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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Software Quality Assurance (QA) Automation Engineer - **Company:** Peraton Inc - **Location:** Seal Beach, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $135,000.0 - $216,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Testing (Software), Web Interfaces, JavaScript (Programming Language), Apache ActiveMQ, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Agile Methodology, Amazon Web Services, Amazon S3, JIRA, Automation of Tests, Bash Shell, Command-Line Interface, Cloud Computing, CompTIA Security+, Databases, Data Files, Relational Databases, Software Debugging, Identity and Access Management, Systems Analysis, Junit, Python (Programming Language), PostgreSQL, Linux System Administration, Log Analysis, MySQL, Ansible, Software Engineering, Software Requirements Analysis, Software Quality Assurance (SQA), Data Streaming, Test Data, Strategies of Testing, TypeScript, Scripting, Cypress (Programming Language), Gitlab, SC Clearance, Amazon Relational Database Service, Pytest, Containerization, Gitlab-ci, Kubernetes, Information Technology, Playwright, Apache Kafka, Restful APIs, Api Management, Docker, Jenkins, Microservices - **Published:** August 2, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/17788401?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F17788401%2FLead-Software-Quality-Assurance-Qa-Automation-Engineer-California-Seal-Beach ## About the Role * Associates degree and 14+ years of experience; OR bachelor's degree and 12+ years of experience; OR master's degree and 10+ years of experience. Additional four (4) years of relevant experience will be considered in lieu of a degree. * 5+ years supporting large government programs in software testing, development, or management roles with a strong understanding of software testing methodologies and the full software development life cycle (SDLC). * This position requires the candidate possess a minimum of Secret clearance with ability to upgrade to TS/SCI. The candidate must maintain the clearance. * Proven experience in a technical lead or software engineering leadership role. * Proven hands on experience creating, maintaining, and scaling automated test frameworks using Cypress and JavaScript/TypeScript. * Demonstrated experience in the space domain industry (e.g., satellite systems, ground control, space related data). * Experience working with Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) like Postgres or MySQL. * Experience testing REST APIs. * Strong operational experience in Linux environments, including command line navigation, file manipulation, script execution, and log analysis. * Automation Frameworks: Hands on experience with Cypress and Playwright for end to end testing. * Scripting and Languages: Strong scripting capabilities in Python and Bash. * Test Frameworks: Proficiency in PyTest and JUnit. * Infrastructure and Containerization: Practical experience working within Kubernetes environments. * Messaging and Data Flow: Familiarity with message buses (e.g., Kafka, ActiveMQ) to test event driven architectures., * Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical field. * Hands on experience with Cypress advanced features (e.g., API testing via cy.request(), custom commands, fixture management, and Cypress Cloud/Dashboard integration). * Experience testing microservices architectures (Docker focused) and cloud platforms like AWS (e.g., S3, Amazon RDS). * Hands on experience with tools such as Jira, Jenkins, GitLab, and Ansible. * Demonstrated ability supporting unit, system, interface, integration, and verification testing events. * CompTIA Security+ or other IA certification in accordance with DoD 8570 01.M (IAT/IAM levels). * Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with experience supporting customer facing test events and requirement sell off activities. * SAFe Agilist (or equivalent Agile certification). ## Description Peraton is delivering advanced mission planning, digital engineering, and commandandcontrol capabilities supporting the U.S. Government's space communications enterprise. Our team uses modern MBSE practices to translate mission needs into precise, traceable, and verifiable technical requirements across a complex, multisystem environment. As a Lead Software Quality Assurance (QA) Automation Engineer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the reliability, performance, and security of core platform services that enable scalable, resilient satellite ground communications and datatransport capabilities. You will design and maintain automated testing frameworks, validate complex web interfaces and microservices, and drive quality assurance practices that uphold missioncritical standards for U.S. Government systems. In this role, you will lead automation strategy, collaborate closely with crossfunctional engineering teams, and ensure test solutions align with system requirements, technical objectives, and program compliance expectations. This position may be supported from any of the following locations: Colorado Springs, CO; Arlington, VA; or Seal Beach, CA. What You'll Do Architect, design, and evolve scalable automated testing frameworks using Cypress (JavaScript/TypeScript) to validate complex web interfaces, microservices/APIs, and endtoend system workflows essential to mission operations. * Provide technical leadership to the QA automation team, defining automation strategies, establishing robust test procedures, and shaping bestpractice approaches to Agile/SAFe execution. * Lead the development, compilation, and execution of automated regression and functional test suites, ensuring consistent delivery of highquality software across multiple integrated subsystems. Drive defect management activities in Jira with a focus on rootcause identification and longterm quality improvement. * Oversee the design, maintenance, and governance of test control databases (Postgres, MySQL), ensuring highconfidence data sets, accuracy, and proper distribution of test data supporting enterprisescale development and integration efforts. * Perform advanced system analysis in Linux environments-conducting deepdive log reviews, troubleshooting distributed applications, running diagnostics, and guiding junior engineers through complex debugging scenarios. * Lead formal test reviews and customer-facing discussions, clearly presenting acceptance criteria, test results, and technical rationale to government stakeholders while addressing highpriority concerns with confidence. * Own the integration of Cypress automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, GitLab CI) across AWS cloud and containerized environments, optimizing pipeline performance, reliability, headless execution, and parallelization strategies. * Collaborate at a technical lead level with developers, system engineers, analysts, and mission specialists to influence requirement definition, shaping testability considerations early in the lifecycle and mitigating architectural risks. ## Related Videos - [Enabling automated 1-click customer deployments with built-in quality and security](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/83-enabling-automated-1-click-customer-deployments-with-built-in-quality-and-security) - [How Unit Testing Saved My Career](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1642-how-unit-testing-saved-my-career) - [MySQL Protocol Features You Should Be Aware Of](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100267-mysql-protocol-features-you-should-be-aware-of) - [Collaboration Quantified: Lessons from Open Source Developer Networks](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1422-collaboration-quantified-lessons-from-open-source-developer-networks) - [Continuous testing - run automated tests for every change!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/190-continuous-testing-run-automated-tests-for-every-change) - [Security Pitfalls for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/726-security-pitfalls-for-software-engineers) ## Related Articles - [The 8 Best Code Testing Tools](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/402-the-8-best-code-testing-tools) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [What is a Test Plan: Guide to Test Planning](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/191-what-is-a-test-plan-guide-to-test-planning) - [How to create a test plan for software testing](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/56-how-to-create-a-test-plan-for-software-testing)