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Cellular Test Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Grid Networks

QA Test Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$43 - $58.75/hr

... cellular- and VPN-connected hardware). • Extend and maintain Cypress E2E suites,including ... or Test Engineering role supporting release of production web apps. • Hands-on Cypress skills ...

Grid Networks

QA Test Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$43 - $58.75/hr

About the Role: We're hiring a QA/Test Engineer to own quality across a diverse product portfolio ... Map-based, geospatial, or IoT telemetry UI; cellular systems exposure. * Docker-based test ...

Grid Networks

QA Test Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$43 - $58.75/hr

About the Role: We're hiring a QA/Test Engineer to own quality across a diverse product portfolio ... Map-based, geospatial, or IoT telemetry UI; cellular systems exposure. * Docker-based test ...

Grid Networks

QA Test Engineer

Reston, VA

$43 - $58.75/hr

... dedicated QA or Test Engineering rolesupporting release ofproduction webapps. * Hands-on ... Map-based, geospatial, or IoT telemetry UI; cellular systems exposure. * Docker-based test ...

Lynk

RF Systems Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Job Summary As a RF Systems Test Engineer at Lynk, you will wear many hats in the world of RF ... Experience working with GSM/LTE/NR communications and cellular backhaul networks ITAR Requirements ...

AST SpaceMobile

OSS Test & Automation Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site

$46 - $60.75/hr

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to ... Position Overview We are seeking an OSS Test & Automation Engineer to join the team responsible for ...

AST SpaceMobile

OSS Test & Automation Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site

$46 - $60.50/hr

Job Summary : AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space. They are seeking an OSS Test & Automation Engineer to develop and maintain automation ...

Lynk

Wireless Engineer - Cellular

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Job Summary Lynk is developing cellular-based space payloads and seeks a Wireless Engineer to ... Develop test software and drivers to support unit, integration, and system testing of all base ...

AST SpaceMobile

RAN Systems Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site

$100K - $137K/yr

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to ... Define test strategies and validation plans that ensure system-wide performance across the ...

ORBCOMM

Hardware Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Design and develop satellite, cellular, BLE, and LoRa-enabled industrial IoT products. * Select ... Participate in design verification activities and support test automation initiatives. Product ...

AST SpaceMobile

RAN Systems Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site

... cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones. This role sits at the ... Define test strategies and validation plans that ensure system-wide performance across the ...

One Way Ventures

Senior FPGA_AIE Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$100 - $130/hr

Job Summary Lynk is developing cellular-based space payloads and seeks engineers with expertise and ... Design and test high-speed FPGA systems for satellite communication systems. * Build with AMD ...

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All JobsCellular Test Engineer JobsCellular Test Engineer Jobs in Washington, DC

Cellular Test Engineer information

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How much do cellular test engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for cellular test engineer in Washington, DC is $50.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $37.84 and $59.38 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cellular test engineer?

Cellular Test Engineers are professionals who design, conduct, and analyze tests to ensure the quality and performance of cellular devices and networks. They work with mobile phones, modems, and network infrastructure to verify compliance with industry standards such as 3G, 4G, and 5G. Their job often involves troubleshooting, documenting test results, and collaborating with hardware and software teams to resolve issues and improve product reliability. Cellular Test Engineers play a critical role in the development and maintenance of wireless communication technologies.

What are some typical challenges a cellular test engineer might face when working with new network technologies?

Cellular Test Engineers often encounter challenges when validating and troubleshooting new network technologies like 5G or IoT protocols. These can include adapting to rapidly evolving standards, ensuring device compatibility across different carriers, and diagnosing complex issues that arise from interoperability between hardware and software. The role requires strong analytical skills and a proactive approach to learning, as well as effective communication with cross-functional teams such as hardware, software, and network operations to resolve issues efficiently. Staying up-to-date with industry developments is essential to succeed in this dynamic environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a cellular test engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Cellular Test Engineer, you need a solid understanding of wireless communication principles, RF testing, and protocol analysis, typically supported by a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with cellular test equipment (such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and protocol analyzers), as well as knowledge of 3G/4G/5G standards and relevant certifications, is commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you diagnose issues and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These competencies ensure reliable device performance, regulatory compliance, and successful product launches in a rapidly evolving wireless industry.

