Software Test Engineer (Level 2 or 3)
About The Position
Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Software Test Engineer to support the verification and validation of mission-critical satellite ground software. In this role, you will develop & execute manual and automated software tests in order to verify system functionality, performance, and reliability throughout the software development lifecycle. You will work closely with the Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mission Operations, and DevSecOps teams while developing and executing tests. Additionally, you will help support customer demonstrations and operational events that showcase our ground system capabilities. We're looking for engineers who are excited to work where software meets space operations. Whether your background is in software test automation and you're eager to learn satellite ground systems, or you have space systems experience and want to build expertise in automated software testing, you'll have the opportunity to work directly with the engineers and operators responsible for flying satellites while helping shape the future of our automated test capabilities.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and 2 years of professional experience – or Master’s degree . Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of a degree. (Level 2)
- Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field and 5 years of professional experience – or Master’s degree and 3 years – or PhD and 1 years. Will consider an additional 4+ years of experience in lieu of a degree. (Level 3)
- Active U.S. Government Top‑Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
- Understanding software‑development understanding , including C, Python, and Bash scripting.
- Experience designing or executing automated software tests (framework design, CI integration, regression suites).
- Basic understanding of Space operations.
- Experience with requirement decomposition and translating complex requirements into clear, executable test steps and procedures
- Proven track record delivering complex automated‑test solutions in a regulated or classified environment. (Level 3)
- Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to collaborate across hardware engineering, software development, and mission‑operations teams. (Level 3)
Nice To Haves
- Strong preference for Top Secret SCI
- Experience with Git-based version control and collaboration tools such as Git, GitLab, Bitbucket, Jira, and Confluence.
- Experience developing automated software tests and integrating them into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, TestComplete, PyTest, Google Test (gTest), Robot Framework, or similar technologies.
- Familiarity with cloud-native architectures (AWS), containerization, and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
- Experience leveraging modern software engineering practices, including DevSecOps and AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Cursor, ChatGPT) to improve software quality, test automation, and defect analysis.
Responsibilities
- Develop, execute, and maintain automated software tests for a mission-critical satellite ground system.
- Verify software functionality against requirements using simulated mission environments.
- Design and implement automated feature, capability, regression, and end-to-end system test suites.
- Help expand and modernize automated test frameworks to improve software quality, test coverage, and continuous integration/continuous testing (CI/CT).
- Collaborate with Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mission Operations, and DevSecOps throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Partner with the Mission Operations team to validate software capabilities and support operational scenarios representative of satellite flight operations.
- Support customer demonstrations and mission events by ensuring the ground system is verified, reliable, and ready for operational use.
- Develop tools and scripts to streamline software verification, automation, and test execution.
- Investigate, document, and resolve software defects identified during integration and verification.
- Participate in Agile software development activities including sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance may be available
- health insurance coverage
- life and disability insurance
- savings plan
- Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
- overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus
- Annual bonuses
- Long Term Incentives (for VP or Director positions)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
