Cleared Hybrid QA Tester/Engineer (5416)

SMX is seeking a QA Tester/Engineer to ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of enterprise software applications and cloud-native solutions. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented quality advocate with experience across manual and automated testing, test strategy development, and continuous integration environments. This role will support comprehensive quality assurance activities for modern applications, AI-enabled systems, and integrations while ensuring adherence to security standards and operational excellence in a high-tempo environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain comprehensive test plans, test cases, and test scripts for web applications, APIs, and cloud-native solutions
• Execute manual and automated testing including functional, regression, integration, performance, and security testing
• Test and validate AI-enabled applications, machine learning integrations, and large language model (LLM) implementations
• Develop and maintain automated test frameworks using Selenium, Playwright, TriCentis, or similar tools
• Perform API testing and validation using Postman, REST clients, and related testing frameworks
• Identify, document, track, and manage defects through resolution using Jira, Bugzilla, or similar bug tracking systems
• Collaborate with developers, full-stack engineers, product owners, and stakeholders to understand requirements and ensure quality objectives are met
• Support continuous integration and deployment activities by integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines
• Validate data integrity and perform database verification using SQL queries and database testing techniques
• Track and report quality assurance metrics including defect densities, test coverage, and product readiness indicators
• Ensure compliance with cybersecurity requirements and participate in security testing activities
• Support Agile/Scrum ceremonies and contribute to sprint planning, retrospectives, and quality improvement initiatives

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience as a QA Tester, QA Engineer, Software Tester, or similar role
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing test plans and test cases for enterprise applications
• Strong knowledge of software QA methodologies, testing types, and quality processes
• Hands-on experience with test automation tools such as:
• Selenium, Playwright, TriCentis, or equivalent frameworks
• Experience with bug tracking and test management tools (Jira, Bugzilla, TestRail, Zephyr, or similar)
• Experience performing API testing using Postman or similar tools
• Working knowledge of scripting or programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, or Java
• Experience with SQL for database testing and data validation
• Understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills with keen attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Secret clearance

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience testing AI-powered applications, generative AI integrations, or machine learning systems
• Experience testing cloud-native applications deployed in AWS environments
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps practices, and integration of automated tests into deployment workflows
• Experience with performance testing tools (JMeter, LoadRunner, or similar)
• Experience with security testing concepts and vulnerability assessment
• Knowledge of containerization technologies …