Senior Software Automation Test Engineer

Job Type Full-time Description Spatial Front, Inc. (SFI), a two-time USA Today Top Workplaces awardee and Washington Top Workplaces honoree, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Automation Test Engineer to join our dynamic development team supporting our client in Suitland, MD. SFI is responsible for providing full life cycle software development / DevOps for a federal agency. This role will lead the design, development, and implementation of robust automated testing frameworks and drive strategic quality initiatives across the software development lifecycle. As a senior member of the team, you will collaborate closely with developers, product managers, and business analysts from project inception, championing Test-Driven Development (TDD) practices and ensuring quality is embedded into every phase of development. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Java, hands-on experience with Selenium and/or Katalon Studio, and a strong track record of integrating automated testing into GitLab CI/CD pipelines. Primary Responsibilities • Framework & Test Development: Design, build, and maintain scalable, reusable automated testing frameworks using Java, Selenium, and Katalon Studio. • TDD & Architecture Support: • Partner with development teams to promote and implement Test-Driven Development (TDD), ensuring testability is built into system design. • CI/CD Pipeline Integration: Integrate automated test suites into GitLab CI/CD pipelines to support nightly builds and continuous smoke/regression testing. • Test Automation Execution: Translate manual test cases, user stories, and acceptance criteria into efficient and reliable automated test scripts. • Defect Management: Identify, document, and track defects; collaborate with developers to troubleshoot issues and validate fixes. • Reporting & Metrics: Develop clear, metrics-driven reports and dashboards to communicate product quality and release readiness to stakeholders. Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience) • Minimum 7+ years in software quality assurance • At least 4+ years focused on automation testing • Strong experience with Selenium and/or Katalon Studio • Proficiency in Java with strong object-oriented programming (OOP) principles • Hands-on experience with GitLab, including branching strategies and CI/CD pipeline configuration • Proven experience in Test-Driven Development (TDD) using frameworks such as JUnit • Experience testing RESTful and SOAP APIs using tools like Postman, Katalon, or RestAssured • Solid SQL knowledge for data validation and test setup • Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities • Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders Desired Qualifications • Experience with cloud-based testing platforms (e.g., Sauce Labs, BrowserStack) • Familiarity with additional programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript • QA certifications (e.g., ISTQB Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer) Other Information • Clearance: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. and be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance. • Background checks may include Criminal History, Education Verification, Employment Verification, Professional Certifications, and Credit History. (Public Trust investigations typically take 4–8 weeks and require fingerprinting.) • Work Environment: Flexible/remote, with occasional on-site support as needed. • Salary Range: $90,000 – $138,000 annually • Benefits: SFI offers a comprehensive benefits package. Details available at SFI Careers. • This is a full-time, W2 position. • No agencies, third parties, or Corp-to-Corp submissions. • Spatial Front Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer — all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status. • SFI participates in E-Verify. Salary Description $90,000 – $138,000 annually Apply tot his job Apply To this Job