Software Test Engineer

Actalent; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short/long-term disability

Health Spending Account

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Software Test Engineer to join onsite in Huntsville, AL for a contract-to-hire role. You will collaborate with software and systems teams to plan, design, and execute tests for mission-critical systems, developing automated test frameworks and validating hardware-software integration.

You will work across UI and interface tests, contribute to test documentation, and participate in CI/CD validation within automated pipelines. A Secret clearance is required for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree with 3.0+ GPA requirement.
• At least 2 years in software testing or related engineering.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Experience testing complex, multi-disciplinary, mission-critical systems.
• Hands-on software test automation design and execution.
• Proficient in programming in C#, C, C++, Python, or Ruby.
• Strong written and verbal communication for leadership and stakeholders.
• Familiar with software test engineering practices and CI/CD validation.

Responsibilities

• Participate in test planning, strategy, design, and execution for complex projects.
• Develop and maintain automated test infrastructures and scripts.
• Perform integration, manual, and formal software qualification testing.
• Review and generate test documentation in line with standards.
• Collaborate with developers to clarify requirements and resolve defects.
• Apply engineering processes to ensure repeatable, traceable testing.
• Provide test-result driven quality/risk recommendations.
• Support fielding and maintenance of software products and fixes.
• Learn from peers and expand domain knowledge in testing.
• Contribute to UI, hardware interface, and system-level test development.
• Support CI/CD-based testing workflows within automated pipelines.
• Assist in hardware-software integration testing with sensors.

Skills

Software testing

Test automation

Clear communication

CI/CD practices

Hardware/software integration

Mentorship mindset

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering/CS/CE/EE/Math

Tools

C#/.NET

C

C++

Python

Ruby

CI/CD pipelines

Containerization

Microservices

SysML/MBSE

Job description

Responsibilities

• Participate as an integral member of the software test team, contributing to test planning, test strategy and design, and test execution for complex, multi-disciplinary projects.
• Develop, enhance, and maintain automated software test infrastructures, frameworks, and test scripts to support mission-critical systems, analysis tools, simulations, and mission planning software.
• Perform integration testing, informal manual testing, and formal software qualification testing to validate functionality, performance, reliability, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Review, edit, and generate engineering and test documentation, including test plans, test procedures, and other artifacts in accordance with applicable industry standards.
• Collaborate closely and frequently with software developers and other team members to clarify requirements, identify defects, resolve issues, and improve overall product quality.
• Apply software engineering processes and best practices to ensure efficient, repeatable, and traceable testing activities throughout the development lifecycle.
• Provide recommendations on product quality, test coverage, and risk areas based on test results, metrics, and observed system behavior.
• Support fielding and ongoing maintenance of software products, including troubleshooting issues and validating fixes and updates.
• Learn from more test engineers, actively seeking mentorship and guidance to expand technical and domain knowledge.
• Contribute to test development for user interfaces, hardware interfaces, and system-level scenarios, including UI and interface tests.
• Support or participate in CI/CD-based testing workflows and validation activities within automated pipelines.
• Assist in testing hardware-software integration aspects, ensuring that software components function correctly in conjunction with relevant hardware and sensors.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, or an equivalent technical discipline, with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• At least 2 years of relevant technical experience with a bachelors degree, working on software testing or related engineering activities.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active Secret security clearance.
• Proven experience performing software testing on complex, multi-disciplinary projects involving mission-critical or high-reliability systems.
• Hands-on experience implementing software test automation, including designing and executing automated test cases.
• Demonstrated ability in software development in one or more of the following programming languages: C#/.NET, C, C++, Python, or Ruby.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to present technical information and test results to leadership and government stakeholders.
• Experience with software test engineering practices, including test plan and test procedure development, validation activities, and documentation.
• Familiarity with CI/CD concepts and validation in automated build and deployment environments.
• Understanding of hardware and interface testing, including UI and interface test scenarios.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience writing user interface (UI) tests using automated UI testing technologies.
• Experience working with applicable industry standards such as IEEE standards, CMMI, DO-178C, DO-278, MIL-STD-882E, and Risk Management Framework (RMF).
• Ability to work effectively across multiple products under development by several small teams, managing priorities and collaborating in a dynamic environment.
• Knowledge of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles and their application in software and systems design.
• Experience with containerization technologies, CI/CD pipelines, and microservices architectures.
• Experience testing guidance and control algorithms, navigation systems, mission planning systems (such as NOMS or JMPS), and sensors.
• Familiarity with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices and SysML modeling.
• Understanding of hardware-software integration and software systems engineering principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex system behavior and translate it into effective test strategies.
• Ability to learn quickly from test engineers and adapt to evolving tools, technologies, and processes.

Work Environment

The role is based onsite in Huntsville, AL, supporting software testing activities for tactical strike guided munition programs in a collaborative engineering office environment. The Software Test Engineer works closely with software developers, systems engineers, and other test engineers on mission planning software, analysis tools, simulations, and mission-critical system components. The environment emphasizes rigorous testing practices, adherence to industry standards, and use of modern technologies such as automated test frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and microservices. Work is performed in a professional setting with access to hardware and software test equipment as needed for integration and interface testing, and collaboration and communication are central to daily activities.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Huntsville, AL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $49.95 - $93.47/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Benefits

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Huntsville,AL.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable Accommodation

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.