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Senior Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Virginia

Principal Test Engineer (SDET)

Vienna, VA · On-site

$100 - $150/hr

The SDET will develop test automation for integration, regression, and functional testing for systems to ensure compliance with system requirements and Navy Federal business practices and policies.

New

Job Title: SDET (JAVA) Location: Mclean,VA Duration: 12+ Months Visa: USC, GC, H1B and EAD Contract Type: W2 Key Skills: * Experience in design and building test framework * Strong programming skills ...

SDET

Reston, VA · On-site

$52 - $67/hr

SDET Reston, VA (3 days a week onsite) Interview Process: 1 in-person panel (no videos) *Prior Mortgage Industry experience if highly desired* Key Responsibilities: Lead and execute end-to-end ...

SDET

Mclean, VA · On-site

Unlimited training and upskilling opportunities through Udemy and Hexavarsity Role: SDET Location: McLean, VA ( 100% Onsite role ) Experience Required: 6+ years * Candidate must have worked on * E2E ...

SDET

Arlington, VA · On-site

$57.50 - $74.25/hr

Test Strategy Development: Design and implement comprehensive test strategies, including functional ... senior role. * Experience in financial services or alternative investments is highly desirable.

Showing results 21-40

Senior Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Virginia salary details

$22.3K

$124.5K

$162.1K

How much do senior software development engineer in test jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development engineer in test in Virginia is $124,484.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,600.00 and $142,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior software development engineer in test do?

A Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks and tools to ensure the quality and reliability of software products. They work closely with development and QA teams to identify test requirements, create robust test cases, and integrate automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline. In addition to coding and scripting, Senior SDETs mentor junior team members, analyze test results, and help troubleshoot complex issues to continuously improve software quality. Their expertise bridges the gap between development and testing, ensuring both speed and quality in software releases.

How does a senior software development engineer in test typically collaborate with development and product teams to ensure software quality?

As a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test (SDET), you will work closely with both development and product teams throughout the software development lifecycle. This includes participating in design and requirements discussions to identify potential test cases early, contributing to test automation strategies, and providing feedback on testability and quality risks. SDETs often pair with developers to review code, co-create test plans, and triage bugs together, ensuring that testing is fully integrated into the CI/CD pipeline. Effective communication and cross-team collaboration are essential for proactively identifying issues and maintaining high software quality standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software development engineer in test, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test, you need advanced programming skills, deep knowledge of software testing methodologies, and a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Expertise with automation frameworks (such as Selenium, Cypress, or Appium), CI/CD tools, and scripting languages is typically required, along with relevant certifications like ISTQB. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and driving quality initiatives. These capabilities ensure rigorous test coverage, faster release cycles, and high-quality software products.

What is the difference between Senior Software Development Engineer In Test vs Software Development Engineer In Test?

AspectSenior Software Development Engineer In TestSoftware Development Engineer In Test
ExperienceTypically 5+ years in testing and developmentEntry to mid-level, 1-3 years experience
ResponsibilitiesDesigns complex test frameworks, mentors juniors, leads testing initiativesDevelops test cases, automates tests, executes testing tasks
Skills & CertificationsAdvanced coding, automation, testing tools, leadership skillsProgramming, automation, testing tools
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with cross-functional teams, often in Agile settingsWorks closely with developers, focuses on automation and manual testing

In summary, a Senior Software Development Engineer In Test has more experience, leadership responsibilities, and strategic testing roles compared to a Software Development Engineer In Test, who primarily focuses on developing and executing tests.

What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia?

For Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Virginia are:

What cities in Virginia are hiring for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs?

Cities in Virginia with the most Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,484 per year, or $59.8 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Steampunk

Mclean, VA

$90K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Overview

As a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you will work with our growing DevSecOps practice delivering quality assurance services to support application, cloud, and data systems development. We are looking for candidates with 3-5 years of experience in quality assurance and test automation practices within an Agile/DevSecOps work environment

Contributions

Responsibilities

  • Understand the needs of stakeholders and conveying requirements to development teams 
  • Collaborate with product design teams to determine testing parameters and acceptance criteria 
  • Write comprehensive test plans, create test cases, develop test procedures, document bug reports, and produce final QA reports for products 
  • Manage test data architecture definition and coordinate test data requests 
  • Develop automated testing scripts with consideration for parallelization and idempotency 
  • Integrate test automation including performance, security, and functional tests into CI/CD pipelines 
  • Execute testing and examination of code written by others and analyze results, including three or more of the following: 
  • Data validation testing 
  • Functional testing 
  • Performance and load testing 
  • Usability testing 
  • Accessibility (Section 508) testing 
  • Develop automated testing scripts considering parallelization and idempotency 
  • Ensuring that systems are safe and secure against cybersecurity threats 
  • Working with software developers and software engineers to ensure that development follows established processes and works as intended 
  • Document as-is state of the environment, perform gap analysis, and produce artifacts that articulate options and recommendations 
  • Engineer and implement solutions and provide recommendations for continuous improvement of services provided 
  • Present regular status updates and provide cross-training to other DevOps team members 
  • Act as an individual contributor and mentor more junior team members 
Qualifications

Required

    • Ability to obtain a U.S. government Security Clearance 
    • Bachelors Degree and 10 years of experience (7 must be relevant)
    • 3 Years of Experience with Git SCM providers such as GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket 
    • 3 Years of Experience with one or more programming or scripting languages 
    • 7 Years of application DevSecOps Experience with actual/active development experience in an Agile environment 
    • Experience utilizing docker containers and utilizing platforms such as Kubernetes 
    • 3 Years of Experience implementing test automation, using tools such as Selenium, Appium, Soap UI, RestAssured, Postman 
    • Experience integrating test automation including performance, security, and functional tests into CI/CD Pipelines 
    • Experience with performance and load testing 
    • Experience in one or more cloud computing environments (e.g. AWS, Azure, or GCP) 

 Preferred

    • Certifications: 
    • CAST (Certified Associate in Software Testing) 
    • International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) Certification 
    • Cloud certifications (AWS Certified Developer, Azure Developer Associate, etc.) 
    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and collaborative skills 
    • Experience with behavior-driven development (BDD) and test-driven development (TDD) methodologies 
About steampunk

Steampunk relies on several factors to determine salary, including but not limited to geographic location, contractual requirements, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The projected compensation range for this position is $90,000 to $130,000.  The estimate displayed represents a typical annual salary range for this position. Annual salary is just one aspect of Steampunk's total compensation package for employees. Learn more about additional Steampunk benefits here. 

Identity Statement

As part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Steampunk is a Change Agent in the Federal contracting industry, bringing new thinking to clients in the Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health and DoD sectors.  Through our Human-Centered delivery methodology, we are fundamentally changing the expectations our Federal clients have for true shared accountability in solving their toughest mission challenges.  As an employee owned company, we focus on investing in our employees to enable them to do the greatest work of their careers - and rewarding them for outstanding contributions to our growth. If you want to learn more about our story, visit http://www.steampunk.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Steampunk participates in the E-Verify program. 

Employment Type: OTHER