Software Test Engineer

Society of Defense Financial Management; Huntsville, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense is seeking a Software Test / QA Engineer to design, implement, and maintain automated and manual testing strategies for high-performance applications and backend systems supporting sensor and mission systems.

The role involves growing into broader system-level validation, performance testing, and real-time verification, with opportunities across defense, space, cyber, and commercial fields. Collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline from an ABET-accredited school.
• 2+ years of experience in software quality assurance, test engineering, or software development focused on automated testing.
• Proficiency in testing software built in modern C++ or writing test scripts for C++ binaries.
• Strong experience with Python for test automation development.
• Experience with Linux-based environments including shell scripting and system monitoring.
• Experience testing performance-sensitive, distributed, or systems-oriented applications.
• Familiarity with tracking/test management tools (e.g., Jira).
• US Citizenship and ability to obtain DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain automated test frameworks and scripts for C++ applications and backend systems.
• Execute comprehensive manual testing to explore edge cases and validate new features.
• Analyze and verify system performance, latency, and scalability using real and simulated data pipelines.
• Collaborate with software, systems, and hardware engineers to isolate and debug defects.
• Support software integration, verification, and deployment in operational and simulated environments.
• Develop detailed test plans, test cases, and test reports to ensure mission-critical requirements are met.
• Contribute to CI/CD automation pipelines to enable continuous testing and high software quality.

Skills

C++ testing

Python

Linux

Performance testing

Jira

Problem solving

DoD clearance readiness

Education

ABET-accredited degree (Electrical/Computer Engineering, CS)

Tools

Jira

Job description

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?
At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to doing the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Your greatest work is ahead!

Leidos Defense is seeking a talented Software Test / QA Engineer to design, implement, and maintain automated and manual testing strategies for high-performance applications and backend systems supporting advanced sensor and mission systems. This role is ideal for test engineers who enjoy building robust test automation frameworks today while growing into broader system-level validation, performance testing, and real-time system verification over time. We have offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, we provide responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.

Primary Responsibilities:

Candidate will support advanced technology radar programs by validating user-facing and backend software that interfaces with high-performance sensor and data processing systems. These applications are tightly coupled with real-time data pipelines and hardware systems, requiring a strong understanding of system behavior, performance testing, and automated data flow validation.

Engineers in this role are expected to grow into broader quality and test ownership over time, contributing across application, middleware, and real-time testing components as needed.

• Design, build, and maintain automated test frameworks and test scripts for C++-based applications and backend systems.
• Execute comprehensive manual testing when necessary to explore edge cases, validate user workflows, and establish baseline behaviors for new features.
• Analyze and verify system performance, latency, and scalability using simulated and real-world data pipelines.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including software, systems, and hardware engineers to isolate, reproduce, and debug complex system defects.
• Support software integration, verification, and deployment in operational and simulated environments.
• Develop detailed test plans, test cases, and test reports to ensure compliance with mission-critical requirements.
• Contribute to CI/CD automation pipelines to ensure continuous testing and high software quality from development through deployment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline from an ABET-accredited school with a strong demonstration of the skills listed below.
• Candidate must have 2+ years of experience in software quality assurance, test engineering, or software development with a heavy focus on automated testing.
• Candidate must have excellent teamwork skills and possess strong fundamentals in the following:
• Proficiency in testing software built in modern C++ or writing test scripts to interface with C++ binaries.
• Strong experience with Python or other scripting languages for test automation development.
• Experience with Linux-based environments, including shell scripting and system monitoring.
• Experience testing performance-sensitive, distributed, or systems-oriented applications.
• Familiarity with tracking and test management tools (e.g., Jira or equivalent bug-tracking systems).
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• US Citizenship is required and ability to obtain and maintain and DoD Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidate with additional skills in the following is preferred:

• Experience setting up test automation within CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI, Jenkins, Docker).
• Experience with messaging frameworks (e.g., ZeroMQ or similar) for simulating and testing distributed systems.
• Exposure to radar, RF, or sensor systems and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) testing frameworks.
• Experience testing frontend web applications built with Angular TS, Flask, or SCSS.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. 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:

September 24, 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 $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

About 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 $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

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 at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at [e-mail].

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.