Senior Software Test Engineer (Manual)

Peraton is seeking a Senior Software Test Engineer in Herndon, VA  to support Intelligence Community and DoD customers as part of a talented, high-performing team. As part of this team you will work with emerging service and distributed computing technologies for satellite situational awareness (SSA) data processing and distribution.  

The EMMETT program, a next gen Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Indications and Warning (I&W) system, establishes a repository of resident space objects (RSOs), finds RSOs of interest, and provides data to ground operators. The EMMETT team uses: programmatics, sensor modeling, and system engineering expertise to deliver this world-class SDA I&W system. 

What you'll do: 

• Design, develop, and execute comprehensive manual test cases and test plans based on detailed system requirements, user stories, and specifications for space-domain applications.
• Perform thorough functional, regression, integration, and user acceptance testing (UAT) to identify, document, and track software defects and anomalies.
• Independently analyze system behavior, identify root causes of issues, and provide clear, concise defect reports to development teams, ensuring timely resolution.
• Comfortably and effectively present and sell off acceptance criteria and test results to government clients and stakeholders, clearly articulating the rationale behind decisions and addressing any concerns.
• Utilize and troubleshoot within Linux environments, performing tasks such as navigating file systems, analyzing logs, executing scripts, and configuring test setups.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including developers, system engineers, and mission specialists, to understand system intricacies and ensure testability.
• Participate in requirements reviews, design discussions, and sprint planning sessions to provide valuable input on testability and potential risks.
• Maintain accurate and detailed test documentation, including test cases, test results, and defect reports, adhering to established quality assurance processes.

Required Qualifications: 

• Associates degree with 12+ years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience; OR Master's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience. Additional four (4) years of experience may be considered in lieu of a bachelors degree. 
• This position requires the candidate possess a minimum of Top Secret clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI and pass a polygraph within 30 days of employment or at customers request- contract requires TS/SCI with poly. The candidate must maintain the clearance. 
• 6+ years of experience as a Manual Test Engineer, with a strong understanding of software testing methodologies and the full software development life cycle.
• Demonstrated experience in the space domain industry, including familiarity with satellite systems, ground control, mission operations, and space-related data.
• Proven ability to execute test plans and independently resolve issues, showcasing strong initiative and problem-solving skills without direct supervision.
• Proficient in Linux operating systems, with expertise in command-line navigation, file manipulation, process management, and log analysis

Desired Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly articulate technical details and justify test outcomes to both technical and non-technical audiences—especially government clients.
• Experience with defect tracking tools (e.g., JIRA) and test management tools (e.g., TestRail).
• Strong analytical skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies (Scrum).
• Knowledge of networking concepts and troubleshooting in a Linux environment.
• Experience with virtualized environments or cloud platforms.
• ISTQB certification or other relevant testing certifications.

Benefits:

Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees working on this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap and eligible to participate in an attractive bonus plan.

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.