design and maintain — not accumulate.Makes quality visible: Dashboards and metrics that let engineering and leadership see exactly where the platform stands before every release.Owns the call: Go/no-go recommendations backed by evidence and checklists. No hedging when the data is clear.Communicates up: Comfortable translating quality state into language that drives decisions at the program and leadership level.Collaborative by design: Works effectively across engineering sub-teams and engages program and mission stakeholders on quality outcomes.Benefits & PerksOur culture fosters collaboration, respect, and trust, empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for career growth. In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals + Company matchEquity grants for new hiresUnlimited PTO11 Paid holidaysExtremely generous company holiday calendar, including a holiday hiatus in November, & December.Generous Parental LeaveMilitary Leave for annual training or service requirementsFSADCFSAHSAProfessional Development OpportunitiesAccess to One MedicalMental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services, such as free legal and financial support, are available to you as well.Growth Path at NODAQuality Engineer – Owns one or more test domains; builds and maintains test harnesses that support integration and validation objectives.Senior Quality Engineer – Owns the quality function for Core Engineering, builds the test automation framework from scratch, and drives go/no-go decisions backed by metrics and dashboards.Staff Quality Engineer – Advises engineering leadership on QE architecture and strategy; sets quality standards across multiple engineering sub-teams.Principal Quality Engineer – Defines the long-term QE roadmap across the engineering org; establishes company-wide standards for test infrastructure, coverage, and release quality.Final leveling will be determined at the offer stage based on demonstrated scope, impact, and technical leadership.Export Control Compliance To conform to U.S. government export control regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.Equal Opportunity Statement NODA AI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace and to maintaining equitable employment and hiring practices. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.As a federal contractor, NODA AI complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity and affirmative action requirements, including Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities throughout the recruiting, hiring, and employment process.Consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with applicable fair chance and ban-the-box laws, including the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance where applicable. We actively encourage qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities, to apply.NODA AI is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive