Senior Application Test Engineer

Marathon TS is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Application Test Engineer to support our client. The best qualified candidate for this position will be eager to learn, flexible, knowledgeable, and a dedicated IT professional who can navigate Manual and Automation Testing oversight and design with a strong comprehension of business analytics. Tasks will be conducted onsite in Springfield, VA, with telework options on a case-by-case basis per customer's written approval.
Essential Duties & Job Functions: Primary Duty

• Establishes, maintains, modifies and documents Test Network processes, procedures and requirements utilizing appropriate format and technical reports in accordance with customer SOPs.
• Uses initiative and judgment to design and implement test procedures in support of customer and senior engineers.
• Interfaces with customer to provide updates, recommendations, and feedback as the Senior Test Engineer.
• Serves as the singular and primary POC for Test Network application and integration.

Secondary Responsibilities
• Conduct manual testing of the product to ensure functionality, security, and compliance with project requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather and analyze business requirements.
• Bridge the gap between technical teams and end-users by translating business needs into comprehensive test cases and documentation.
• Create, execute, and maintain detailed test plans, test scripts, and test reports.
• Identify, log, and track defects, providing clear documentation to support the development and resolution process.
• Collaborate with development teams to ensure test cases align with project goals and objectives.
• Actively participate in project meetings, offering valuable insights and recommendations based on testing outcomes.
• Contribute to the improvement of testing processes and methodologies.
• Responsibility of performing root analysis and apply resolution
• Willingness to take on new tasks as needed
• Gather systems information, analyze how projects affect business outcomes, and provide feedback as needed
• Liaise with other IT personnel for problem resolution

Accountable For
This position is accountable for independently identifying and executing network configuration and change within a test environment in support of the customer and other senior engineers. The candidate should have sufficient experience to work within a design team and contribute concepts and plans for network improvement. The key attributes of a senior Test Engineer include:

• Displays initiative and judgment in a team environment, capable of taking ownership and leading the development of the test network environment.
• Independently identifies priorities of effort and ensures sufficient resources are allocated to address emergent requirements.
• Effectively communicates with customer and network engineers using appropriate language to the audience when communicating abstract and technical concepts.
• Proactively engages with leadership in decision making process.
• Is the Test Engineer SME for the DT AIA office.

Knowledge Of:

1. Testing Responsibilities:

• Manual and Automated Testing: The role will include both manual testing for functionality, security, and compliance, as well as the creation and management of automation test procedures.
• Test Script Creation & Maintenance: The senior tester will be expected to create detailed test scripts, execute them, and maintain them as the system evolves. The focus will be on building robust test cases that reflect business requirements.
• Test Environment Management: The senior tester will ensure that the QA, test, and production environments are properly configured for testing. They will be expected to support and document the test environment setup.

2. Agile and DevOps Collaboration:

• Agile Testing: In an Agile environment, the tester will actively participate in sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives. They will be expected to adapt testing processes to support quick iterations and frequent releases.
• DevOps Integration: With DevOps in use, the senior tester will help integrate automated tests into the CI/CD pipeline. Their responsibility will include ensuring that tests run seamlessly as part of the deployment process.

3. Test Automation:

• Automation Frameworks: They should have experience with creating and managing test automation frameworks and integrating them into the DevOps pipeline.
• Tool Proficiency: Familiarity with tools like Microsoft DevOps, Jira, Selenium, or other automation tools will be essential to ensure test cases are executed and tracked effectively.

4. Defect Tracking and Reporting:

• The senior tester will be responsible for identifying, logging, and tracking defects using defect tracking systems. They will work closely with developers to ensure defects are resolved in a timely manner.
• They will also generate test reports and metrics to communicate progress and the quality of the system to stakeholders.

5. Communication and Collaboration:

• The senior tester will act as the main point of contact for testing within the team and with external stakeholders.
• They will need to bridge technical and non-technical communication, ensuring that the business requirements are accurately represented in the test cases and communicated clearly.

