1

Drive Test Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Performance Test Engineer

Merrifield, VA ยท On-site

$50 - $56/hr

Performance Test Engineer Location: Vienna VA (Hybrid 3x) Duration: Initial 6-month contract with ... and drive continuous improvement across multiple initiatives. Qualifications * 4+ years of ...

Lead Test Engineer

Suitland, MD ยท On-site +1

$104K - $160K/yr

The Lead Test Engineer designs and executes test plans and strategies, implements automated testing tools, and drives multi-layer and system-level integration testing. May supervise others. What You ...

Responsibilities The Level 2 Test Engineer (TE) supports and executes a wide range of test and ... drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the ...

Level 2 Test Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD ยท On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Responsibilities The Level 2 Test Engineer (TE) supports and executes a wide range of test and ... drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the ...

Level 2 Test Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD ยท On-site

$112K - $179K/yr

Responsibilities The Level 2 Test Engineer (TE) supports and executes a wide range of test and ... drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the ...

Sr. Test Engineer

Reston, VA ยท On-site

$130K/yr

This individual will work closely with developers, product owners, security teams, and other stakeholders to define test requirements, implement best practices, and drive continuous improvement ...

The Test Engineer II provides comprehensive test engineering support for the Product Manager ... drive innovation, and build sustainable success. The forward-leaning solutions we deliver are ...

Overview The Test Engineer II provides comprehensive test engineering support for the Product ... drive innovation, and build sustainable success. The forward-leaning solutions we deliver are ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Drive Test Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$20

$50

$84

How much do drive test engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for drive test engineer in Washington 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 the difference between Drive Test Engineer vs RF Engineer?

AspectDrive Test EngineerRF Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in telecommunications, electronics, or related field; certifications like RF or wireless certifications are commonSimilar credentials; often holds degrees in electrical engineering and RF certifications
Work EnvironmentFieldwork involving driving to test sites, collecting signal data, and analyzing network performancePrimarily office-based or lab work focused on designing, testing, and optimizing RF systems
Industry UsageUsed in telecom companies for network testing and optimizationUsed across telecom, electronics, and wireless industries for system design and testing

Drive Test Engineers and RF Engineers share similar educational backgrounds and certifications, but their roles differ in work environment and focus. Drive Test Engineers primarily perform field testing to evaluate network performance, while RF Engineers focus on designing and optimizing RF systems in labs or offices.

What are some common challenges faced by Drive Test Engineers during fieldwork, and how can they be addressed?

Drive Test Engineers often encounter challenges such as fluctuating signal quality, unpredictable weather conditions, and navigating unfamiliar terrains during fieldwork. To address these, it's important to prepare thoroughly by reviewing test routes, ensuring all equipment is calibrated and functional, and maintaining clear communication with the network operations team. Additionally, adaptability and strong problem-solving skills help in quickly resolving on-site issues, leading to efficient data collection and accurate reporting.

What is a Drive Test Engineer?

A Drive Test Engineer is a telecommunications professional responsible for testing and optimizing wireless networks. They conduct field measurements by driving through designated routes with specialized equipment to collect data on signal strength, call quality, and network coverage. This data helps network operators identify issues such as dead zones, dropped calls, or weak signals, enabling them to improve network performance. Drive Test Engineers play a crucial role in ensuring reliable mobile communication and enhancing user experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Drive Test Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drive Test Engineer, you need a solid understanding of wireless communication systems, RF principles, and a relevant engineering degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with drive test tools like TEMS, Nemo, or SwissQual, as well as proficiency in data analysis software, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills help you interpret data and convey findings clearly. These abilities ensure accurate network performance assessments, which are crucial for optimizing wireless networks and improving user experience.
What are popular job titles related to Drive Test Engineer jobs in Washington? For Drive Test Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Drive Test Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Drive Test Engineer jobs in Washington are:
Infographic showing various Drive Test Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $104,230 per year, or $50.1 per hour.
Performance Test Engineer

Performance Test Engineer

INSPYR Solutions

Merrifield, VA โ€ข On-site

$50 - $56/hr

Contractor

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

Title: Performance Test Engineer
Location: Vienna VA (Hybrid 3x)
Duration: Initial 6-month contract with extensions
Compensation: $50-56/hr
Work Requirements: US Citizen, GC Holders

No C2C
Summary
The Digital Delivery team is responsible for engineering and supporting modern web and mobile applications through scalable user interfaces, microservices, and cloud-based solutions.
The Performance Test Engineer will lead end-to-end performance testing efforts to ensure application scalability, reliability, and production readiness. This role requires hands-on expertise in performance engineering, test automation, workload modeling, bottleneck analysis, and performance optimization. The successful candidate will partner with QA leadership, development teams, and stakeholders to implement performance testing best practices, identify risks early, and drive continuous improvement across multiple initiatives.
Qualifications
  • 4+ years of experience in software testing with a focus on performance engineering.
  • Strong knowledge of performance testing methodologies, including load, stress, endurance, and scalability testing.
  • Experience defining performance baselines, SLAs, and workload models.
  • Hands-on experience with performance testing tools such as NeoLoad or similar platforms.
  • Experience with monitoring and observability tools such as Azure App Insights, Splunk, or equivalent.
  • Proficiency with Azure DevOps or similar test management tools.
  • Solid understanding of SDLC, STLC, Agile methodologies, DevOps practices, and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and root-cause analysis skills.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
  • Experience with scripting and automation, including JavaScript-based performance test development.
Required Experience & Skills
Performance Engineering
  • Design, develop, and execute performance testing strategies and scripts.
  • Conduct load, stress, endurance, and scalability testing.
  • Analyze performance results to identify bottlenecks, constraints, and optimization opportunities.
  • Define realistic performance goals and service-level objectives using production insights.
  • Identify performance risks and recommend actionable improvements before production deployment.
Technical Analysis & Automation
  • Develop, maintain, and enhance automated performance testing solutions.
  • Create repeatable and scalable testing processes.
  • Perform root-cause analysis across applications, services, and infrastructure layers.
  • Utilize monitoring and observability tools to assess system health and troubleshoot issues.
  • Support performance validation within microservices, containerized, and cloud-native environments.
Collaboration & Leadership
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to integrate performance testing early in the SDLC.
  • Support QA leadership with planning, prioritization, and execution of performance testing initiatives.
  • Mentor junior team members and promote testing best practices.
  • Communicate testing results, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of performance testing frameworks, standards, and processes.
Nice to Have
  • Experience with dependency mapping, service virtualization, and mocking tools (WireMock preferred).
  • Experience with Postman.
  • Understanding of functional testing and SDET practices.
  • Experience supporting distributed microservices architectures and cloud-native platforms.
  • Knowledge of shift-left testing and early performance validation strategies.

Information collected and processed through your application with INSPYR Solutions (including any job applications you choose to submit) is subject to INSPYR Solutions' Privacy Policy and INSPYR Solutions' AI and Automated Employment Decision Tool Policy: https://www.inspyrsolutions.com/policies/ . By submitting an application, you are consenting to being contacted by INSPYR Solutions through phone, email, or text.
26-157956