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Senior Software Development Engineer In Test Jobs in Frederick, MD

Senior Software Engineer

Rockville, MD · On-site

$97K - $176K/yr

Backend Development : Strong experience in backend development across server-side technologies and ... Experience test automation and unit testing * Experience software security * FINRA Securities ...

Senior Software Engineer

Rockville, MD · Hybrid

$112K - $211K/yr

Programming & Development * Python, Node.js, Go, or similar * Java * Frontend applications (React ... Experience in DevOps and CI\CD technologies * Experience test automation and unit testing

In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working ... Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and test creation.

In this position, you will design and implement software solutions independently while working ... Use AI-assisted development tools to accelerate coding, refactoring, debugging, and test creation.

Position Overview Leidos is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join the Chinook ... Engage in the complete software development lifecycle, operating within well-defined parameters.

Sr. Software Engineer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$124K - $186K/yr

Join us. YOUR IMPACT Senior Software Engineer role at OpenText is more than just a job, it's an ... in systems analysis, solution design, systems integration, and software development. • Strong ...

Senior Software Engineer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$107K - $195K/yr

Position Overview Leidos is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join the Chinook ... Engage in the complete software development lifecycle, operating within well-defined parameters.

Sr. Software Engineer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$124K - $186K/yr

Join us. YOUR IMPACT Senior Software Engineer role at OpenText is more than just a job, it's an ... Proficiency in leveraging AI tools and technologies to support solution design, development ...

Senior Software Engineer

Gaithersburg, MD · On-site

$107K - $195K/yr

Position Overview Leidos is seeking an experienced Senior Software Engineer to join the Chinook ... Engage in the complete software development lifecycle, operating within well-defined parameters.

Sr. Development Engineer

Leesburg, VA · On-site

$100K - $110K/yr

As a Senior Development Engineer - VB Vision in our R&D function within the Spine division, you'll ... Proficiency with CAD software (SolidWorks or Creo preferred) * Working knowledge of FDA design ...

Senior Software Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$107K - $144K/yr

Job Summary DRS RADA Technologies in Germantown, MD, is hiring a Senior Software Engineer. This ... Be involved with the design, development, analysis, testing, and debugging of computer software ...

Job Summary DRS RADA Technologies in Germantown, MD, is hiring a Senior Software Engineer. This ... Be involved with the design, development, analysis, testing, and debugging of computer software ...

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Senior Software Development Engineer In Test information

See Frederick, MD salary details

$22.4K

$124.8K

$162.6K

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

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software development engineer in test in Frederick, MD is $124,841.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $109,900.00 and $142,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 engineers make $500,000?

Senior Software Development Engineers In Test (SDETs) with extensive experience, specialized skills in automation, and working at large tech companies or in high-cost-of-living regions can earn $500,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, especially for those in leadership roles or with rare expertise in testing automation, cloud platforms, or security tools.

Will QA or SDET get replaced by AI?

Senior Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) and QA professionals perform complex testing tasks that require critical thinking, creativity, and understanding of system architecture, which AI currently cannot fully replicate. While AI tools can automate repetitive testing and assist in identifying issues, human oversight and expertise remain essential for designing test strategies, interpreting results, and ensuring software quality in a fast-evolving environment.

What is the SDET engineer's salary?

The salary for a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) typically ranges from $90,000 to $140,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and company size. SDETs with strong programming skills and experience with automation tools like Selenium or Jenkins tend to earn higher salaries.

Is SDET still in demand?

Senior Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) are in strong demand due to the increasing emphasis on quality assurance and automation in software development. SDETs with skills in programming, test automation tools, and CI/CD pipelines are particularly sought after across various industries, ensuring continuous testing and faster release cycles.

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 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 does a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) 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.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD? The most popular types of Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD are:
What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD? For Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs in Frederick, MD are:
What cities near Frederick, MD are hiring for Senior Software Development Engineer In Test jobs? Cities near Frederick, MD with the most Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Software Development Engineer In Test job openings in Frederick, MD as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% As Needed, 42% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 29% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $124,841 per year, or $60 per hour.
Senior Software Engineer - Applied AI

Senior Software Engineer - Applied AI

Leonardo DRS

Germantown, MD

$107K - $155K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Leonardo DRS rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 55 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

135th of 534 rated manufacturers


Job description

Job ID: 114693

DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. 

Job Summary

DRS RADA Technologies in Germantown, MD, is hiring a Senior Software Engineer-Applied AI.  This position is full time and on-site.

We are a global pioneer in AESA tactical radar, as a Senior Software Engineer-Applied AI, you'll build the tools, backend services, and internal applications that bring AI/ML into our software development and business workflows. This is a hands-on engineering role: you'll ship LLM integrations, retrieval and summarization pipelines, workflow automation, and classification tooling on a Linux-based platform, working in Python alongside engineers building Rust microservices and TypeScript UIs.

You'll partner with technical leads and domain experts to turn AI/ML requirements into maintainable, production-grade software, owning the engineering that takes models from prototype to production. As a senior member of the team, you'll also mentor engineers and set the bar on design, code quality, and engineering practices.

Job Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and maintain internal tools, backend services, and automation workflows in Python on a Linux platform
  • Develop AI/ML-enabled features: document search, summarization, extraction, retrieval-based workflows, and intelligent automation
  • Integrate LLMs, APIs, and internal/external services; define service interfaces and data contracts across Python, Rust, and TypeScript
  • Support the ML lifecycle (dataset preparation, labeling, training/evaluation automation, and model integration) in partnership with technical leads and domain experts
  • Write testable, production-quality code and own deployment, logging, troubleshooting, and documentation in Linux environments
  • Mentor engineers and provide technical leadership on design and sound engineering practices
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
  • 5+ years of professional software development experience
  • Strong Python proficiency and experience building software in Linux environments
  • Experience building backend services, internal tools, automation, or APIs, working with both structured and unstructured data
  • Hands-on experience with AI/ML-enabled applications (e.g., document search, summarization, extraction, prompt-based workflows, model evaluation/integration, or classification pipelines)
  • Familiarity with modern engineering practices: version control, testing, debugging, and code review
  • Strong problem-solving skills and effective collaboration across backend, platform, and UI teams and with domain experts

Preferred Qualifications

  • RAG pipelines, embeddings, vector search, or document retrieval workflows
  • Ollama, open-source LLMs, or private/local model deployment
  • LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar orchestration frameworks
  • FastAPI, Flask, or similar backend frameworks; microservice and service-integration patterns
  • Docker, CI/CD, logging, and observability in Linux environments
  • Model evaluation or classification work using structured, image, time-series, or sensor-derived datasets

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

The salary range for this position is $107,089.00-$155,000.00.  This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate's qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications. In addition to base pay, employees may be eligible for: annual performance-based bonuses, equity awards, and overtime pay (for non-exempt employees as applicable. Our benefits package includes comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), employer matching 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off including vacation, holidays, and sick leave (including ant state-mandated paid sick leave), parental leave benefits, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, and life and disability insurance coverage.

Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours. 
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.


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