6. Continuous Improvement:

• Test Process Improvement: The senior tester will actively participate in retrospectives and process reviews to suggest improvements to the testing strategy and automation efforts.
• Knowledge Sharing: They will be responsible for training and mentoring junior testers or other team members on new testing methodologies, tools, and techniques.

Ability To:

• Ability to meet:
  • Deadlines and deliver high-quality test results under tight project timelines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Project objectives and testing milestones, ensuring all required testing phases (manual, automated, and regression) are completed on time and align with the project's agile sprints and milestones.
  • Evolving business and technical requirements, adapting testing strategies to changing conditions while maintaining high-quality standards
    
• Ability to exercise judgment in:
  • Determining the most effective testing approaches based on project complexity, timelines, and resource constraints, ensuring comprehensive test coverage.
  • Prioritizing defects and risks found during testing to ensure the most critical issues are addressed first in collaboration with developers.
  • Selecting and customizing testing tools and frameworks, ensuring that the chosen tools align with the project's goals and the team's capabilities.
• Ability to display:
  • Strong problem-solving skills, identifying issues early in the development cycle and proposing effective solutions to mitigate risks or improve the testing process.
  • Leadership in driving quality initiatives and fostering a quality-first culture within the team, encouraging collaboration between testers, developers, and business stakeholders.
  • Adaptability and flexibility, adjusting to rapidly changing project requirements and maintaining a high level of performance and productivity even under shifting priorities.
    
• Ability to effectively communicate with:
  • Cross-functional teams, including developers, business analysts, and product owners, ensuring clear and concise reporting of test results, defects, and progress.
  • Non-technical stakeholders, translating complex technical issues into easily understandable terms for executives and other non-technical team members.
  • Leadership, providing insights and recommendations based on test outcomes, identifying potential risks, and offering suggestions for continuous improvement in testing practices.

Skilled In:

• Skilled in effectively managing and prioritizing:
  • Managing and prioritizing test tasks within an Agile environment, balancing immediate testing needs with long-term strategic goals to ensure efficient resource allocation and timely delivery.
  • Defect resolution, focusing on high-impact issues and ensuring that critical bugs are resolved before releases, while maintaining a clear communication channel with developers and stakeholders.
  • Testing efforts across multiple projects or environments, ensuring that high-priority features are thoroughly tested while maintaining test coverage for other functionalities.
    
• Strong organization skills in:
  • Managing test cases and test scripts, ensuring that all test artifacts are version-controlled, well-documented, and easily retrievable for future testing cycles.
  • Tracking defects and issues, maintaining an organized defect management system that allows quick access to defect statuses, resolutions, and critical information for timely decision-making.
  • Coordinating testing efforts across teams, including communication with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders to ensure alignment on testing goals, timelines, and expectations.
    
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in:
  • Creating detailed test reports, providing clear, concise, and actionable insights into test results, defects, and progress for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Conducting meetings and presentations, effectively conveying testing status, risks, and challenges to stakeholders, including project managers, senior engineers, and business leaders.
  • Creating comprehensive test documentation, including test plans, test cases, and defect reports, ensuring all information is easily understood and accessible for future testing or audits.

Job Requirements (Education, Experience, Professional Associations): Mandatory • Minimum of 10+ years of experience in manual testing
• Top Secret clearance, with a proven ability to handle sensitive information
• Strong organizational skills, ensuring meticulous documentation and effective communication
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, facilitating smooth collaboration among project stakeholders
• Familiarity with cross domain solutions and their unique testing requirements
• Familiarity with process improvement tools such as Microsoft DevOps, Jira, etc.
• Must be a problem solver with the ability to work independently to find solutions
• Must be flexible and able to respond quickly to constantly changing priorities while working on multiple projects
• Ability and willingness to change hats as the product demands require
• Must be self-motivated and a hard worker
• A willingness to learn and implement new technologies
• The ability to train others with a spectrum of technical capabilities, how to use new and existing applications
• Experience working as a government contractor

Preferred qualification:

• Expert level skills in creating and managing automation testing
• Minimum ten years of experience in manual and automation testing

Marathon TS is committed to the development of a creative, diverse and inclusive work environment. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Marathon TS will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Marathon TS does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as "protected status").
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