What is the difference between Cellular Test Engineer vs RF Test Engineer?

AspectCellular Test EngineerRF Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related; certifications like FCC or RF testing certificationsBachelor's in Electrical Engineering; RF certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentTesting labs, R&D departments, field testing for cellular devicesTesting labs, RF labs, manufacturing facilities, field testing
Industry UsageTelecommunications, mobile device manufacturing, network providersWireless communications, telecom, RF component manufacturing
Common Search/ComparisonCellular Test Engineer vs RF Test Engineer

The Cellular Test Engineer focuses on testing cellular devices and networks, ensuring compatibility with cellular standards. The RF Test Engineer specializes in radio frequency testing, which includes a broader range of wireless technologies. While both roles require knowledge of RF principles and certifications, the Cellular Test Engineer is more specific to cellular technologies, whereas the RF Test Engineer covers a wider spectrum of wireless systems.

What are popular job titles related to Cellular Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

For Cellular Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Cellular Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Cellular Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Cellular Test Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cellular Test Engineer job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,231 per year, or $50.1 per hour.

QA Test Engineer

Grid Networks

Reston, VA • On-site

$43 - $58.75/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Job Summary:
Grid Networks, LLC is a world-class telecommunications consulting firm supporting clients with product development, business operations, network maintenance, and supply chain services. They are seeking a QA/Test Engineer to own quality across a diverse product portfolio, setting test strategies and running various types of testing to ensure product quality and release viability.
Responsibilities:
• Own end-to-end test strategy (unit → E2E, manual + automated) across multiple web products, with risk-based prioritization for critical flows: auth, encryption, real-time data, device management.
• Author and maintain test plans, test cases, and defect reports
• Provide go/no-go release recommendations backed by execution records.
• Execute manual, regression, and exploratory testing across desktop, mobile browsers, and physical devices (including cellular- and VPN-connected hardware).
• Extend and maintain Cypress E2E suites,including WebSocket/real-time, async state, token refresh, and boundary-value flows,and integrate them into CI/CD.
• Write scripts supporting test tooling and automation infrastructure.
• Verify accessibility to ensure WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
• Validate upgrade paths, persisted-data compatibility, and offline/reconnect behavior.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science or a related field
• 3+ years' experience in a dedicated QA or Test Engineering role supporting release of production web apps.
• Hands-on Cypress skills; able to read and write JavaScript/TypeScript well enough to author, debug, and maintain automated tests.
• Comfortable reading JavaScript/TypeScript with React to diagnose test failures.
• Strong test-case design fundamentals and risk-based prioritization.
• Track and manage defects with JIRA, GitLab Issues, or equivalent; experience integrating tests into CI/CD.
• Fluent with browser DevTools (Network, Console, WebSocket, storage), as well as REST/JSON/HTTP, Git, and Postman or curl.
• Understand network fundamentals (IP, subnets, gateways, VPNs) and have experience testing network-connected or embedded devices in a lab setting.
• Write scripts in Python or Bash to support test tooling.
Preferred:
• Formal test management tool (TestRail, qTest, Xray, Zephyr).
• Real-time / pub-sub testing (WebSocket, WAMP, MQTT).
• Cryptographic or security-sensitive features: key lifecycle, E2E encryption, IndexedDB integrity, secrets hygiene.
• Unit/component frameworks (Vitest); accessibility tooling (axe, Lighthouse); performance testing of long-lived sessions.
• Map-based, geospatial, or IoT telemetry UI; cellular systems exposure.
• Docker-based test environments, GitLab CI/CD.
• ISTQB Foundation or equivalent.
Company:
Grid Networks designs and manages telecom connectivity strategies, focusing on 5G, IoT, cloud, and network transformation consulting. Founded in , the company is headquartered in Reston, USA, with a team of 11-50 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.

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