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Senior Software Engineer In Test Jobs in Vienna, VA

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer shall perform with a high degree of independence and expertise to ... in combination with other software engineers and test engineers ensure high quality software ...

Senior Software Engineer

Reston, VA · On-site

$127K - $168K/yr

The Senior Software Engineer shall perform with a high degree of independence and expertise to ... in combination with other software engineers and test engineers • ensure high quality software ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Software Engineer In Test information

See Vienna, VA salary details

$22.6K

$126K

$164.1K

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

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software engineer in test in Vienna, VA is $126,025.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,900.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior software engineer in test?

Senior Software Engineers in Test are experienced professionals who design, develop, and implement automated testing frameworks and tools to ensure the quality and reliability of software products. They work closely with development and QA teams to identify testing needs, create robust test plans, and write automated scripts that validate software functionality. In addition to hands-on coding, they often mentor junior engineers, drive process improvements, and contribute to the overall testing strategy of the organization.

What are some typical challenges a senior software engineer in test faces when designing automated testing frameworks?

Senior Software Engineers in Test often encounter challenges such as integrating automated tests with complex, evolving codebases and ensuring tests remain reliable as features change. Balancing thorough test coverage with execution speed, especially in continuous integration environments, is another common concern. Additionally, collaborating with both development and QA teams to align on testing strategies and maintaining documentation for test frameworks are key responsibilities that require strong communication and adaptability.

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

To thrive as a Senior Software Engineer in Test, you need a deep understanding of software development, test automation frameworks, and a background in computer science or a related field. Mastery of tools like Selenium, Jenkins, JUnit, and experience with CI/CD systems, as well as relevant certifications such as ISTQB, are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills set top candidates apart in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring robust, scalable, and reliable software delivery in complex technical environments.

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

AspectSenior Software Engineer In TestSoftware Development Engineer in Test
CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, experience in testing and automationBachelor's in CS or related field, strong coding skills, experience in testing
Work EnvironmentDesigning test strategies, automation frameworks, collaborating with development teamsDeveloping test tools, writing automated tests, integrating testing into CI/CD pipelines
Industry UsageCommon in tech companies, especially in QA and testing teamsWidely used in software development companies focusing on automation

The main difference is that Senior Software Engineer In Test often focuses on testing strategy and automation leadership, while Software Development Engineer in Test emphasizes developing testing tools and automation code. Both roles require strong coding skills and testing experience, but their focus areas differ slightly within the testing lifecycle.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Software Engineer In Test jobs in Vienna, VA?

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

What job categories do people searching Senior Software Engineer In Test jobs in Vienna, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Software Engineer In Test jobs in Vienna, VA are:

What cities near Vienna, VA are hiring for Senior Software Engineer In Test jobs?

Cities near Vienna, VA with the most Senior Software Engineer In Test job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Software Engineer In Test job openings in Vienna, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,025 per year, or $60.6 per hour.

Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)

Mclean, VA

Steampunk
IT Services • 201 - 500 employees

$90K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 13 hours 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
  • 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
  • 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.  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