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Senior Software Test Engineer Jobs in Washington

Job Title Software Test Engineer Overview EverWatch is a government solutions company providing advanced defense, intelligence, and deployed support to our country's most critical missions. We are a ...

The Software Test Engineer (STE) will design, develop, and execute test strategies to ensure the quality and reliability of complex software systems supporting operational missions. This role ...

Software Test Engineer

Annapolis Junction, MD · On-site +1

$60.10 - $96.16/hr

Job Title Software Test Engineer Overview EverWatch is a government solutions company providing advanced defense, intelligence, and deployed support to our country's most critical missions. We are a ...

Software Test Engineer

Lanham, MD · On-site +1

$106K - $195K/yr

Revolution Space is looking for an experienced dynamic and growth-oriented Software Test Engineer to contribute to the development of our space propulsion products through system verification. This ...

Software Test Engineer

Arlington, VA · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Please do not apply if you do not meet these conditions. 10novate is seeking a cleared Software Test Engineer to join our Team. If you hold a Secret security clearance and are interested in entering ...

Within this environment, the Engineer shall write detailed test plans, procedures and scenarios that address areas such as database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing ...

Showing results 21-40

Senior Software Test Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$25.5K

$142.2K

$185.2K

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

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior software test engineer in Washington is $142,210.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $125,200.00 and $162,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is senior software test engineer a good career?

A senior software test engineer is a valuable role in the software development process, focusing on quality assurance, test planning, and automation tools. It offers opportunities for career growth, specialization, and competitive salaries, especially with experience in scripting and testing frameworks. The role is in demand across various industries that rely on software reliability and quality standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior software test engineer?

A Senior Software Test Engineer needs deep expertise in software testing methodologies, automation frameworks, and programming languages like Java, Python, or C#, typically backed by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with tools such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, and bug-tracking systems like Jira, as well as certifications like ISTQB, is highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills enable collaboration and leadership within QA and development teams. These competencies are crucial to ensuring software quality, minimizing defects, and delivering reliable products in complex technical environments.

What are the typical collaboration points between a senior software test engineer and other teams during a project lifecycle?

Senior Software Test Engineers frequently collaborate with developers, product managers, and DevOps engineers throughout the project lifecycle. Early in the process, they work closely with developers to understand requirements and clarify acceptance criteria. During development, they coordinate on bug tracking and test coverage, and participate in sprint planning or daily stand-ups. They also interact with DevOps to integrate automated tests within CI/CD pipelines, ensuring smooth deployment and feedback cycles. This cross-functional collaboration is essential for delivering high-quality software efficiently.

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

AspectSenior Software Test EngineerSoftware Test Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires 5+ years of experience, certifications like ISTQBEntry to mid-level, often with 1-3 years of experience, similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads testing projects, mentors junior staff, designs test strategiesPerforms test execution, reports bugs, follows test plans
Industry UsageUsed across software development companies, especially in larger teamsCommon in various tech companies, startups, and software firms

The main difference between a Senior Software Test Engineer and a Software Test Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and leadership. Senior roles involve strategic planning, mentorship, and complex testing, while Software Test Engineers focus on executing tests and reporting issues. Both roles are essential in ensuring software quality, with the senior position requiring more expertise and leadership skills.

What does a senior software test engineer do?

A Senior Software Test Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and executing comprehensive test plans to ensure the quality and functionality of software products. They lead testing efforts, identify defects, and work closely with development teams to resolve issues. In addition, they may mentor junior testers, implement automation frameworks, and help define testing standards and best practices within the organization. Their goal is to ensure software reliability, performance, and user satisfaction before release.
What are the most commonly searched types of Software Test Engineer jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Software Test Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Senior Software Test Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Senior Software Test Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Software Test Engineer job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 85% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,210 per year, or $68.4 per hour.

Senior Software Test Engineer (Flight Safety Systems)

Peraton

Fort Belvoir, VA • On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Other

Re-posted 7 days ago


Peraton rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

50th of 223 rated it services


Job description

Minimum Requirements
  • Minimum of 16 years w/o a degree or 14 years with AS/AA or 12 years with BS/BA; or 10 years with MS/MA; or 7 years with Ph.D
  • Active TS/SCI with adjudicated polygraph
Preferred Qualifications
  • 2+ years of experience with Flight Safety or astrodynamics test tools (e.g., STK, ASW SuperCombo), or STK Level 2 certification
  • 6+ years of combined experience in space operations, conjunction assessment, or flight safety systems testing
  • Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, conjunction analysis methods, and space domain awareness concepts
  • Experience validating or testing systems involving RSO catalogs, ephemeris data, and orbital propagation models
  • Ability to write and interpret Bash and Python scripts for test automation and data analysis
  • Familiarity with national security space mission environments (e.g., NRO-related systems and workflows)
Worklocation

As a Senior Software Test Engineer supporting Flight Safety (FS) systems within a national security space mission environment, you will be responsible for testing, validating, and integrating mission-critical software tools used to perform Flight Safety operations. You will ensure system reliability and operational readiness for tools that support conjunction assessment (CA), space object tracking, and ground threat deconfliction analysis.

In this role, you will serve as a technical SME focused on test planning, system validation, integration testing, and operational verification of FS software tools used in 24/7 operations. You will work closely with developers, system engineers, and operators to ensure that new capabilities and data sources are properly integrated into both legacy and evolving systems with minimal operational risk.

You will also support mission protection activities by ensuring systems accurately process resident space object (RSO) catalogs, ephemeris data, and trajectory inputs to identify collision risks and support decision-making for space operations stakeholders. A strong understanding of orbital mechanics and astrodynamics tools will be used to design effective test cases and validate system outputs.

Additionally, you will contribute to improving testing methodologies, system workflows, and operational procedures (TTPs) by identifying software issues, validating fixes in controlled environments, and supporting updates to training materials based on system changes and test outcomes.

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead integration and verification testing of new data sources and software capabilities within legacy and next-generation FS systems
  • Design, execute, and document software test plans, regression tests, and operational validation scenarios in test and pre-production environments
  • Use Bash and Python scripts to support automated testing, data validation, troubleshooting, and system analysis in Linux-based classified environments
  • Validate system performance by executing conjunction assessment and screening workflows, including RSO-to-RSO and RSO-to-ground proximity analysis (e.g., ASW “SuperCombo”-type runs)
  • Perform pre- and post-launch validation of TLEs, state vectors, and maneuver ephemeris data against cataloged RSOs to ensure collision risk mitigation logic is functioning correctly
  • Operate and validate orbit propagation and analysis tools (e.g., STK or ASW-type systems), ensuring correct input handling, output accuracy, and reporting consistency
  • Support defect identification, root cause analysis, and issue tracking for software anomalies discovered during test and operational use
  • Participate in test readiness reviews, flight safety meetings, and operational training/exercise events
  • Develop and maintain test documentation, validation reports, and user/training materials, and provide hands‑on instruction (OJT) to team members
  • Collaborate with engineers, operators, and external stakeholders to ensure system changes meet operational requirements and safety thresholds

This position is contingent upon award of contract

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About Peraton

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Peraton, we re at the forefront of delivering the next big thing every day. We re the partner of choice to help solve some of the world s most daunting challenges, delivering bold, new solutions to keep people around the world safer and more secure.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

Year founded

2017