Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)

BlackSky•Tukwila, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that operates a space-based intelligence platform, providing satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring to government and commercial customers. The company describes its global team as people-first, customer-focused, and collaborative. The Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) designs and implements automated test frameworks, tools, and simulated environments to ensure the reliability and quality of enterprise software systems. The role is development-focused, building test harnesses, emulating third-party systems and network conditions, and creating automation infrastructure for comprehensive in-house validation. The SDET develops reusable test code, API and service simulators, and scalable Python-based frameworks integrated with CI/CD pipelines. The role also analyzes system behavior, investigates failures, works closely with developers, and validates fixes to improve product stability and release confidence. The preferred location is Tukwila, Washington, with work in the Tukwila office one to two days per week; strong remote candidates may also be considered. The position requires U.S. citizenship due to program requirements. The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, Washington, is $145,000–$165,000 per year; final compensation depends on background and education, and the stated range may not apply to other locations.

Requirements

At least six years of experience as a Software Test Engineer, Automation Engineer, or SDET, with significant hands-on software development responsibilities.
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study, or four additional years of experience in lieu of the degree.
Strong proficiency in Python, including writing reusable modules, building automation frameworks, and creating test harnesses or tools.
Experience developing automated API tests using Python Requests or equivalent frameworks.
Experience designing and maintaining automated UI tests; Python Playwright is preferred, with emphasis on code structure and maintainability.
Experience building Python-based utilities, simulators, mocks, or environment emulators for complex test scenarios.
Familiarity with reporting test results and integrating automation with Jira/X-Ray, Slack, or similar tools.
Ability to analyze automated test results, identify root causes across services and layers, and validate fixes in collaboration with developers.
Working knowledge of CI-based automated test pipelines, nightly execution workflows, and test orchestration.
Understanding of distributed systems, API-driven architectures, and service interactions.
Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills across APIs, backend services, and UI layers.
Ability to document test plans, automation approaches, and defect reports clearly and precisely.
U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Postman/Newman.
Experience testing and verifying embedded software.
Experience building or maintaining hardware for embedded software testing.
Experience programming in Python.
Experience programming in C/C++.
Ability to debug C/C++ and perform fault analysis.
Experience maintaining CI/CD systems or infrastructure as code.
Experience with QEMU and device emulation.
Experience with Buildroot or Yocto.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain Python-based automated test frameworks and tools for scalable testing across services, APIs, and UI workflows.
Build Python- or Go-based simulators, mocks, and emulators to reproduce third-party environments, network behavior, and integration scenarios.
Develop, maintain, and execute automated API test suites using Python Requests, custom harnesses, and Postman/Newman when appropriate.
Build and maintain automated UI test suites using Python Playwright, with reusable components, selectors, and page-object patterns.
Monitor nightly automated test runs, analyze failures, and report actionable insights through Jira/X-Ray, Slack, and CI/CD integrations.
Troubleshoot and diagnose issues across APIs, backend services, and UI workflows; collaborate with developers to identify root causes and verify fixes.
Perform targeted manual testing for new features, complex regression scenarios, and defect reproduction when automation is not yet feasible.
Validate functional behavior, edge cases, and workflows across distributed application components.
Document test frameworks, automation patterns, test cases, expected outcomes, and defect reproduction steps.
Support and improve internal Python-based test applications, tools, and services used in daily verification workflows.
Ensure adequate test coverage for new features, releases, and high-risk areas.
Contribute to improvements in automation tooling, coding standards, and test strategy.
Assist in determining whether builds are ready for deployment and release.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, and voluntary life and AD&D insurance.
BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only medical, dental, and vision premiums and contributes $100 per month toward out-of-pocket expenses.
15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one paid volunteerism day per year, parental leave, and more.
401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs.
Employer matching donations.
Professional development.
Choice of Mac or PC.
Company swag.