Sr Test Automation Engineer Jobs

Anonymous Employer

Washington, District of Columbia, USFull-timeSenior128,000 - 135,000Posted Jul 3, 2026

About this role

This Senior Test Automation Engineer position in Washington, DC, involves securing a high-level clearance while building automation frameworks for large-scale immersive systems. You will lead the transition from manual to automated suites, overseeing full-spectrum risk management and system integration within a secure hybrid environment.

Best fit for

This role is best for a seasoned Senior SDET with over 8 years of experience who possesses or can obtain a Top Secret clearance and enjoys working on complex, large-scale hardware-software integrations.

Skills you need for this role

Detected from the job title, description, and tags.

Domain & process

Performance testing (JMeter / k6 / LoadRunner) — Different discipline from functional QA — expect scenario and metrics questions.
Test management (Jira / Zephyr / TestRail) — Process fluency — writing test cases, tracing coverage, and reporting defects.

Job description

Test Automation Engineer Hybrid (first 60 days on-site then transitions to hybrid) Clearance: Top Secret (will be processed for SCI and CI Poly after starting) Location: Washington, DC Key Responsibilities:

The Senior Test Automation Engineer is Responsible for creating software test and automating test cases, performing application testing, validating bugs, and isolating issues; writing and initiating tests and then analyzing and reporting the test results in the ticketing system; and performing configuration management, change management, and release management.
Tests high performance and large-scale immersive systems.
Evaluates, recommends, and implements automated test tools and strategies.
Designs, implements, and conducts test and evaluation procedures to ensure system requirements are met.
Develops, maintains, and upgrades automated test scripts and architectures for application products.
Also writes, implements, and reports status for system test cases for testing.
Analyzes test cases and provides regular progress reports.
Serves as a subject matter specialist providing testing know-how for the support of user requirements of complex to highly complex software/hardware applications.
Directs and/or participates in all phases of risk management assessments and software/hardware development with emphasis on analysis of user requirements, test design, and test tools selection.
Designs, plans, creates, executes, and provides System(s) test reports.
Reviews government test plans and test reports for technical competence, effectiveness, and compliance with standards.
Observes and evaluates the execution of customer acceptance test activities.
Performs integration activities involving developed application software.
Identifies and documents problems and issues, providing specific guidance on root-cause and remediation.
Analyzes the requirements for each test event and shall assist in the scheduling of the System(s) non-operational environments test assets.
Supports the presentation and formal review or audit of test results, providing briefing and decision support material.
Maintains and provides controls for multiple test software and hardware baselines. Education/Experience Requirement
4 Year Degree Information Technology or related field or Equivalent Experience
8+ years Experience

Job highlights

•Role: Sr Test Automation Engineer Jobs
•Company: Anonymous Employer
•Location: Washington, District of Columbia, US
•Type: Full-time
•Experience: Senior
•Compensation: 128,000 - 135,000
•Seniority: Senior
•Posted: Jul 3, 2026

How to prepare for this interview

A 5-step prep plan tailored to this job's stack.

1Review your experience with large-scale system integration and be ready to discuss how you validate complex hardware/software dependencies.
2Prepare examples of how you have selected and implemented automated test tools for specialized or 'immersive' high-performance systems.
3Brush up on risk management frameworks as they apply to software development and user requirement analysis.
4Practice explaining your approach to creating System Test Reports and guiding root-cause remediation for senior government stakeholders.
5Ensure your professional history is documented accurately to support the Top Secret, SCI, and CI Polygraph clearance process.

Likely interview questions for this role

Tuned to the stack we detected on this job.

Q1.How do you approach designing an automation architecture for high-performance immersive systems versus standard web applications?
Q2.Describe your experience managing and controlling multiple software and hardware baselines across different test environments.
Q3.What strategies do you use to evaluate and recommend new automated testing tools for a complex project?
Q4.Can you walk through a time you identified a critical root cause during integration testing and guided the remediation effort?
Q5.How do you ensure your test plans comply with rigorous government standards and technical competence requirements?

Rehearse with AI Mock Interview Full interview prep guide

Salary context

Compensation disclosed by the employer.

128,000 - 135,000

The employer has disclosed a salary range of $128,000 to $135,000 for this position. This range reflects the high level of responsibility associated with a Senior role requiring 8+ years of experience and the prerequisite of a Top Secret clearance. Given the location in Washington, DC, and the specialized nature of the 'immersive systems' mentioned, this compensation is targeted toward specialists who can navigate both technical automation challenges and rigorous government compliance. For more details on how this compares to regional trends for cleared roles, please consult our internal salary guide.

See QA/SDET salary benchmarks →