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Software Test Architect (Contingent) - **Company:** RTX - **Location:** Aurora, CO, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $107,500.0 - $204,500.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Testing (Software), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Agile Methodology, Software Applications, Automation of Tests, Cloud Engineering, Code Coverage, Software Quality, Continuous Integration, DevOps, Distributed Systems, Apache JMeter, Load Testing, Scrum Methodology, Reliability Engineering, Prometheus, Secure Coding, Software Engineering, Strategies of Testing, Istio, Grafana, HybridCloud, Containerization, Kubernetes, Linkerd (Service Mesh), Software Coding, Dynatrace, Devsecops, OpenSearch, Docker, Microservices - **Published:** October 26, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.techcareers.com/job.asp?id=3467217997&tx=JR11407LFU&pt=1&aff=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54&utm_source=Job%20Feed&utm_medium=textkernel&utm_campaign=DE&utm_term=0B19D771-A501-4A5E-8338-2A822B784D54 ## About the Role * Extensive experience architecting test strategies and automated test frameworks for cloud-native, microservice-based applications * Strong proficiency with Kubernetes, container orchestration, and testing distributed systems deployed in modern CI/CD environments * Ability to design scalable, maintainable test solutions aligned with engineering architecture, coding standards, and secure development workflows * Expertise in validating security requirements, enforcing security gates in CI/CD pipelines, and ensuring compliance with DevSecOps best practices * Demonstrated success driving code quality through automated testing, continuous integration, API validation, and contract-testing patterns * Ability to collaborate closely with software leads, product owners, QA, security, and operations teams to ensure reliable, performant software delivery * Skilled in identifying system-level defects, diagnosing complex issues, and driving long-term quality improvements through root-cause analysis * Proficiency with observability and distributed tracing tools to evaluate system behavior, resiliency, and performance (Prometheus, Grafana, Jaeger, OpenSearch, etc.) * Experience supporting both new feature development and sustainment activities, ensuring test coverage remains aligned with product priorities and architectural direction * Strong understanding of Agile delivery practices, team cadence, and how testing integrates into predictable and iterative workflows * Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 6 years of experience. * Active and transferable TS/SCI - Current clearance is required prior to start date * U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance Qualifications We Prefer **** * Experience with containerization and orchestration platforms (Docker, Kubernetes, etc.) * Experience architecting test solutions for service meshes (Istio, Linkerd), multi-cluster deployments, and hybrid cloud environments * Familiarity with Kubernetes-native testing and policy enforcement tools (Sonobuoy, Kyverno, OPA, Chaos Mesh, LitmusChaos) * Experience supporting Agile teams as a quality coach, helping mature engineering flow, shift-left testing, and continuous quality practices * Knowledge of performance, scalability, and load-testing tools for distributed cloud systems (Locust, k6, JMeter) * Strong communication skills to clearly convey system risks, testing strategies, and quality metrics to technical and non-technical audiences * Relevant certifications (CKA, CKAD, CKS, cloud provider certifications, or equivalent) * Experience collaborating across multiple Agile teams or product lines, especially in scaled frameworks such as SAFe, LeSS, or Scrum@Scale ## Description Collins is seeking Engineers to be part of an engineering team for the AF DCGS High Band Mission Applications Software (HBMAS) Sustainment and Development program. Under this effort, RTX Collins personnel will oversee/perform software development and sustainment for cloud-enabled systems that ingest, tag, and audit data sets, while maintaining security, integrity, and availability of data. The team, working with our customers and users, will focus on developing and fielding operationally relevant system capabilities in the most effective and efficient manner. The team will apply best practices across the engineering continuum, with a focus on improved software quality and process efficiency. THIS ROLE IS CONTINGENT: Employment is based on contract award and customer funding This candidate must have an active TS/SCI - Current security clearance. position is an onsite role in Aurora, CO and is contingent on contract award. Travel to customer CONUS & OCONUS sites as required, but no more than 25%. This position is an onsite role in Aurora, CO and is contingent on contract award. Sign-on Bonus Eligible What You Will Do * Architect, maintain, and optimize automated test frameworks for cloud-native applications running in Kubernetes environments. * Design and implement automated testing across CI/CD pipelines, including integration, regression, API, contract, performance, and security testing. * Integrate security, resiliency, and quality controls directly into the pipeline to support secure and reliable software delivery. * Collaborate daily with software engineering, DevOps, SRE, security, and product teams to ensure alignment with architecture and product objectives. * Use observability and distributed tracing tools to validate system behavior and diagnose issues within microservices and distributed systems. * Identify systemic quality gaps, lead root-cause analysis, and drive long-term improvements in reliability, scalability, and performance. * Support both sustainment and new feature development by ensuring test coverage evolves with changing architecture and requirements.