Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET)
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 21, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 19, 2026.
The Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), will apply software engineering best practices to design, review, and implement automated tests and the frameworks they run on to validate complex distributed systems. Their work ensures reliability, safety, and compliance in high-stakes maritime environments.
What you will do?
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable Python-based test automation frameworks and reusable test libraries for API, UI, system, functional, regression, and performance testing.• Enforce software engineering best practices, including SOLID principles, design patterns, clean code standards, and TDD/BDD methodologies, to ensure maintainable and reliable test solutions.• Develop automated test strategies for distributed and embedded systems, including mocking, stubbing, network performance validation, and basic security testing.• Troubleshoot complex test failures, refactor legacy automation, and drive continuous improvements in test quality, reliability, and execution efficiency.• Integrate and optimize automated testing within CI/CD pipelines to enable scalable, parallelized, and automated regression testing.• Create and review test plans, procedures, reports, and quality documentation to support compliance, traceability, and product validation requirements.• Collaborate with Software Development, DevOps, Systems Engineering, and QA teams to improve testability and promote shift-left testing practices.• Lead code reviews, mentor junior SDETs, and drive adoption of testing best practices, tools, and emerging technologies.• Ensure test activities align with regulatory, defense, and naval industry quality standards while performing hands-on and exploratory testing as required.• Chair meetings and foster collaboration with offshore team.• Guide process improvements and explore new testing tools/techniques (e.g. AI-driven testing).
What you will bring?
• Degree or diploma in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. • 8+ years of software testing and test automation experience, including 5+ years of Python development. • Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies, automation frameworks, software development lifecycles, Agile practices (Scrum/Kanban), and CI/CD pipelines. • Experience testing distributed, networked, real-time, or embedded systems, with strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. • Proficiency in software design principles, including SOLID, design patterns, version control systems (Git/SVN), and test and issue management tools (e.g., Jira, Zephyr Scale). • Demonstrated leadership experience mentoring team members, conducting technical reviews, and making sound technical decisions. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Familiarity with AI-assisted development and testing tools is an asset. • Experience in defense, naval, safety-critical, or regulated software environments is preferred.