Senior QA/Automation Test Engineer

Guidehouse; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Job summary

Guidehouse is seeking a Senior QA/Automation Test Engineer to lead quality engineering in a fast-paced Agile environment. You will define testing strategy, advance automation, and ensure secure, scalable releases.

As a technical leader, you’ll mentor others and partner with cross-functional teams to embed quality across the SDLC. You will design automation frameworks and integrate tests into CI/CD, while driving continuous improvement in testing methodologies and security-focused testing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field is required.
• 7+ years in Software QA, Test Automation, or Quality Engineering recommended.
• Experience leading testing efforts on large-scale enterprise applications.
• Experience within Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or similar frameworks.
• Proficiency integrating automated testing into CI/CD and DevSecOps environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality engineering initiatives across applications and platforms.
• Define testing strategy, standards, and release-readiness criteria.
• Architect and maintain enterprise-scale automated testing frameworks.
• Develop reusable automation for functional, API, UI, and end-to-end testing.
• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps workflows.
• Mentor junior QA engineers and promote quality practices across teams.

Skills

Java

Test Automation

Selenium

Jenkins

REST Assured

TestNG

CI/CD

DevSecOps

BDD

API Testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Katalon Studio

Postman

Datadog

SonarQube

JUnit

Job description

Job Family:Systems EngineeringTravel Required:Up to 10%Clearance Required:Ability to Obtain Public TrustWhat You Will Do:Guidehouse isseeking an experienced Senior QA/Automation Test Engineer to lead quality engineering initiatives and support the delivery of enterprise-class software solutions within a fast-paced Agile and DevSecOps environment. This role is responsible for defining testing strategy, advancing automation maturity, improving software quality processes, and ensuring scalable, reliable, and secure application releases.The Senior QA/Automation Test Engineer serves as a quality advocate and technical leader, partnering with software engineers, architects, product owners, business analysts, DevOps teams, and stakeholders to embed quality throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC). The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in test automation, quality engineering, CI/CD integration, and modern testing methodologies while driving continuous improvement and mentoring junior team members.This position supports a large integrated platform with frequent software releases and requires a proactive approach to risk management, defect prevention, automation optimization, and operational excellence.Key ResponsibilitiesQuality Engineering LeadershipServe as the lead quality engineering resource for assigned applications, platforms, and initiatives.Establish and maintain comprehensive test strategies aligned with business, technical, security, and compliance requirements.Define quality standards, testing approaches, automation objectives, and release-readiness criteria.Advocate for quality-first and shift-left testing practices across development teams.Identify quality risks early and provide recommendations to reduce production defects and operational impact.Promote continuous improvement of testing methodologies, tools, frameworks, and processes.Test Automation Strategy & DevelopmentArchitect, develop, maintain, and enhance enterprise-scale automated testing frameworks.Design reusable automation solutions for functional, API, integration, regression, UI, database, and end-to-end testing.Lead automation initiatives that improve test coverage, execution efficiency, and release confidence.Establish automation standards, coding practices, and framework governance.Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps workflows.Evaluate and recommend emerging automation technologies, AI-assisted testing tools, and quality engineering solutions.Test Planning & ExecutionDevelop and maintain comprehensive test plans, test cases, test scenarios, and testing documentation.Review business, functional, technical, and architecture requirements to ensure adequate test coverage.Execute and oversee functional, integration, performance, regression, system, user acceptance, and release validation testing.Ensure traceability between requirements, test cases, defects, and production releases.Validate application functionality, usability, performance, reliability, and security expectations.Defect Management & Root Cause AnalysisLead defect triage sessions and quality reviews with development teams and stakeholders.Perform in-depth root cause analysis of defects, failures, and production incidents.Identify recurring quality challenges and recommend preventive solutions.Establish defect metrics and reporting that drive actionable improvements.Verify corrective actions and ensure adequate regression coverage.Agile & DevSecOps CollaborationParticipate in sprint planning, backlog refinement, architecture discussions, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.Collaborate with developers to ensure testability of system designs and requirements.Support continuous integration and continuous delivery practices through automated validation gates.Partner with DevOps teams to improve deployment quality, release automation, and environment stability.Contribute to secure software delivery through automated validation and security-focused testing.Mentorship & Technical LeadershipMentor and coach junior and mid-level QA engineers and automation specialists.Conduct peer reviews of test cases, automation scripts, and quality artifacts.Establish quality engineering best practices and promote knowledge sharing throughout the organization.Lead process improvement initiatives and champion innovation within the QA Serve as a trusted advisor on software quality, testing strategy, and automation approaches.Performance ExpectationsDelivery ExcellenceConsistently deliver testing activities that align with sprint, release, and program objectives.Support high-quality releases with minimal production-impacting defects.Proactively identify and mitigate quality risks before deployment.Automation LeadershipContinuously expand and improve automated test coverage across applications and platforms.Reduce manual testing effort through scalable and maintainable automation solutions.Improve execution speed, reliability, and reporting of automated test suites.Quality ImprovementDrive measurable reductions in defect leakage and production