{"id":2863968,"url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet","title":"Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)","company":{"id":63425,"name":"BlackSky","domain":"blacksky.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/blacksky","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":87,"open_postings":3,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.333,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":82,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"QA","role_family":"QA","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":145000,"max":165000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":165000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":6,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Jira","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Slack","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":true},{"name":"QEMU","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-19T17:01:30Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T14:07:12Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":2,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":2},"description":"Senior Software Test Engineer\nAbout Us:\nBlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.\nThe Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is responsible for designing and implementing automated test frameworks, tools, and simulated environments that ensure the reliability and quality of our enterprise software systems. This role is development-focused and centers on building test harnesses, emulating third-party systems and network conditions, and creating robust automation infrastructure that enables comprehensive in-house validation. The SDET develops reusable test code, service/API simulators, and scalable Python-based frameworks that integrate into CI/CD pipelines to deliver consistent and repeatable coverage across complex application workflows. In addition to building automation systems, they analyze system behavior, investigate failures, collaborate closely with developers, and validate fixes to drive overall product stability and release confidence. \nThe preferred location is Tukwila, WA with the ability to work in the Tukwila office 1-2 days a week but we may be open to strong remote candidates.\nResponsibilities:\nDesign, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and tools using Python, targeting embedded Linux systems.\nBuild and maintain Python test cases and libraries, with opportunities to develop tooling and infrastructure around device automation and visibility. \nMonitor nightly automated test runs, analyze failures, and provide actionable insights through integrations with Jira/X-Ray, Slack, and CI/CD pipelines.\nTroubleshoot and diagnose issues within the embedded Linux system, including examining system logs and device telemetry, collaborating with developers to isolate root causes and verify fixes.\nPerform targeted manual testing for new feature development, complex regression scenarios, and defect reproduction where automation is not yet feasible.\nValidate functional behavior, edge cases, and system workflows across distributed application components.\nDocument test frameworks, automation patterns, test cases, expected outcomes, and reproduction steps for defects.\nSupport and improve internal Python-based test applications, tools, and services used in daily verification workflows.\nEnsure adequate test coverage for new features, releases, and high-risk areas. \nContribute to continuous improvement of automation tooling, coding standards, and test strategy. \nAssist in ensuring readiness of builds for deployment and release. \nOther job-related duties as assigned.\nRequired Qualifications:\nMinimum of years of six (6) years of experience as a Software Test Engineer, Automation Engineer, or SDET, with significant hands-on software development responsibilities.\nBachelor's degree in relevant field of study (or equivalent additional experience of four years).\nStrong proficiency in Python, including writing reusable modules, building automation frameworks, and creating test harnesses or tools.\nExperience developing automated API tests using Python Requests or equivalent frameworks.\nExperience designing and maintaining automated CLI tests, with emphasis on code structure and maintainability.\nExperience building Python-based utilities, simulators, mocks, or environment emulators to support complex test scenarios.\nFamiliarity with reporting test results and integrating automation with Jira/XRay, Slack, or similar tools.\nStrong ability to analyze automated test results, identify root causes across services and layers, and validate fixes in collaboration with developers.\nWorking knowledge of CI-based automated test pipelines, nightly execution workflows, and test orchestration.\nUnderstanding of embedded Linux systems, API-driven architectures, and service interactions.\nStrong troubleshooting and debugging skills across application layers (API, backend services, UI). \nAbility to document test plans, automation approaches, and defect reports with clarity and precision. \nDue to program requirements, this position requires US citizenship.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nExperience testing and verifying embedded software\nBonus if experience building or maintaining hardware for embedded software testing\nExperience programming in Python\nExperience programming in C/C++\nBonus for ability to debug C/C++ and perform fault analysis\nExperience maintaining CI/CD systems, or in maintaining infrastructure as code\nExperience with QEMU and device emulation\nExperience with buildroot or Yocto\nLife at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:\nMedical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance\nBlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!\n15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more\n401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match\nFlexible Spending Accounts\nEmployee Stock Purchase Program\nEmployee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs\nEmployer matching donations\nProfessional development\nMac or PC? Your choice!\nAwesome swag\nThe anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $145,000-$165,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.\nBlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.\nTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. #LI-Hybrid\nEEO/ Pay Transparency Statements:\nhttps://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf\nhttps://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf","description_format":"text","description_chars":7221,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":6,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Parental leave","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Earth Observation"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-19T17:04:57Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-10-19T20:57:11Z"},{"event":"reopen","at":"2026-10-20T00:44:55Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":2,"expected_fill_days":82,"reasons":["conf:2","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":165000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/blacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T16:49:08Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":17363,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":63425},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=63425"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fblacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fblacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fblacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/blacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fblacksky-senior-software-engineer-design-in-test-sdet"}]}