Junior Test Engineer (DEA)
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 16, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 25, 2026.
Expression is seeking a Junior Test Engineer to support the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Investigative Case and Data Ecosystem (ICDE) modernization effort. The program is focused on delivering a modern, secure, user-friendly investigative and case management ecosystem supporting DEA's law enforcement, investigative, forensic, and intelligence communities.
The Junior Test Engineer will work with developers, business analysts, and experienced QA professionals to support functional testing of Pega applications and related system capabilities. This early-career position will help validate functionality against requirements and user stories, document defects, maintain test artifacts, and contribute to quality throughout the Agile software development lifecycle.
Clearance: Top Secret clearance required and willingness to pursue SCI.
Location: Arlington, VA. The program is primarily onsite at DEA Headquarters.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the design and execution of functional test cases for Pega applications by following established testing guidelines and workflows.
- Work closely with developers, business analysts, and senior QA team members to understand requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
- Assist with validating system functionality against documented requirements to confirm expected system behavior.
- Execute functional and regression tests and accurately document test results.
- Help identify and document software defects and collaborate with engineering teams to follow issues through resolution and retesting.
- Participate in test-planning activities by providing input on test scope and helping estimate testing effort under guidance.
- Maintain and update test documentation, including regression test cases, test results, testing checklists, and supporting QA artifacts.
- Support User Acceptance Testing and other system validation activities as assigned.
- Participate in Agile ceremonies, including stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.
- Support testing throughout development iterations and help ensure testing activities align with sprint requirements.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to promote quality standards throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Review and analyze test results and escalate potential risks, defects, or issues to senior QA team members for evaluation.
- Assist with testing system workflows, integrations, and user-facing functionality.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or related fields and 1 year of professional experience.
- Exposure to or foundational understanding of Pega testing concepts or Pega functional testing tools through coursework, training, internships, or professional experience.
- Basic understanding of Quality Assurance principles, including test-case creation, defect reporting, functional testing, and regression testing.
- Ability to read and interpret requirements or user stories and translate them into clear test steps.
- Familiarity with Agile development methodologies such as Scrum or Kanban through coursework, internships, or previous roles.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to clearly document issues, defects, test results, and testing outcomes.
- Experience with or knowledge of common test-management or defect-tracking tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps.
Preferred Qualifications
- Pega certification, such as CSA, CSSA, or another applicable entry-level certification.
- Exposure to automated testing tools for Pega applications, such as PegaUnit or Selenium for Pega UI.
- Familiarity with Agile-focused testing methodologies, including Scrum, SAFe, or hybrid environments.
- Interest in or basic exposure to test-automation or hybrid-testing frameworks.
- Awareness of CI/CD concepts and how software testing integrates into automated delivery pipelines.
- Exposure to testing Federal Government or other complex enterprise applications.
Benefits:
Expression offers competitive salaries and benefits, such as:
- 401k matching
- PPO and HDHP medical/dental/vision insurance
- Education reimbursement up to $10,000/yr
- Complimentary life insurance
- Generous PTO and 11 days of holiday leave
- Onsite gym facility
- Commuter Benefits Plan
- In-office Cold Brew Coffee
About Expression:
Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Washington DC, Expression provides data fusion, data analytics, AI/ML, software engineering, information technology, and electromagnetic spectrum management solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State, and national security community. Expression’s culture focuses on creating immediate and sustainable value for our clients via agile delivery of tailored solutions built through constant engagement with our clients. Expression was ranked #1 on the Washington Technology 2018's Fast 50 list of fastest-growing small business Government contractors and a Top 20 Big Data Solutions Provider by CIO Review.
We make sure to provide everyone with the tools and opportunities to grow while working on some of the newest technologies in the industry. We get excited about celebrating our professionals' milestones, accomplishments, promotions, overcoming challenges, and many other aspects that make an engaging collaborative environment.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Expression is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please submit your request to our Human Resources department through the application portal.