QA Engineer Jobs in Virginia
QA Engineer jobs in Virginia are consistently active, with strong demand across defense contracting, federal IT, cybersecurity, and commercial software development at every level from entry-level analyst through senior quality architect. The largest hiring clusters are in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads area, where established employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and General Dynamics Information Technology have deep, ongoing QA needs. The most sought-after specialties in Virginia include test automation, software quality assurance for government systems, and cybersecurity testing. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Public Trust Eligibility Required
About Aretum
Aretum is a mission-driven organization committed to delivering innovative, technology-enabled solutions to our customers across defense, civilian, and homeland security sectors. Our teams work at the intersection of strategy, technology, and transformation, helping agencies solve their most critical challenges. We believe in investing in our people and creating a culture where collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth are at the forefront.
Job Summary
Serve as a QA Automation Test Engineer supporting an Agile team that creates, maintains, and enhances applications for a federal government client. The successful candidate will be responsible for planning, developing, executing, and maintaining manual and automated testing solutions/frameworks that ensure application quality, performance, accessibility, and reliability.
Due to the nature of our work as a federal consulting organization, employees may be expected to handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and must adhere to applicable safeguarding and compliance requirements.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, execute, and maintain manual and automated test cases for web applications, APIs, and integrated systems
- Develop and maintain test strategies, test plans, and testing approaches that support the level of automation needed for application quality and delivery objectives
- Provide clear feedback by following the standard testing process, including writing detailed descriptions, acceptance criteria, identifying problems, and documenting steps in the ticketing system
- Build and maintain reusable automated test scripts, utilities, and testing components that reduce repetitive testing efforts and improve testing efficiency
- Design, implement, and support scalable test automation frameworks that enable consistent and maintainable automated testing across teams
- Perform functional, regression, smoke, integration, end-to-end, and user story validation testing throughout the software development lifecycle
- Collaborate with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Developers, and Testers to determine quality expectations during backlog refinement and sprint planning
- Contribute to the team's Definition of Done (DoD) by ensuring appropriate test coverage, successful test execution, and quality validation prior to story completion
- Integrate automated testing into Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines and leverage continuous integration practices to provide rapid feedback on code quality
- Develop and execute load, performance, and scalability tests to validate application stability, reliability, and capacity under expected usage conditions
- Analyze test results, identify defects and risks, measure test coverage, and provide actionable recommendations to improve overall software quality and release readiness
Requirements
- 8+ years of experience using automation tools to test systems and applications, and writing and executing test scripts
- Bachelor's Degree (4 additional years of relevant experience is acceptable in lieu of degree)
- 3+ years of experience with automation testing tools, Playwright preferred
- Experience developing automation testing strategies and frameworks from the ground up
- Experience performing functional, regression, smoke, integration, and end-to-end testing
- Strong hands-on testing experience with database and API testing
- Experience with Docker containers and testing containerized applications
- Experience creating reusable test automation solutions and integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
- Experience collaborating and working across functional teams
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with GraphQL testing/framework
- Federal Government experience as a contractor
- Experience with testing .NET applications and systems hosted in Azure Cloud
- Performance testing experience
- Experience performing manual accessibility testing with screen readers and other accessibility tools
- DHS Trusted Tester Certification
Travel Requirements
This is a remote position; however, occasional travel may be required based on project needs, client meetings, team collaboration events, or training sessions. Travel is expected to be less than 10% and will be communicated in advance whenever possible.
EEO Statement
Aretum is committed to fostering a workplace rooted in excellence, integrity, and equal opportunity for all. We adhere to merit-based hiring practices, ensuring that all employment decisions are made based on qualifications, skills, and ability to perform the job, without preference or consideration of factors unrelated to job performance.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Aretum complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws.
We are proud to support our nation’s veterans and military families, providing career opportunities that honor their service and experience.
If you require reasonable accommodation during the hiring process due to a disability, please contact hr@aretum.com for assistance.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
U.S. Work Authorization
Due to federal contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this position. This position supports a federal government contract and requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust or Suitability Determination, depending on the agency’s background investigation requirements.
Benefits
- Salary Range: $80,000–$120,000 annually. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including education, experience, qualifications, skills, and applicable contract requirements.
- Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
- Retirement Plan (401k)
- Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
- Paid Time Off
- Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
- Short Term & Long-Term Disability
- Training & Development
See All 160+ QA Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find QA Engineer JobsQA Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
QA Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Food Lion31

- ICF4

- Peraton3

- Guidehouse3

- ECS Limited3

Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Construction & Real Estate
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Manufacturing
- Electronics & Hardware
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in QA engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related field
- Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, or similar tools
- Familiarity with Agile and Scrum methodologies and iterative development workflows
- Proficiency in writing and executing manual and automated test cases and defect reports
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, or Azure DevOps
- Active security clearance or eligibility to obtain one preferred by Virginia defense contractors
QA Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a qa engineer in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a qa engineer, so the path centers on education and credentials. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or engineering. Certifications such as ISTQB Certified Tester or CSTE strengthen a candidacy. In Virginia's defense and federal IT sectors, obtaining a DoD security clearance significantly broadens the range of roles available to you.
How much do QA engineers make in Virginia?
QA engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $121,590 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $78,820 for the lowest 10% to over $169,200 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire qa engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring qa engineers in Virginia right now include Food Lion, ICF, and Peraton, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's concentration of defense contractors and federal technology integrators in the Northern Virginia corridor means QA roles here frequently involve government systems, security compliance, and classified program work.
Which Virginia cities have the most qa engineer jobs?
McLean, Reston, and Chantilly have the most qa engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia's dense cluster of defense contractors, federal agencies, and cloud infrastructure firms drives the largest share of demand, while Richmond's growing commercial tech sector and Hampton Roads' naval and military installations contribute meaningful concentrations of QA roles in their respective areas.
Are there remote qa engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 51% of qa engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how well test automation and quality analysis translate to distributed work. Roles focused on manual hardware testing or on-site government classified programs are the most likely to require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a qa engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a junior QA analyst or software tester role, which large Virginia employers like Leidos, SAIC, and Peraton post regularly as part of their early-career hiring programs. Building a portfolio of automated test scripts on GitHub, earning an ISTQB Foundation certification, and applying from adjacent roles such as technical support analyst or business systems analyst all improve your chances. Community colleges in Virginia, including Northern Virginia Community College, offer relevant coursework that supports this transition.
Where can I find and apply to qa engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to qa engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across defense, federal IT, commercial software, and more. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly through the listings.
See All 160+ QA Engineer Jobs in Virginia
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