Junior Test Engineer (DEA)

Expression; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k matching

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Education reimbursement up to $10,000/

Life insurance

Generous PTO

Holiday leave

Onsite gym facility

Commuter Benefits Plan

In-office Cold Brew Coffee

Job summary

Expression seeks a Junior Test Engineer to support the DEA ICDE modernization effort. The role focuses on functional testing of Pega applications and related system capabilities, collaborating with developers and QA professionals in an Agile environment.

This early-career position emphasizes validating requirements, documenting defects, and maintaining test artifacts. The candidate will participate in test planning, update regression test suites, and contribute to overall quality throughout

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field required.
• Exposure to or foundational understanding of Pega testing concepts or Pega functional testing tools.
• Basic understanding of Quality Assurance principles, including test-case creation, defect reporting, functional testing, and regression testing.
• Ability to read and interpret requirements or user stories and translate them into clear test steps.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute functional test cases for Pega applications.
• Collaborate with developers and business analysts to understand requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Verify system functionality against requirements to confirm expected behavior.
• Execute functional and regression tests and document results.
• Identify and document defects and follow them through resolution and retesting.
• Assist with test planning and rough estimation of testing effort.

Skills

Pega testing concepts

QA fundamentals

Requirements understanding

Agile methodologies

Communication skills

Test documentation

Reading requirements to test steps

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

Job description

Expression is seeking a Junior Test Engineer to support the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Investigative Case and Data Ecosystem (ICDE) modernization effort. The program is focused on delivering a modern, secure, user-friendly investigative and case management ecosystem supporting DEA's law enforcement, investigative, forensic, and intelligence communities. The Test Engineer will work with developers, business analysts, and experienced QA professionals to support functional testing of Pega applications and related system capabilities. This early-career position will help validate functionality against requirements and user stories, document defects, maintain test artifacts, and contribute to quality throughout the Agile software development lifecycle. Clearance: Secret clearance required and willingness to pursuit TS/SCI. Location: Arlington, VA. The program is primarily onsite at DEA Headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the design and execution of functional test cases for Pega applications by following established testing guidelines and workflows.
• Work closely with developers, business analysts, and senior QA team members to understand requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Assist with validating system functionality against documented requirements to confirm expected system behavior.
• Execute functional and regression tests and accurately document test results.
• Help identify and document software defects and collaborate with engineering teams to follow issues through resolution and retesting.
• Participate in test-planning activities by providing input on test scope and helping estimate testing effort under guidance.
• Maintain and update test documentation, including regression test cases, test results, testing checklists, and supporting QA artifacts.
• Support User Acceptance Testing and other system validation activities as assigned.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, including stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
• Support testing throughout development iterations and help ensure testing activities align with sprint requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to promote quality standards throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Review and analyze test results and elevate potential risks, defects, or issues to senior QA team members for evaluation.
• Assist with testing system workflows, integrations, and user-facing functionality.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields and 1 year of professional experience.
• Exposure to or foundational understanding of Pega testing concepts or Pega functional testing tools through coursework, training, internships, or professional experience.
• Basic understanding of Quality Assurance principles, including test-case creation, defect reporting, functional testing, and regression testing.
• Ability to read and interpret requirements or user stories and translate them into clear test steps.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban through coursework, internships, or previous roles.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to clearly document issues, defects, test results, and testing outcomes.
• Experience with or knowledge of common test-management or defect-tracking tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps.

Preferred Qualifications

• Pega certification, such as CSA, CSSA, or another applicable entry-level certification.
• Exposure to automated testing tools for Pega applications, such as PegaUnit or Selenium for Pega UI.
• Familiarity with Agile-focused testing methodologies, including Scrum, SAFe, or hybrid environments.
• Interest in or basic exposure to test-automation or hybrid-testing frameworks.
• Awareness of CI/CD concepts and how software testing integrates into automated delivery pipelines.
• Exposure to testing Federal Government or other complex enterprise applications.

Benefits

• 401k matchingPPO and HDHP medical/dental/vision insuranceEducation reimbursement up to $10,000/yrComplimentary life insuranceGenerous PTO and 11 days of holiday leaveOnsite gym facility Commuter Benefits PlanIn-office Cold Brew Coffee

About Expression

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Washington DC, Expression provides data fusion, data analytics, AI/ML, software engineering, information technology, and electromagnetic spectrum management solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State, and national security community. Expression’s culture focuses on creating immediate and sustainable value for our clients via agile delivery of tailored solutions built through constant engagement with our clients. Expression was ranked #1 on the Washington Technology 2018's Fast 50 list of fastest-growing small business Government contractors and a Top 20 Big Data Solutions Provider by CIO Review. We make sure to provide everyone with the tools and opportunities to grow while working on some of the newest technologies in the industry. We get excited about celebrating our professionals' milestones, accomplishments, promotions, overcoming challenges, and many other aspects that make an engaging collaborative environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/DisabledExpression is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please submit your request to our Human Resources department through the application portal.