Software Test Lead

About the Team:

STR's Analytics and Command & Control (AC2) Division focuses on developing actionable, advanced technology solutions to provide asymmetric advantages within the information domain.

The Mission Applications (MA) Group within the AC2 Division specializes in ensuring the technology that STR creates produces outsized mission impact. Staff within the MA group have a deep understanding of missions and technology needs for national security with skills targeting transition of technology to operational use, including product management, UX Product implementation, software integration & mission engineering, platform engineering, DevOps, and program management. MA staff combine with other science and engineering staff from the various STR research and development groups to form dedicated product teams focused on accelerating the operational transition of cutting-edge software technologies.

The Role:

A Test Lead coordinates all efforts associated with test, to include test-driven development and implementing automation for various elements of system test. This approach places a strong emphasis on all aspects of test (unit, integration, and system-level) to ensure STR is fulfilling the end-user's operational needs, thus enabling the success of the overall mission. Ensuring all facets of system test are accounted for in the end-to-end software development and deployment can significantly improve the impact of STR software.

We are seeking experienced candidates - preferably, established technical leads with experience as a test lead on a software development program and skill interfacing with teams of developers.

What you will do:

• Lead the development team in designing and implementing integration tests for innovative software services in an agile DevSecOps environment
• Collaborate with program leadership to prioritize test planning and execution activities
• Ongoing work includes developing and maintaining automated system and regression tests and working with program management/staff to identify key system-level test cases
• Hands-on experience with ability to quickly grasp overall system architecture picture is essential

Who You Are:

• Ability to obtain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government
• BS in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related technical field with a minimum of 7+ years of relevant experience. Equivalent experience will be considered.
• Experience with relevant technologies, including:
  • Python
  • Kafka
  • RESTful services
  • Gitlab, specifically Gitlab CI/CD and understanding pipelines
  • Kubernetes (good familiarity with kubectl and experience putting together k8s yml config files)
  • ELK stack tools
  • Docker and docker-compose
  • Java applications (e.g., deployment/configuration)
  • xUnit-based test frameworks, primarily pytest, PyUnit, Jest, and Junit
  • Web-based UI test automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Playwright)

Even Better:

• Active Security Clearance at the Top Secret level with SCI Eligibility
• Advanced Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related technical field
• Located near STR offices in Woburn, MA, Arlington, VA, or San Diego, CA, Denver, CO or willing to relocate
• Demonstrated ability to work across DevOps and development teams to find solutions to enable automated testing
• Demonstrated test framework/infrastructure debugging skills, especially debugging microservices deployed to a cloud infrastructure (leverages multiple skills including kubectl, ELK, Docker knowledge
• Ability to fully understand the architecture of the system under test and to identify weak/failure points

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $175,000 - $240,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.