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 and testing containerized applications Experience with behavior-driven development (BDD) frameworks such as Cucumber Experience supporting federal or DoD environments #LI-SA1 The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications.…