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Entry Level Software Test Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Test Engineer Location : Bristow, Virginia Job Type ... Contract Duration: 6 Months As an experienced member of our Software Engineering Group, we look ...

Test Engineer

Mclean, VA ยท On-site

$141K/yr

Test Engineer The Opportunity: Work with a fast-paced software development team building Enterprise systems automating Cybersecurity missions. Work as a quality assurance analyst on Cybersecurity ...

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Entry Level Software Test Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$23.8K

$104K

$187.4K

How much do entry level software test engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level software test engineer in Virginia is $103,963.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,400.00 and $119,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an Entry Level Software Test Engineer do?

An Entry Level Software Test Engineer is responsible for testing software applications to ensure they work as intended and meet quality standards. They create and execute test cases, report bugs, and collaborate with developers to resolve issues. Their work helps improve software reliability and user experience. Entry-level roles typically involve learning about testing tools, methodologies, and working under the guidance of more experienced engineers.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Software Test Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Software Test Engineer, you need a solid understanding of software development life cycles, basic programming concepts, and a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with testing tools like Selenium, JIRA, and test case management systems, as well as knowledge of scripting languages, is typically required. Attention to detail, analytical thinking, and strong communication skills help you effectively identify issues and collaborate with development teams. These abilities are crucial to ensure software quality, minimize defects, and support successful product releases.

What is the difference between Entry Level Software Test Engineer vs QA Tester?

AspectEntry Level Software Test EngineerQA Tester
Required CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in computer science or related field; basic understanding of testing toolsOften similar; may require a degree or relevant certifications
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, testing labs, Agile/Scrum environmentsQuality assurance departments, testing labs, collaborative teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, software firms, startupsIT firms, software companies, product development teams
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Both roles involve testing software to ensure quality, but an Entry Level Software Test Engineer often has a broader scope, including test planning and automation, while a QA Tester may focus more on manual testing and defect reporting. The roles are closely related and often overlap, especially at entry levels.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level software test engineers, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level software test engineers often encounter challenges such as understanding complex software systems, getting up to speed with new testing tools, and effectively communicating defects to development teams. To overcome these challenges, it's helpful to proactively seek mentorship from experienced team members, participate in training sessions, and practice clear, concise documentation of test cases and bugs. Additionally, collaborating closely with developers and other testers can provide valuable insights and foster a supportive learning environment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Test Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Software Test Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Entry Level Software Test Engineer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Entry Level Software Test Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Software Test Engineer job openings in Virginia as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,963 per year, or $50 per hour.
Software Engineer in Test - C# / WPF

Software Engineer in Test - C# / WPF

CaseGuard

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

We are seeking a detail-oriented and driven Software Engineer in Test to join our desktop application team. This role is focused on ensuring the quality and reliability of our WPF-based application through a combination of manual UI testing, automated test development, and integration testing. You will champion quality throughout the development cycle and own the release-readiness signal, working closely with developers to build a robust testing culture and infrastructure.

What You Will Do:
  • Design, develop, and maintain test cases, integration tests, and end-to-end test suites for a WPF desktop application built with C# and .NET Framework.
  • Perform thorough manual UI testing, including exploratory testing to surface edge cases and regressions.
  • Automate UI interactions and workflows using desktop automation frameworks (e.g. FlaUI) to build a reliable, repeatable test suite.
  • Verify media outputs: frame-accurate redaction checks, golden-file comparisons, and tolerance-based validation of AI detection results across GPU and CPU execution paths.
  • Collaborate with developers and product teams to understand feature requirements and define testable acceptance criteria.
  • Identify and document bugs with clear reproduction steps, root-cause analysis, and priority assessment; create and track bug tickets through resolution.
  • Participate in code reviews to provide input on testability, coverage gaps, and quality standards.
  • Contribute to a test-driven development (TDD) culture by writing tests alongside feature development and advocating for testability in design decisions.
  • Maintain and improve CI/CD pipeline integration so automated tests run consistently on every build.
Qualifications (Required):
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
  • 2+ years of experience in a software testing, QA engineering, or SDET role.
  • Proficiency in C# and experience with .NET Framework.
  • Hands-on experience writing and maintaining unit tests and integration tests using frameworks such as MSTest, NUnit or xUnit.
  • Experience performing manual UI testing for desktop or complex GUI applications.
  • Familiarity with WPF concepts (data binding, MVVM pattern, control hierarchy) sufficient to navigate and inspect the application under test.
  • Strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to reproducing and documenting issues.
  • Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
Qualifications (Nice to Have):
  • Experience automating WPF or Windows desktop UI interactions using tools such as FlaUI.
  • Demonstrated practice of test-driven development (TDD) or behavior-driven development (BDD).
  • Experience integrating automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps).
  • Familiarity with performance profiling and identifying UI responsiveness or rendering bottlenecks in WPF applications.
  • Experience with SQL or embedded databases used by desktop applications.
  • Knowledge of accessibility testing standards and tools for Windows desktop applications.
  • Familiarity with static analysis or code quality tools in the .NET ecosystem.
  • Experience introducing test coverage to a large legacy codebase.
Benefits:
  • Competitive Salary
  • Stock Option
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • 401K
  • Paid Vacation
  • Ten paid holidays per year
  • Friendly and Learning environment
About CaseGuard

CaseGuard is a software company that helps law enforcement agencies, federal agencies, hospitals, schools, airports, and others manage all their media redaction needs in one easy-to-use redaction software. CaseGuard Studio is one of a kind. Our team is driven by a passion for great software design, creating great products, and creative processes; CaseGuard implements innovative ideas across multiple services and agencies. We invest in people. We nurture skills consistent with our values and our future strategy. Our passionate pursuit of excellence, the application of our creativity to solve our clients' challenges, our technical expertise, and our collaborative spirit are measures of our success.