1

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

Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

We are seeking a Test Engineer to join an agile quality engineering team supporting a federal ... Automate validation of service contracts, error handling, and data transformations; verify MuleSoft ...

Type: Contract * Job #4004 Title: Test Engineer Location: Annapolis Junction, MD Compensation Range: $160 - $180K *Clearance: *Active TS/SCI w/ Polygraph needed to apply * Company Overview:

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$72K - $149K/yr

Test Engineer Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start ... and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies ...

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$72K - $149K/yr

Test Engineer Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start ... and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies ...

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$122K - $253K/yr

This position is CONTINGENT upon contract award** The Test Engineer (TE) as part of the Platform Team develops and performs functional, user acceptance, integration, and end-to-end testing for ...

Test Engineer

Sterling, VA · On-site

$86K - $181K/yr

Test Engineer Job Category: Engineering Time Type: Full time Minimum Clearance Required to Start ... and contract wage rates, relevant prior work experience, specific skills and competencies ...

Test Engineer

Vienna, VA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Work with other Test Engineer contract staff related to cross‑training and knowledge sharing activities. * Function as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding the organization's testing software ...

New

Automated Test Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site

$47 - $62/hr

Automated Test Engineer LOCATION Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Automated Test Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$48 - $63.25/hr

Automated Test Engineer LOCATION Reston, VA 20190 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$90 - $125/hr

We are seeking a Test Engineer to join an agile quality engineering team supporting a federal ... Automate validation of service contracts, error handling, and data transformations; verify MuleSoft ...

Automated Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Automated Test Engineer LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

New

Automated Test Engineer

Tysons, VA · On-site

$46.25 - $61/hr

Automated Test Engineer LOCATION Tysons, VA 22182 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Automated Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$47.50 - $62.75/hr

Automated Test Engineer LOCATION Chantilly, VA 20151 CLEARANCE TS/SCI Full Poly (Please note this ... Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ...

Test Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Automate tests for service contracts, error handling, and data transformations; verify MuleSoft ... Integrate tests into CI/CD (Azure DevOps/GitHub Actions), gate builds via quality thresholds ...

Automated Test Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Most contracts allow additional experience (4-5 years) in lieu of a Bachelor's Degree. Some ... Collaborate with developers for test coverage * Review and update test plans and documentation

New

Showing results 21-40

Contract Test Engineer information

See Washington, DC salary details

$20

$50

$84

How much do contract test engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract 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 contract test engineer?

Contract Test Engineers are professionals hired on a temporary basis to design, execute, and document tests for products, systems, or software to ensure they meet quality standards and function as intended. They often work for a fixed period or on specific projects, providing specialized testing expertise. Their responsibilities may include developing test plans, performing automated or manual testing, identifying bugs, and collaborating with development teams to resolve issues. Contract Test Engineers are commonly found in industries like software development, manufacturing, and electronics.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract test engineer?

To thrive as a Contract Test Engineer, you need expertise in software testing methodologies, test case development, debugging, and a relevant degree in computer science or engineering. Familiarity with automated testing tools (such as Selenium or JUnit), version control systems, and knowledge of CI/CD pipelines are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, effective communication, and adaptability are essential soft skills for collaborating with diverse project teams and quickly integrating into new environments. These competencies ensure high-quality deliverables, efficient problem-solving, and successful project outcomes in dynamic contract-based roles.

What are some common challenges contract test engineers face when joining new projects, and how can they overcome them?

Contract Test Engineers often face challenges such as quickly understanding unfamiliar systems, adapting to varied testing frameworks, and integrating into established teams with existing workflows. To overcome these, it's important to proactively communicate with team members, review project documentation thoroughly, and seek clarity on project goals and testing standards early on. Building rapport with developers and other engineers can also ease the onboarding process and help ensure effective collaboration throughout the contract period.

What is the difference between Contract Test Engineer vs QA Tester?

AspectContract Test EngineerQA Tester
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in Computer Science or related field, with certifications like ISTQBOften requires a similar degree or relevant experience, with ISTQB certification common
Work EnvironmentWorks on specific projects, often contract-based, in software development teamsWorks within quality assurance teams, testing software for bugs and usability
Industry UsageCommon in software development, IT consulting, and tech companiesWidely used across software companies, especially in testing and quality assurance roles

Contract Test Engineers and QA Testers both focus on software quality, but Contract Test Engineers often work on specific projects with a focus on testing automation and integration, while QA Testers typically perform manual testing and bug tracking. Both roles require similar credentials and are integral to software development teams.

What are the most commonly searched types of Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC?

The most popular types of Test Engineer jobs in Washington, DC are:

Test Engineer

DANE LLC

Arlington, VA • On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Benefits:
  • 401(k)
  • 401(k) matching
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee discounts
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
  • Wellness resources

Job Overview
At DANE, we take care of our people, and they stick around because of it. With day-one aggressive PTO, great benefits, and opportunities to grow, you’ll have the support you need to succeed.
We are seeking a Test Engineer to join an agile quality engineering team supporting a federal modernization program in Arlington, VA. You'll design, implement, and maintain automated test suites across APIs, UIs, and integrations, working across .NET, Java, NestJS, and MuleSoft stacks, while growing into modern DevOps, containerized testing, and observability practices.
Details:
Location: Hybrid - Onsite, Arlington, VA; onsite 1-2  days/week and as needed
Job Type: Full Time
Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or Equivalent
Experience: Minimum 4 years of relevant experience
Clearance: Must hold an active DoD Secret Clearance or higher
Responsibilities
  • Build and maintain automated test suites for functional, regression, and smoke testing targeting web UIs and REST APIs (Selenium/Cypress, Postman/Newman, JUnit/NUnit/Jest)
  • Automate validation of service contracts, error handling, and data transformations; verify MuleSoft flows across System/API/Process layers
  • Log, prioritize, and validate defect fixes using Azure DevOps/Jira; provide clear reproduction steps and supporting evidence
  • Create deterministic test data, stubs/mocks, and environment configurations; manage secrets securely and ensure test repeatability
  • Maintain living test plans, suites, and dashboards; publish sprint quality reports and release readiness summaries
  • Integrate tests into CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps/GitHub Actions) and contribute to pull-request quality gates (coverage, static analysis, linting)
  • Author test runners and Docker files; execute suites inside Docker and assist with Kubernetes job orchestration for parallel test runs
  • Capture structured logs and traces (OpenTelemetry/App Insights), triage failures, and support root-cause analysis with engineers
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field
  • Active DOD Secret Clearance required
  • Minimum of 4+ years of experience as a Test Engineer or QA Engineer
  • Hands-on experience with automated testing frameworks (Selenium/Cypress, Postman/Newman, JUnit/NUnit, and/or Jest)
  • Experience testing REST APIs and web applications across .NET, Java, and/or Node/NestJS stacks
  • Experience with defect tracking and test management tools (Azure DevOps and/or Jira)
  • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps/GitHub Actions) and shift-left quality practices
  • Exposure to MuleSoft Anypoint Platform or other enterprise integration testing
  • Exposure to containerized test execution (Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Exposure to observability tooling (OpenTelemetry, App Insights)
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to triage complex failures and drive root-cause analysis
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to clearly document findings and collaborate across development, BA, and platform teams
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and adapt quickly in evolving technical environments
DANE LLC is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Flexible work from home options available.