Principal Test Engineer

Ideal Innovations, Inc.•Bethesda, MD

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Test Engineer provides principal-level test engineering expertise within a commercial cloud environment, supporting automated testing across a Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. The role develops software scripts, evaluates test results, and establishes feedback loops to improve product quality and delivery. It leads back-end and front-end application testing, test data and script development, and software performance testing practices. Tools include Selenium, Katalon Studio, Python, JMeter, JIRA, and Confluence. The position also offers flexible cross-training in systems engineering, software development, training, and security. The engineer participates in Agile software development and works with Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Software Developers to plan and carry out testing in support of custom applications. The role is onsite in Bethesda, Maryland, and requires an active TS/SCI clearance with at least a CI polygraph; the posting also specifies a Full-Scope Polygraph (FSP).

Requirements

Active TS/SCI clearance with at least a CI polygraph; the posting also specifies a Full-Scope Polygraph (FSP).
Bachelor of Science degree with 12 or more years of prior relevant experience, or a master's degree with 10 or more years of prior relevant experience; experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
In-depth experience testing both back-end and front-end application processes.
Experience with scripting languages such as Python to automate tasks, and with test data and script development.
Knowledge of or direct experience with software performance testing practices.
Direct experience creating, authoring, executing, and documenting test cases and result sets for software products in an Agile cadence.
Significant experience working and testing within commercial cloud platforms such as AWS and with DevOps tools.
Experience working in a SAFe Agile and DevOps development environment.
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and execute test cases complementary to development efforts.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to work onsite in Bethesda, Maryland.

Nice To Haves

Experience administering MS Windows Server or Linux environments in a lab or personal development space.
Experience reviewing CI job output and tracking test failures to code changes that caused bugs.
Ability to review code check-ins to understand the impact of code changes on system functionality and potential application bugs.
Direct experience with AWS environments.

Responsibilities

Participate in Agile software development activities, including standups, planning, and increment planning, to support custom application innovation and enhancement through iteration and functionality testing.
Collaborate with team members to assess Story Point and complexity efforts and ensure functionality is tested and delivered according to User Story Acceptance Criteria.
Work with Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Software Developers to develop test approaches, emphasizing automation of recurring and regression test cases.
Develop automated test cases for custom applications using designated GUI/COTS products such as Selenium and Katalon Studio.
Use DevOps practices to maintain the repeatability and configuration management of test cases and scripts and continuously improve them.
Develop and document end-to-end functionality test case narratives using JIRA and Confluence.
Support performance testing and evaluation activities using tools such as JMeter.
Develop software scripts, evaluate test results, and create feedback loops within a CI/CD pipeline.
Conduct back-end and front-end application testing, including test data and script development.
Provide flexible cross-training support in systems engineering, software development, training, and security.