Test Automation Jobs in Springfield, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: Description: Position Summary Precise Software Solutions, Inc. is seeking an experienced Test Automation Engineer to support a large, mission-critical federal modernization program. The Test Automation Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, executing, and maintaining automated testing solutions that ensure the quality, reliability, performance, and security of enterprise applications and systems. Working within an Agile development environment, the engineer collaborates closely with product owners, developers, business analysts, architects, DevSecOps teams, and stakeholders throughout the software development lifecycle to establish effective quality engineering practices and deliver high-quality software solutions. This role focuses on building scalable test automation frameworks, developing automated tests for web applications, APIs, services, and database-driven systems, and integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous testing and rapid feedback. The Test Automation Engineer performs functional, integration, regression, end-to-end, API, performance, accessibility, and release validation testing while identifying and resolving defects, validating system behavior, and ensuring comprehensive test coverage across complex enterprise environments. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise in test automation, quality engineering, API testing, database validation, and Agile software delivery with a passion for continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence. This individual will help drive quality initiatives, improve testing efficiency through automation, and support the delivery of secure, reliable, and compliant solutions that meet customer and business requirements. This position is contingent upon a contract award Key Responsibilities Influence User Story definitions and acceptance criteria to ensure requirements are clear, measurable, and testable. Participate in requirements analysis, design reviews, sprint planning, backlog refinement, and other Agile ceremonies to identify testing needs early in the software development lifecycle. Design, develop, maintain, and execute automated test scripts for web applications, APIs, services, and database-driven applications. Develop Test Approaches, Test Plans, and automation strategies that promote early identification of defects and efficient regression testing. Build and maintain reusable automated test frameworks and test components. Identify appropriate candidates for automation and continuously expand automated regression coverage. Integrate automated test execution into CI/CD pipelines to support continuous testing and rapid feedback to development teams. Execute System Integration Testing, Functional Testing, Regression Testing, API Testing, End-to-End Testing, and other test activities as required. Coordinate and collaborate across Product, Development, Business Analysis, DevSecOps, Architecture, and other testing teams to optimize test execution and align delivery schedules. Utilize test management, automation, API, performance, and defect management tools for planning, traceability, execution, reporting, documentation, and metrics. Develop and execute automated testing for REST and SOAP web services. Validate API requests, responses, authentication, error handling, business rules, and integration points. Perform database validation using SQL and PL/SQL to verify application processing, data integrity, and expected system results. Ensure comprehensive test coverage across positive, negative, boundary, exception, and error-path scenarios. Support functional, regression, integration, performance, ad-hoc, Section 508 compliance, and other testing activities as needed. Analyze automated test failures to determine whether issues are caused by application defects, test data, environment conditions, integration dependencies, or automation script failures. Document, track, and manage defects through resolution and retesting. Work closely with developers to reproduce defects, identify root causes, and validate corrective actions. Develop and maintain test data required to support automated and manual testing. Support configuration and maintenance of test environments and troubleshoot environment-related test issues. Participate in the full software development lifecycle, working within broadly defined parameters and Agile delivery schedules. Support creation and maintenance of test documentation, automated test scripts, test cases, test data, traceability artifacts, and test execution evidence as software changes. Perform root cause analysis and lessons learned with project teams to continuously improve software quality and test effectiveness. Develop and use quality and automation metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the test program, including automation coverage, regression execution, defect leakage, pass/fail rates, and test execution trends. Identify opportunities to improve test efficiency through automation, reusable components, improved test data management, and earlier testing within the development lifecycle. Support performance and load testing activities and assist with analysis of system behavior under expected and peak workloads. Support Section 508 accessibility testing, including automated accessibility testing where applicable. Support end-of-sprint demonstrations, User Acceptance Testing, production readiness activities, and release validation. Solicit and incorporate feedback from FDA stakeholders regarding test artifacts, test coverage, automation approaches, and quality processes. Participate in release and deployment validation, including smoke testing and post-deployment verification. Promote continuous improvement of quality engineering practices, test automation standards, tools, frameworks, and processes. Requirements: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience/combined education, with 8 years of professional experience, or 4 years of professional experience with a related Master's degree. Four additional years of relevant professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, quality engineering practices, and the Software Development Lifecycle. Demonstrated experience designing, developing, and maintaining automated test scripts and frameworks. Experience automating web-based applications using tools or frameworks such as Selenium WebDriver, Playwright, Cypress, UFT, or comparable