Software Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Location

Hybrid (U. S.) with International Travel Clearance Required: Active Secret Clearance (Required) Preferred Clearance: Top Secret (TS) Employment Type: Full-Time - Contractor Travel Requirement: Some travel required

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Software QA Engineer to support testing and quality assurance activities for projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for validating an enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) solution consisting of a Java-based backend running on Windows servers with NGINX, and a Windows-based application built on . NET that integrates with middleware and backend web services.

This role requires hands-on experience with functional, integration, system, security, and performance testing across complex distributed environments. The candidate will work closely with software developers, systems engineers, security teams, and stakeholders to ensure the platform meets operational, security, and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Software Testing & Validation

• Develop and execute test plans, test cases, and test procedures for the platform and applications.
• Perform functional, regression, integration, user acceptance, and end-to-end testing.
• Validate data flow between the application, middleware, and the backend services.
• Verify authentication, identity verification, enrollment, and credential management workflows.
• Identify, document, and track software defects through resolution.

Integration Testing

• Test integrations between: .NET-based application, Java-based backend, REST/SOAP web services, Active Directory and enterprise identity repositories.
• Validate API functionality, error handling, logging, and system interoperability.
• Participate in deployment validation and environment readiness testing.

Security & Performance Testing

• Execute security-focused test scenarios including authentication, authorization, session management, and audit logging.
• Validate compliance with security requirements and hardening standards.
• Support vulnerability validation and remediation testing.
• Conduct load, stress, and performance testing to ensure system reliability.

Test Automation

• Develop and maintain automated test scripts where applicable.
• Support CI/CD validation and automated testing processes.
• Create repeatable test procedures for future releases and deployments.

Documentation & Reporting

• Produce detailed test reports, defect documentation, and quality metrics.
• Support customer demonstrations, operational acceptance testing, and deployment activities.
• Maintain testing artifacts and traceability to customer requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of software quality assurance and testing experience.
• Experience testing multi-tier enterprise applications.
• Strong understanding of: Windows operating systems, Web applications and web services, Java-based applications, .NET applications, API testing tools (Postman, SoapUI, etc.), SQL databases and query validation
• Experience creating detailed test plans, test cases, and defect reports.
• Ability to troubleshoot issues across application, middleware, and infrastructure layers.
• Active Secret Clearance required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Active Top Secret Clearance.
• Experience supporting DoD, Federal, or defense-related programs.
• Experience with Identity and Access Management (IAM) solutions.
• Familiarity with: NGINX web servers, Active Directory, Azure-hosted applications, Test automation frameworks, Security testing methodologies.
• Experience validating smart card, token, biometric, or credentialing solutions.

Preferred Certifications

• ISTQB Certified Tester
• Certified Software Quality Engineer (CSQE)
• Security+
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals or Azure Administrator

Expected hours: 40. 0 per week

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Falls Church, VA 22043