Test Engineer 3 - (HPC, Linux, Python)

Akina, Inc.; Maryland; On-site; USD 186,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 24 days

11 federal holidays

401k with 10% company contribution

Healthcare fully covered for employees

Educational assistance

Job summary

Akina, Inc. seeks a Test Engineer to plan, develop, and automate testing for software, middleware, and infrastructure in HPC environments. You will ensure reliability, performance, and security while aligning T&E activities with program milestones.

Responsibilities include creating evaluation plans, data collection, and coordinating with government sponsors and SE teams. A TS/SCI - Polygraph is required for this role, with a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience with Linux-based test environments and HPC systems.
• Familiarity with test planning, execution, and data collection in government/DoD contexts.
• Strong scripting and automation skills for test pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and execute software and system tests for HPC environments.
• Automate data collection and test execution to support T&E activities.
• Coordinate with SE and SME teams to align testing with program milestones.
• Produce Evaluation Plans, Analysis Plans, and test reports.

Skills

Linux CLI

Bash/Python

Linux admin

Software testing

HPC testing

REST APIs

Defect tracking

Testing methodologies

Automation

CI/CD

Docker

Git

Podman

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Docker

Podman

Git

Job description

Clearance: TS/SCI - Polygraph required
Position ID: 02-543-TE3
Location: Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Description:

The Test Engineer shall be responsible for planning, developing, executing, and automating testing activities for software applications, middleware, and infrastructure deployed in High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments to validate system requirements.

This position ensures the reliability, scalability, performance, security, and operational readiness of HPC systems.

• Conduct research into and apply knowledge of Government test and evaluation concepts and related engineering, acquisition, and operations activities as needed to support the T&E activities
• Plan and Execute Performance Analysis
• Review planned acquisition approaches to support T&E schedule alignment with decision maker needs for T&E support
• Analyze performance risk areas to focus T&E planning
• Specify, validate, and adapt Modeling and Simulation for T&E use
• Apply Statistical Analysis of variations in performance behavior to characterize confidence in performance estimates
• Select, develop, and use analysis tools
• Execute the evaluation plan on data collected by Testing Tasks
• Plan and Execute Performance Data Collection
• Plan program and event level testing for collection of data required for analysis and to sync T&E events with supported decision points
• Establish and employ Data and Configuration Management capabilities
• Support Data Authentication group functions; and comply with program Discrepancy Reporting criteria and processes
• Assess operation and system performance requirements for testability and criticality to frame and prioritize T&E objectives and enable evaluation planning
• Coordinate with program Systems Engineering (SE) and review T&E-related SE information to leverage functional analysis, system descriptions, parameter selection and dependencies, Modeling and Simulation, and initial performance risk assessments to inform evaluation planning
• Assess operational environments and priorities for evaluation attention and scenario selection, and to coordinate user participation in T&E
• Plan program and event level risk-tailored performance estimation and analysis of system and operational Effectiveness and Suitability metrics & conditions; levels of T&E include inspection, demonstration, paper analysis, survey, simulation, and physical test
• Design surveys for evaluation of Subject Matter Expert (SME) input and user assessments of performance
• Participate in the T&E Working-level Integrated Product Team (WIPT) and/or Integrated Test Team for coordination of evaluation plans
• Produce Evaluation Plans (metric framework, scenarios/threads, timelines, requirements/T&E cross-walk), Analysis Plans, Data Requirements, Risk Assessments, Evaluation Reports, Status reports; provide input to Government T&E products (e.g., Technology Readiness Assessments, Test & Evaluation Strategy, Test & Evaluation Master Plan, T&E Plans & Procedures and Test Readiness Reports)
• Design data sampling schemes to optimize the information/resource balance and to control testing uncertainties
• Select, coordinate, and calibrate Instrumentation, collection and data management tools, targets, and facilities
• Ensure test readiness including training of test event participants re-conduct of the event; equipment readiness, and security, legal, and privacy compliance arrangements
• Participate in T&E WIPT and/or integrated Test Team for coordination of data collection plans
• Execute Testing and Data Collection per plan
• Produce associated Test Plans, Procedures, and reports/Briefings, Data management Plan
• Work directly with the Government sponsor to coordinate task implementation
• Maintain knowledge of current and evolving agency, national, and international standards applicable to the system development of interest
• Provide overall leadership of the T&E task and serve as primary liaison to the government for supporting contract coordination and task execution
• Communicate issues and solutions to the broader government and contract management structure as requested by Leadership
• Ensure the appropriate level of independence of the team from the solution provider to support government management of objectivity risk
• Manage T&E resources and tasks; ensure quality assurance of test processes and products
• Coordinate and integrate Evaluation and Testing tasks and products
• Participate in T&E WIPT and/or Integrated Test Team as needed to ensure proper coordination of T&E activities
• Drive innovation and responsiveness to program changes and evolving T&E status to help manage program risk; develop alternative courses of action, work-arounds, and fall-back positions with a recommendation course of action for each risk, monitor and re-evaluate risks at appropriate milestones

Position Required Skills:

• Experience using Linux CLI and Linux tools
• Proficient using Bash/Python scripting for task automation
• Strong understanding of Linux system administration fundamentals
• 3+ years of software testing, quality assurance, or validation experience in Linux environments
• Experience developing and executing test plans for HPC systems
• Experience integrating and testing REST APIs related to HPC systems
• Demonstrated experience in defect tracking and resolution processes
• Experience with software testing methodologies and test lifecycle management
• Experience developing automated test solutions and validation frameworks
• Experience with CI/CD principles, methodologies, and tools including GitLab CI
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker, PodMan
• Experience with Git Source Control System

Position Desired Skills:

• Experience with the Atlassian Tool Suite (JIRA, Confluence)
• Familiar with Splunk for searching, monitoring, and analyzing machine generated data
• Familiar with SAFe Agile principles, methodologies, and best practices
• Familiar with IaC principles and automation tools including Ansible

TE3 Qualifications:

Eight (8) years’ experience as a TE in programs and contracts of similar scope, type and complexity is required.

Bachelor’s degree in Math, Science, Engineering, Statistics, Engineering Management, or related discipline form an accredited college or university is required.

Four (4) years of additional TE experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree.

Salary Range: $186k-$228k (Annually)

The range displayed above is a likely salary range for this position. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possible contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Akina is a Woman Owned, Service Disabled, Veteran Owned, Small Business, looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join our team. We offer a generous compensation package that includes 24 days PTO accrued annually and 11 federal holidays. Our 401k is 100% vested on your start date and the company makes a direct contribution worth 10% of your salary. Akina covers 100% of healthcare costs for employees and 50% toward dependents. We offer educational assistance towards college classes and will cover costs associated with job related training and certifications.

Akina is committed to excellence and creating innovative and flexible solutions for our clients. We are a small company with an open ear to our employees' needs in order to attract and retain quality talent that enables our customer's mission.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.