Test Automation Engineer SME

Peraton • Bethesda, MD

9h

About The Position

Join Peraton in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton helps deliver the systems and services that keep our nation’s skies safe and connected. We’re looking for innovative professionals who thrive in mission-critical environments and are passionate about shaping the future of air traffic management. This is your chance to make an impact on one of the world’s most vital transportation infrastructures, working alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration. At Peraton, you won’t just support the mission you’ll define it. Help shape the future of U.S. airspace safety and efficiency. We are seeking a Test Automation Engineer SME to play a pivotal role in advancing how aviation systems are validated, modernized, and delivered. In this high-impact position, you will provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise to ensure Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) systems undergo rigorous, automated testing across development and modernization lifecycles. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of automation, DevSecOps, and mission-critical aviation systems, while gaining deep exposure to federal programs that directly impact the safety and reliability of the National Airspace System. Why This Role Matters The FAA is the backbone of aviation safety and innovation in the United States. As a Test Automation Engineer, your work ensures that automation accelerates testing, expands coverage, and reduces operational risk before systems ever reach the field. You are not just writing tests; you are protecting the integrity of the National Airspace System, enabling modernization with confidence, and ensuring that new technologies meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and performance. This role offers the opportunity to lead, influence, and make a national impact through technology.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship Required.
• Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree and 12 years of experience or Masters degree and 10 years or or Associate’s degree and 14 years’ experience or HS diploma/equivalent and 16 years experience.
• Proven expertise in test automation tools (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, JUnit, PyTest, etc.).
• Proficiency in programming and scripting languages (Python, Java, C#, JavaScript, or similar).
• Experience integrating automated tests with CI/CD platforms (Jenkins, GitLab, Azure DevOps).
• Knowledge of test management tools (JIRA, TestRail, HP ALM).
• Familiarity with cloud-based automation testing in AWS, Azure, or hybrid environments.
• Strong understanding of API testing tools (Postman, REST Assured, SoapUI).
• Experience with performance and load testing automation (JMeter, LoadRunner).

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting systems for the Federal Aviation Administration or other federal agencies.
• Familiarity with FAA standards, NIST frameworks, RMF, or compliance-driven testing environments.
• Experience with test automation tools and frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, JUnit, TestNG, or equivalent.
• Experience integrating automated testing with cloud or hybrid environments.
• Knowledge of performance and load testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Gatling, LoadRunner).
• Experience with containerized or microservices-based architectures.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and influence automation best practices across teams.
• Experience generating automation metrics, dashboards, and executive-level reporting.
• Prior involvement in system certification, readiness reviews, or safety assessments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, optimization, and scaling of test automation frameworks integrated into modern DevSecOps and CI/CD pipelines.
• Develop and maintain reusable automation libraries and frameworks that drive efficiency and consistency.
• Create advanced automated test scripts supporting functional, integration, regression, and performance testing.
• Ensure automation strategies align with safety-critical, compliance-driven, and certification-focused testing needs.
• Provide subject matter expertise on automation tools, frameworks, and industry best practices.
• Integrate automated testing into continuous testing pipelines, enabling faster, more confident releases.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, and product owners to ensure systems are designed for testability.
• Manage defect tracking, root cause analysis, and automation-driven remediation efforts.
• Evaluate and recommend test automation tools and platforms aligned with FAA requirements and constraints.
• Mentor test engineers and analysts in automation methodologies, scripting, and coding best practices.
• Conduct code reviews and framework audits to ensure quality, scalability, and long-term reuse.
• Produce and present automation coverage metrics, dashboards, and executive-level reports.
• Support test readiness reviews, system certification, and compliance activities for FAA leadership.
• Serve as a technical leader driving automation strategy and advanced testing initiatives across FAA programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level