Jr Automation Engineer Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

Responsibilities

Peraton is delivering advanced mission planning, digital engineering, and commandandcontrol capabilities supporting the U.S. Government's space communications enterprise. Our team uses modern MBSE practices to translate mission needs into precise, traceable, and verifiable technical requirements across a complex, multisystem environment.

As a JR Software Quality Assurance (QA) Automation Engineer, you will support the quality assurance of core platform services that enable secure, scalable satellite ground communications and datatransport capabilities. You will help design and maintain automated test suites, validate web interfaces and microservices, and contribute to testing practices that ensure reliable performance for U.S. Government systems. In this role, you will work closely with experienced engineers, learn programspecific testing frameworks and tools, and assist in developing test solutions that align with system requirements, mission objectives, and established program standards. This position may be supported from any of the following locations: Colorado Springs, CO; Arlington, VA; or Seal Beach, CA. 

What You'll Do

• Assist in designing, building, and maintaining automated test suites using Cypress (JavaScript/TypeScript) to validate web interfaces, microservices/APIs, and systemlevel workflows.
• Support the execution of regression and functional automated tests to ensure highquality software releases. Help track and document defects in tools such as Jira.
• Learn to work with test control databases (Postgres, MySQL) by preparing, updating, and validating test data used for unit and integration testing.
• Perform basic system analysis in Linux environments-navigating file systems, inspecting logs, and running scripts-with guidance from senior engineers.
• Participate in requirement reviews, sprint planning, and team discussions to ensure system testability and early identification of potential issues.
• Assist with integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI) and gain exposure to AWS cloud and containerized environments.
• Collaborate closely with developers, system engineers, and testers to understand system behavior and improve test coverage.
• Support test execution during formal testing events and help prepare test reports for internal and customer stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Associates degree and 4+ years of experience; OR bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience. Additional four (4) years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Approximately 2 years of handson experience in software testing or automation within Agile or iterative development environments.
• This position requires the candidate possess a minimum of Secret clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI. The candidate must maintain the clearance
• Foundational experience creating or maintaining automated tests using Cypress and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Basic understanding of REST API testing.
• Experience working in Linux environments (commandline navigation, reading logs, running scripts).
• Familiarity with relational databases such as Postgres or MySQL.
• Exposure to CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab CI), version control (Git), and issuetracking systems like Jira.
• Some handson experience with automation or test frameworks such as Cypress, Playwright, PyTest, or JUnit.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary engineering teams and follow established testing processes.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field
• Experience testing microservices architectures or containerized applications (Docker).
• Familiarity with cloud environments such as AWS (e.g., S3, Amazon RDS).
• Exposure to scripting languages such as Python or Bash.
• Experience supporting integration, interface, or systemlevel testing events.
• CompTIA Security+ or another DoD 8570/IAT certification.
• Interest in growing toward advanced automation, test leadership, or SAFe/Agile certification.

Benefits:

Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees working on this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap and eligible to participate in an attractive bonus plan

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can't be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we're keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Target Salary Range$86,000 - $138,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual's experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.EEOEEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.Employment Type: FULL_TIME