Quality Assurance Engineer

Guidehouse•Washington, DC

20h•$85,000 - $141,000

About The Position

We are seeking a highly capable Quality Assurance Engineer to support software testing, quality validation, and continuous improvement activities across secure federal programs. This role ensures the reliability, security, and performance of mission-critical systems through structured testing methodologies, automation support, and adherence to federal compliance and documentation standards. The ideal candidate brings experience in quality engineering within Agile/DevSecOps environments and has a deep commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant solutions in support of federal mission objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree or Additional FOUR (4) years' experience in lieu of Degree.
U.S. Citizenship
An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance and ability to obtain SCI.
Minimum of FIVE (5) years of experience in quality assurance, software testing, or QA engineering
Experience testing in Agile, DevSecOps, or secure federal environments
Familiarity with automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Postman) and scripting languages
Knowledge of QA methodologies, defect management, and software development life cycles
Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to interpret requirements and specifications
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

Certifications ISTQB Foundation or Advanced Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
Agile or Scrum certifications (CSM, PSM, SAFe, etc.)
Experience testing systems governed by NIST 800‑53, RMF, or federal compliance frameworks
Knowledge of accessibility testing (Section 508)
Understanding of security testing fundamentals and secure coding principles
Experience with API testing, performance testing, and monitoring tools
Familiarity with cloud environments (Azure, AWS) and cloud-based test tooling
Experience producing test artifacts for audits, ATO processes, or compliance reviews

Responsibilities

Develop, execute, and maintain test plans, test cases, and test scripts for functional, regression, integration, and performance testing.
Perform manual and automated testing of applications, APIs, and system components within secure federal environments.
Validate system functionality, security, performance, accessibility, and compliance with agency and federal requirements.
Identify, document, track, and verify defects using government‑approved tracking tools.
Support DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines by integrating testing practices, automation scripts, and validation steps.
Collaborate with developers, business analysts, cybersecurity teams, and stakeholders to ensure requirements are understood, testable, and verifiable.
Participate in Agile ceremonies (standups, sprint planning, retrospectives) and contribute to continuous improvement of QA processes.
Review requirements, user stories, and technical documentation for accuracy, completeness, and testability.
Ensure testing activities and artifacts meet federal documentation, traceability, and audit requirements.
Contribute to automation framework enhancements and support adoption of automated testing where applicable.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Parental Leave
401(k) Retirement Plan
Group Term Life and Travel Assistance
Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
Health Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Transit and Parking Commuter Benefits
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning Opportunities
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Care.com annual membership
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)