incidents.Improve overall software quality metrics through proactive quality engineering practices.Establish repeatable, efficient testing processes across teams.Technical ExcellenceMaintain modern automation frameworks and testing architectures.Ensure automation assets remain maintainable, reusable, and scalable.Demonstrate expertise in enterprise testing disciplines and emerging technologies.Collaboration & InfluenceEffectively communicate testing status, risks, dependencies, and recommendations to technical and business stakeholders.Build strong collaborative relationships with engineering, product, architecture, and operations teams.Mentor team members and contribute to organizational quality maturity.What You Will Need:EducationBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or related technical discipline.Equivalent combination of education and FOUR (4) years relevant experience may be considered in leu of degree.Additional RequirementsU.S. Citizenship required.Exceptional analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Ability to effectively influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.ExperienceSEVEN (7) years of professional experience in Software Quality Assurance, Test Automation, or Quality Engineering.Minimum FIVE (5) years designing and implementing automated testing frameworks and solutions.Experience leading testing efforts on large-scale enterprise applications.Experience operating within Agile, Scrum, SAFe, or comparable delivery frameworks.Experience supporting CI/CD and DevSecOps environments.Technical ExpertiseDemonstrated expertise in:Test automation architecture and framework design.Functional, integration, regression, system, API, database, and end-to-end testing.Quality engineering methodologies and best practices.Defect lifecycle management and root cause analysis.Test strategy development and risk-based testing.Continuous integration and continuous testing practices.Enterprise SDLC processes and release management.Software quality metrics, reporting, and test governance.Programming & Automation SkillsStrong experience with:Java (preferred) or equivalent object-oriented programming languages.Automation framework development and maintenance.TestNG, Junit, Nunit, Selenium, Katalon, or equivalent testing technologies.SQL and database validation techniques.Source control platforms such as Git.Tools & TechnologiesExperience with several of the following:Selenium, Katalon Studio, Jenkins, TestNG, JUnit / NUnit, JMeter, Postman, REST Assured, SonarQube, Jira, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Datado, Splunk, DynatraceWhat Would Be Nice To Have:Advanced Automation & Modern TestingExperience building automation frameworks from the ground up.Experience implementing Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) using Cucumber or SpecFlow.Experience with Test-Driven Development (TDD) environments.Knowledge of contract testing and service virtualization.Experience with intelligent and AI-assisted testing platforms.Cloud & Modern ArchitectureExperience testing cloud-native solutions hosted in Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform.Experience with containerized applications using Docker and Kubernetes.Knowledge of distributed systems, event-driven architectures, and microservices.Experience validating serverless and API-first applications.DevSecOps & SecurityExperience integrating automated testing into enterprise CI/CD pipelines.Understanding of DevSecOps principles and secure SDLC methodologies.Experience supporting automated security, vulnerability, and compliance testing.Familiarity with OWASP principles and application security testing.Performance & Reliability EngineeringExperience conducting load, stress, scalability, and performance testing.Experience leveraging observability and monitoring platforms.Familiarity with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) concepts.Experience establishing performance baselines and service-level objectives (SLOs).Business Domain KnowledgeInsurance industry experience.Understanding of customer experience (CX) and digital product quality principles.Professional CertificationsISTQB Advanced Test Automation EngineerISTQB Advanced Test ManagerCertified Agile Tester (CAT)SAFe Agilist or SAFe PractitionerCertified Scrum Master (CSM)Microsoft Azure Fundamentals or Azure DevOps certificationsAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or equivalent cloud certificationThe annual salary range for this position is $130,000.00-$216,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.What We Offer:Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.Benefits include:Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision InsurancePersonal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid HolidaysParental Leave401(k) Retirement PlanGroup Term Life and Travel AssistanceVoluntary Life and AD&D InsuranceHealth Savings Account, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending AccountsTransit and Parking Commuter BenefitsShort-Term & Long-Term DisabilityTuition Reimbursement, Personal Development, Certifications & Learning OpportunitiesEmployee Referral ProgramCorporate Sponsored Events & Community OutreachCare.com annual membershipEmployee Assistance ProgramSupplemental Benefits via Corestream (Critical Care, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Assistance and ID theft protection, etc.)Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonusAbout GuidehouseGuidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1-571-633-1711 or via email at [e-mail]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.All communication regarding recruitment for a Guidehouse position will be sent from Guidehouse email domains including @guidehouse.com or [e-mail]. Correspondence received by an applicant from any other domain should be considered unauthorized and will not be honored by Guidehouse. Note that Guidehouse will never charge a fee or require a money transfer at any stage of the recruitment process and does not collect fees from educational institutions for participation in a recruitment event. Never provide your banking information to a third party purporting to need that information to proceed in the hiring process.If any person or organization demands money related to a job opportunity with Guidehouse, please report the matter to Guidehouse’s Ethics Hotline. If you want to check the validity of correspondence you have received, please contact [e-mail]. Guidehouse is not responsible for losses incurred (monetary or otherwise) from an applicant’s dealings with unauthorized third parties.Guidehouse does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Guidehouse and Guidehouse will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.