Posted 5d ago
Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET II)
Best fit for
This role is best for mid-level QA engineers with hands-on experience in Playwright, REST API testing, Postman / Newman, GraphQL open to working from McLean, Virginia, US.
Skills you need for this role
Detected from the job title, description, and tags.
Automation skills
- Playwright — Modern cross-browser automation with auto-waits — increasingly the default at product companies.
API / backend testing
- REST API testing — Almost every QA role now expects you to validate JSON contracts and status codes.
- Postman / Newman — Standard tool for API exploration and shareable collections.
- GraphQL — Different query semantics from REST — expect targeted API-testing questions.
CI/CD and DevOps
- Docker — Needed to containerise test environments and spin up dependencies.
- Kubernetes — Test infra + preview environments increasingly run on K8s.
- AWS — Common cloud target for test infra + service integration testing.
- Azure — Common in enterprise / Microsoft-shop QA roles.
Programming languages
- Java — Dominant language for enterprise QA + Selenium/RestAssured stacks.
- Python — Popular for API testing, data validation, and Playwright/Pytest suites.
- JavaScript / TypeScript — Required for Playwright, Cypress, and modern front-end test tooling.
- C# / .NET — Common in enterprise + SpecFlow-based QA stacks.
Domain & process
- Performance testing (JMeter / k6 / LoadRunner) — Different discipline from functional QA — expect scenario and metrics questions.
- Security testing (OWASP) — Growing overlap between QA and application security.
- Agile / Scrum — You'll be expected to describe how you fit QA into short iterations.
- Test management (Jira / Zephyr / TestRail) — Process fluency — writing test cases, tracing coverage, and reporting defects.
- AI in testing — Employers increasingly ask how you use AI copilots to speed up QA work.
Job description
The Mission Starts Here TheIncLab engineers and delivers intelligent digital applications and platforms that revolutionize how our customers and mission-critical teams achieve success. We are where innovation meets purpose; and where your career can meet purpose as well. As a SDET II, you will be a mid-level role focused on designing, building, and maintaining automated test suites to ensure software accuracy, reliability, and performance. We encourage you to apply and take the first step in joining our dynamic and impactful company. Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept As a Software Development Engineer in Test this position involves translating requirements into test scenarios, validating APIs and integrations, and embedding testing into CI/CD pipelines. Beyond execution, the role emphasizes improving automation coverage, and driving process improvements to deliver secure, high-quality releases. What will you do?
- Develop, execute, and maintain automated test suites for desktop, mobile, web, and cloud-based applications.
- Translate user stories, acceptance criteria, and technical requirements into comprehensive manual and automated test scenarios.
- Own assigned quality control domains and deliver with minimal oversight.
- Conduct automated and manual functional, regression, integration, performance, and exploratory testing.
- Design and maintain testing frameworks (e.g., Playwright, Jest) integrated with CI/CD pipelines.
- Validate RESTful and GraphQL APIs, databases, and third-party integrations for accuracy and performance.
- Document and track defects with clear reproduction steps; collaborate with developers for resolution.
- Participate in test planning, backlog grooming, sprint planning, and retrospectives.
- Drive improvements in quality control processes, coverage, and tooling.
- Support release readiness by validating builds, environments, and deployment pipelines.
- Mentor junior team members in SDET practices and automation.
- Stay current with evolving QA tools and methodologies.
- Identify gaps in automation coverage and propose improvements. Adhere to company policies and maintain alignment with company culture Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
- 3–5 years of professional experience in software quality assurance.
- 3+ years of experience in at least one programming language (JavaScript/TypeScript/Python/Java or C#).
- Proficiency with automated testing frameworks such as Playwright or React.
- Strong experience in manual test design, execution, and exploratory testing.
- Familiarity with CI/CD practices, version control systems (e.g., Git), and Agile methodologies.
- Experience validating APIs and using tools like Postman.
- Ability to troubleshoot, debug, and communicate issues clearly.
- Strong collaboration and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
- Ability to travel up to 10% based on company and customer needs. Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with performance or load testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Locust, k6).
- Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) or containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes).
- Familiarity with DevSecOps principles and security testing practices.
- Background in geospatial, mission-focused, or defense-related applications. Benefits At TheIncLab we recognize that innovation thrives when employees are provided with ample support and resources. Our benefits packages reflect that:
- Hybrid and flexible work schedules
- Professional development programs
- Training and certification reimbursement
- Extended and floating holiday schedule
- Paid time off and Paid volunteer time
- Health and Wellness Benefits include options for Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance along with access to Wellness, Mental Health, and Employee Assistance Programs.
- 100% Company Paid Benefits that include STD, LTD, and Basic Life insurance.
- 401(k) Plan Options with employer matching
- Incentive bonuses for eligible clearances, performance, and employee referrals.
- A company culture that values your individual strengths, career goals, and contributions to the team. About TheIncLab Founded in 2015, TheIncLab (“TIL”) is the first human-centered artificial intelligence (AI+X) lab. We engineer complex, integrated solutions that combine cutting-edge AI technologies with emerging systems-of-systems to solve some of the most difficult challenges in the defense and aerospace industries. Our work spans diverse technological landscapes, from rapid ideation and prototyping to deployment. At TIL, we foster a culture of relentless optimism. No problem is too hard, no project is too big, and no challenge is too complex to tackle. This is possible due to the positive attitude of our teams. We approach every problem with a “yes” attitude and focus on results. Our motto, “demo or die,” encompasses the idea that failure is not an option. We do all of this with a work ethic rooted in kindness and professionalism. The positive attitude of our teams is only possible due to the support TIL provides to each individual. At TIL, we believe that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and innovation. Our teams are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to complex problems. We understand that the path to success is not always straightforward, but we are committed to persevering and finding a way forward. Our culture of relentless optimism is not just about having a positive attitude; it is about taking action and making things happen. We believe in the power of collaboration and teamwork, and we know that by working together, we can achieve great things. Our teams are made up of individuals who are passionate about their work and dedicated to making a difference. Learn more about TheIncLab and our job opportunities at www.theinclab.com. **Salary range guidance provided is not a guarantee of compensation. Offers of employment may be at a salary range that is outside of this range and will be based on qualifications, experience, and possible contractual requirements. **This is a direct hire position, and we do not accept resumes from third-party recruiters or agencies.
Job highlights
- •Role: Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET II)
- •Company: TheIncLab
- •Location: McLean, Virginia, US
- •Type: Full-time
- •Experience: Mid
- •Compensation: 100,000 - 120,000
- •Seniority: Mid
- •Posted: Jun 30, 2026
Key skills: Playwright · Postman · JMeter · Docker · Kubernetes · Java · Python · JavaScript · TypeScript · AWS
How to prepare for this interview
A 5-step prep plan tailored to this job's stack.
- 1Revise Playwright deeply — locator strategy, waits, parallelisation, and how you'd structure the framework from scratch. Playwright interview Q&A →
- 2Read through the general QA/SDET interview prep guide to refresh core testing concepts. Job Interview Prep →
- 3Practice API-testing scenarios — auth flows, contract validation, and running collections in CI. API testing Q&A →
- 4Do at least one AI mock interview end-to-end so you're comfortable narrating your answers under time. AI Mock Interview →
- 5Run your CV through the ATS review so it clears keyword filters for this role before you apply. Resume ATS Review →
Likely interview questions for this role
Tuned to the stack we detected on this job.
- Q1.How does Playwright's auto-waiting differ from Selenium's explicit waits?
- Q2.Walk through how you'd parallelise Playwright tests in CI with sharding.
- Q3.How do you design a test suite for a REST API from an OpenAPI spec?
- Q4.How do you handle authentication (OAuth / JWT) inside automated API tests?
- Q5.How would you run a Postman collection inside a CI pipeline?
Salary context
Compensation disclosed by the employer.
100,000 - 120,000
TheIncLab has disclosed compensation for this mid-level role. Compare it against our QA salary benchmarks before you negotiate — pay varies significantly by location and stack.
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