Job Description:

Parsons is looking for an exceptionally talented Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer to join our team! In this pivotal role, you will lead the definition, evolution, and continuous improvement of integration testing and Verification & Validation (V&V) processes for advanced unmanned systems. You will shape the overall approach to quality for our controlled work, collaborate closely with a dedicated SDET, and engage constructively with development teams and stakeholders across the program. Because our development teams operate independently, your success will rely on technical credibility, clear communication, and the ability to influence through data, risk insight, and collaboration-rather than formal authority. You will elevate the maturity of our integration and V&V practices while remaining hands-on as needed.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Define, implement, and continuously refine processes, standards, metrics, and best practices for integration testing and V&V within the Systems Integration team.

• Develop and own the comprehensive test strategy for software-hardware integration, interface validation, system-level behavior, and end-to-end verification-ensuring alignment with program requirements, MOSA principles, and mission objectives.

• Partner with the SDET to prioritize automation, review framework design, and ensure automated tests effectively support integration and V&V goals within CI/CD and DevSecOps pipelines.

• Lead the creation of detailed test plans, high-quality test cases, and reusable procedures to ensure thorough coverage of integration points, sensor data flows, autonomy behaviors, and system interactions.

• Drive rigorous manual and system-level testing in integration labs and hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) environments; conduct exploratory testing and root-cause analysis of complex defects spanning software, hardware, and interfaces.

• Establish and maintain traceability from requirements through test artifacts and results, ensuring documentation meets formal qualification and audit standards.

• Collaborate with systems engineers, software developers, and program stakeholders to define acceptance criteria, identify integration risks early, and promote shift-left quality practices where feasible.

• Support formal qualification testing, field demonstrations, operational assessments, and customer engagements for USSOCOM unmanned platforms.

• Collect, analyze, and present quality data to inform process improvement, release readiness, and risk management decisions.

• Travel regularly (approximately 25-50%) to customer sites, integration events, and field activities to support quality initiatives and end-user engagement.

• Operate in accordance with DoD, USSOCOM, and program security requirements in a fast-paced, sometimes classified environment.

Required Clearance:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.

• Must have an active Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility (TS/SCI).

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 8+ years of progressive experience in software quality assurance, system testing, or V&V, with significant focus on complex integration environments. Additional years' experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

• Demonstrated experience establishing or significantly maturing integration testing, system-level testing, or V&V processes and standards in distributed quality ownership environments.

• Deep knowledge of quality assurance principles, test methodologies, risk-based testing, and best practices-beyond routine test-case execution.

• Proven ability to influence technical and program stakeholders without direct authority; experience collaborating effectively with independent or resistant development teams.

• Strong hands-on skills in manual, exploratory, and system-level testing of software-hardware integrated systems.

• Solid understanding of systems engineering principles, interface management, and integration & verification processes.

• Experience with modern test management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence) and maintaining requirements traceability.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and collaboration skills; ability to thrive in an Agile/Scrum environment while driving process discipline.

• Willingness to travel 25-50%.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Experience supporting DoD or USSOCOM programs, particularly in unmanned systems, autonomy, sensor fusion, or MOSA-based architectures.

• Background with hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL), integration labs, autonomy simulation, or sensor test environments.

• Familiarity with automated testing frameworks and CI/CD or DevSecOps pipelines (ability to guide and review automation is more important than day-to-day framework ownership).

• Prior experience in classified development environments.

• Relevant certifications (ISTQB Advanced, or equivalent) or formal systems/V&V training.

Security Clearance Requirement:

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