Senior Test Automation Engineer

Leidos LLC; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 116,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

11 paid Holidays

401K with a 6% company match and vest

Flexible Schedules

Discounted Stock Purchase Plans

Technical Upskilling

Education and Training Support

Parental Paid Leave

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer to design, build, and maintain automated test solutions for REST APIs and web UIs. You will use Linux tools, Python with Pytest, and Docker/Podman to run tests in CI/CD pipelines.

The role includes migrating legacy Robot Framework tests toward modern automation platforms. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in Jenkins and GitLab, REST API validation, Selenium, and SQL validation, plus TS/SCI with polygraph clearance.

Qualifications

• Experience with Linux and Bash scripting, ability to work from the command-line and process large data sets (logs, artifacts).
• Advanced Python test automation, including Pytest-based frameworks and maintainable tests.
• Hands-on Docker/Podman experience for automation and CI/CD workflows.
• Working knowledge of Jenkins and GitLab pipelines for containerized workloads.
• Experience with REST API testing, including validation of responses, auth flows, and negative paths.
• Robot Framework UI automation using Selenium (Python).
• Ability to architect a test automation harness for UI and API testing.
• Familiarity with SQL and SQL Developer for automated validation steps.
• Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI with polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance automated test suites for REST APIs and web UIs.
• Build and maintain a scalable test automation framework with CI/CD integration.
• Expand Python-based test automation with Pytest fixtures and data strategies.
• Create and maintain Docker/Podman images used across dev and CI pipelines.
• Integrate automated tests into Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD for repeatable runs.
• Use Linx command-line tools and Bash to parse and report on test data and logs.
• Support and extend UI automation with Robot Framework and Selenium.
• Plan and migrate the current in-house harness from Robot Framework to a modern alternative (Robot Framework AIO or Playwright).
• Write and maintain SQL queries and integrate database validation into tests.
• Troubleshoot CI failures and improve test reliability and pipeline performance.

Skills

Linux CLI

Bash scripting

Python

Pytest

Docker/Podman

Jenkins

GitLab

REST API testing

Robot Framework

Selenium

SQL

Playwright

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a related technical field

Tools

Docker

Podman

Jenkins

GitLab

Selenium

Robot Framework

Playwright

SQL Developer

Job description

Senior Test Automation Engineer

Leidos has a new and exciting opportunity for a Senior Test Automation Engineer in our Intelligence Sector's Cyber & Analytics Business Area (CABA). Our talented team is at the forefront in Security Engineering, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Mission Software, Analytical Methods and Modeling, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Cryptographic Key Management. At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits, including Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in National Security!

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• 11 paid Holidays
• 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting
• Flexible Schedules
• Discounted Stock Purchase Plans
• Technical Upskilling
• Education and Training Support
• Parental Paid Leave
• and much more

We are seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer to design, build, and maintain automated test solutions for both REST APIs and web-based user interfaces. This role requires hands‑on expertise in Linux command‑line tools, Python automation, containerized test execution using Docker/Podman, and CI/CD integration with Jenkins and GitLab. The successful candidate will also help evolve our in‑house automation framework by planning and executing the migration from legacy Robot Framework implementations to newer automation platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance automated test suites for back‑end REST APIs and web‑based user interfaces.
• Build and maintain a scalable, reliable test automation harness (framework) including execution, reporting, data setup/teardown, and CI/CD integration.
• Implement and expand Python-based test automation using Pytest, including fixtures, test data strategies, and robust assertions/validation.
• Create and maintain Docker/Podman container images used to run automation consistently across developer environments and CI pipelines.
• Integrate automated test execution into Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD pipelines, ensuring repeatable runs, clear reporting, and actionable results.
• Use Linx command‑line tools and Bash shell scripting to locate, parse, transform, and report on large volumes of logs, test output, and system data.
• Support and extend UI automation using Robot Framework and the Python Selenium library, including test stability improvements and best practices.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to plan, estimate, and break down work for migrating the current in‑house test harness from legacy Robot Framework to a modern alternative (e.g., Robot Framework AIO or Microsoft Playwright).
• Write and maintain SQL queries (using SQL Developer or similar tooling) and integrate database validation steps into automated tests were appropriate.
• Troubleshoot CI failures and test irregularity/volatility, improve test reliability, and contribute to continuous improvement of the overall QA automation approach.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in a related technical field of study and 12 or more years of related experience.
• Candidates without bachelors degrees will require additional years of experience and will be considered on a case by case basis.
• Strong experience with Linux and Bash shell scripting, with demonstrated ability to work effectively from the command‑line and process/report on large data sets (logs, test artifacts, results).
• Advanced experience building test automation in Python, including Pytest-based frameworks and best practices for maintainable automated testing.
• Strong hands‑on experience with Docker (or Podman) including building, versioning, and maintaining images used in automation and CI/CD workflows.
• Working knowledge of Jenkins and GitLab pipelines, including running containerized workloads and managing automated test stages.
• Experience with REST API testing, including validation of responses, authentication flows, and negative/error‑path testing.
• Familiarity with Robot Framework UI automation using Selenium library (Python).
• Solid understanding of how to architect a test automation harness/framework for UI and/or API testing (test structure , configuration, reporting, environment management).
• Familiarity with SQL and tools such as SQL Developer, including writing queries and using them within automated validation steps.
• Security Clearance Requirement: Active TS/SCI with polygraph.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience planning and executing test automation framework migrations (e.g., Robot Framework to Microsoft Playwright or Robot Framework AIO).
• Experience improving CI performance, parallelization, and test execution efficiency in containerized environments.
• Strong debugging skills across services, CI logs, containers, and test reporting outputs.

Working Style / What Success Looks Like

• Builds reliable, maintainable automation that can be executed consistently in CI and local environments.
• Produces clear, actionable test reporting and contributes to reducing fickle tests and pipeline noise.
• Takes ownership of framework‑level improvements, including planning and breaking work into deliverable increments.
• Collaborates effectively with engineering and QA stakeholders to ensure automation aligns with product and release needs.

At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: July 17, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Company Information

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Securing Your Data

Securing Your Data Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

Commitment and Diversity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.