technologies. Experience with automation programming or scripting languages such as Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, or similar technologies. Experience developing automated tests for REST and SOAP APIs using tools such as SoapUI, ReadyAPI, Postman/Newman, REST Assured, or comparable technologies. Experience performing integration and system-level testing for enterprise applications. Knowledge of service-oriented architecture, RESTful services, APIs, microservices, and database-centric applications. Experience developing operational scenarios, test scenarios, test cases, automated scripts, Test Plans, Test Approaches, and Test Reports. Experience with SQL and relational databases for test validation, troubleshooting, and data verification. Experience testing integrated applications involving multiple systems, APIs, databases, and external interfaces. Experience with defect tracking and test case management tools such as JIRA, Azure DevOps, HP ALM/Quality Center, or comparable tools. Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, or comparable platforms. Experience using Git or another source control system to manage test automation code. Understanding of test automation architecture, framework design, reusable test components, data-driven testing, and automated regression strategies. Ability to design automated tests that include positive, negative, exception, and error-path testing. Ability to analyze automated test failures, application logs, API responses, and database results to isolate defects. Demonstrated experience contributing to Agile teams focused on success criteria, sprint commitments, schedule milestones, and quality outcomes. Experience testing with end users or business stakeholders to obtain feedback through Agile demonstrations, User Acceptance Testing, or pre-deployment acceptance activities. Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills. A strong, self-motivated desire to continuously improve software quality through optimization, automation, innovation, and measurable results. Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a multidisciplinary Agile development team. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to drive execution and continuous improvement through effective communication, probing questions, risk identification, analysis, and recommendations when quality issues arise. Ability to clearly communicate testing status, defects, risks, dependencies, and quality concerns to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust Clearance. Preferred Qualifications Understanding of FDA's Enterprise Performance Life Cycle (EPLC) Process. Previous experience supporting FDA, HHS, or other federal government systems. Experience supporting Agile, Scrum, SAFe, DevSecOps, or continuous delivery environments. Experience with Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, HP UFT, or comparable test automation platforms. Experience with SoapUI, ReadyAPI, Postman, REST Assured, or comparable API testing tools. Experience with HP ALM/Quality Center, JIRA, Azure DevOps, or comparable test management and defect tracking platforms. Experience with performance and load testing tools such as LoadRunner, JMeter, Gatling, or comparable technologies. Experience with Section 508 accessibility testing and tools such as ANDI, axe, WAVE, or comparable automated accessibility testing tools. Familiarity with Windows and Linux environments. Familiarity with Oracle Database, SQL, and PL/SQL. Familiarity with Java-based enterprise applications and application servers. Familiarity with containerized applications and technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes. Experience testing applications deployed in AWS or other cloud environments. Experience with AWS services and cloud-based application architectures. Experience validating data exchanges between integrated systems. Experience with automated test reporting, dashboards, and quality metrics. Experience with test data management and automated test data creation. Knowledge of security testing concepts and secure software development practices. Familiarity with CI/CD, DevSecOps, and automated deployment processes. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Products, including Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint. Preferred Certifications One or more of the following certifications is desirable but not required: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional. AWS Certified Security – Specialty. HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate. CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certification. ABOUT US Precise Software Solutions, Inc. is a mission-focused technology services company delivering secure digital platforms, infrastructure, and operational IT services to government organizations. A CMMI Level 3–appraised company, Precise partners with agency technology leaders and solution providers to design, build, operate, and modernize enterprise IT solutions that support critical public missions combining agility, innovation, and performance to deliver measurable results. Precise specializes in cloud and hybrid infrastructure, platform engineering, security operations and compliance, application modernization, and data platforms and analytics. The company is known for its agile, delivery-driven approach and innovative engineering practices, applying operational rigor and performance-focused execution to improve system resilience, security, and scalability across complex government environments. BENEFITS AND PERKS Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental and Vision) Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA) Retirement Plan with 4% match and discretionary match at year end Paid Time Off (PTO): 15 days of PTO accrued per year; 7 holidays+ 3 Floating holidays; 2 Innovation days (paid training days) Short Term and Long-Term Disability Paid Parental Leave Paid Jury Duty leave Life and AD&D Insurance Critical Illness Insurance Training and Development Wellness Incentives & Discount programs Employee Referral Program Annual Charity Donation Match Awards and Recognition Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Precise Software Solutions is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or other legally protected status. We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We expect every member of the Precise community to do their part to cultivate and maintain an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.