Test Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Test Engineer jobs in District of Columbia concentrate heavily in federal defense contracting, cybersecurity, and government IT systems, making the District one of the most active markets in the country for this role at every level from entry-level associate to senior principal. Most hiring clusters around Washington D.C. itself, with additional activity in the surrounding metro, where established employers like Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SAIC maintain large engineering workforces and ongoing program needs. Software quality assurance, systems integration testing, and embedded hardware verification are the most consistently in-demand specialties here. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Job ID: 2618601
Location: Washington Navy Yard, DC, US
Date Posted: 2026-10-29
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
As the Test and Evaluation Engineer you will support Test and Evaluation (T&E) of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) AEGIS surface ships and weapons systems for Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS). Your work will contribute to the successful at-sea testing of new construction and modernized AEGIS combat systems and ships for various US Navy International Partners.
This work will be done on site at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC.
- Experience operating the AEGIS weapon system as a user, either onboard a ship or in the lab, in order to provide senior level technical and engineering support to the Test Officer.
- Experience with budgeting and financial management to provide support to the Test Officer in managing FMS test budgets in the $MMs. This includes coordinating with field activities to match budgets with statements of works, identify deliverables and milestones, and coordinate among multiple groups to ensure all necessary support is identified and funded.
- Understanding system capabilities; identifying requirements for at-sea testing; translating capabilities and test requirements to Test Objectives; using the Planning, Execution, Analysis, and Reporting (PEAR) process to develop test scenarios to evaluate Test Objectives; defining and validating resources needed to meet test scenario requirements; advising the test execution team during scenario execution; and ensuring data collection and analysis plans support reporting requirements.
- You must work well in a distributed group across multiple time zones.
- You must be a self-starter to manage the PEAR process across many government and contractor support activities, including communicating requirements to the team and holding each group accountable for products due.
- You must be able to generate and communicate ideas to a diverse team of engineers, managers, and foreign customers.
- Support may include filling in for / representing the Test Officer in various planning meetings, therefore technical knowledge of the AEGIS combat system, first-hand knowledge of the Test Officer’s position on various issues, and continuous communications with stakeholders and warfare centers are all essential.
- Work will be a mix of independent tasks and collaborative efforts with various support organizations.
This position will require occasional to frequent travel to FMS countries, US test ranges, and US warfare centers for programmatic and Test support during events.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in in a technical discipline, and 5 years' experience or 4 additional years of equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
- AEGIS Combat System operational and technical experience (shipboard or lab).
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Previous US Navy active duty Senior Enlisted or Officer.
- Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) qualified is preferred.
Desired Qualifications:
- Expert with DoD Systems Engineering processes.
- Experience with DoD budgeting and financial systems.
- Experience with Test and Evaluation Engineering.
Clearance Requirement:
- Active SECRET security clearance.
Travel Requirement:
- Up to 25% travel may be required.
Job ID: 2618601
Location: Washington Navy Yard, DC, US
Date Posted: 2026-10-29
Category: Engineering and Sciences
Subcategory: Systems Engineer
Schedule: Full-Time
Shift: Day Job
Travel: Yes - 10% of the time
Minimum Clearance Required: Secret
Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None
Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE
Description
As the Test and Evaluation Engineer you will support Test and Evaluation (T&E) of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) AEGIS surface ships and weapons systems for Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS). Your work will contribute to the successful at-sea testing of new construction and modernized AEGIS combat systems and ships for various US Navy International Partners.
This work will be done on site at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC.
- Experience operating the AEGIS weapon system as a user, either onboard a ship or in the lab, in order to provide senior level technical and engineering support to the Test Officer.
- Experience with budgeting and financial management to provide support to the Test Officer in managing FMS test budgets in the $MMs. This includes coordinating with field activities to match budgets with statements of works, identify deliverables and milestones, and coordinate among multiple groups to ensure all necessary support is identified and funded.
- Understanding system capabilities; identifying requirements for at-sea testing; translating capabilities and test requirements to Test Objectives; using the Planning, Execution, Analysis, and Reporting (PEAR) process to develop test scenarios to evaluate Test Objectives; defining and validating resources needed to meet test scenario requirements; advising the test execution team during scenario execution; and ensuring data collection and analysis plans support reporting requirements.
- You must work well in a distributed group across multiple time zones.
- You must be a self-starter to manage the PEAR process across many government and contractor support activities, including communicating requirements to the team and holding each group accountable for products due.
- You must be able to generate and communicate ideas to a diverse team of engineers, managers, and foreign customers.
- Support may include filling in for / representing the Test Officer in various planning meetings, therefore technical knowledge of the AEGIS combat system, first-hand knowledge of the Test Officer’s position on various issues, and continuous communications with stakeholders and warfare centers are all essential.
- Work will be a mix of independent tasks and collaborative efforts with various support organizations.
This position will require occasional to frequent travel to FMS countries, US test ranges, and US warfare centers for programmatic and Test support during events.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in in a technical discipline, and 5 years' experience or 4 additional years of equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
- AEGIS Combat System operational and technical experience (shipboard or lab).
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Previous US Navy active duty Senior Enlisted or Officer.
- Surface Warfare Officer (SWO) qualified is preferred.
Desired Qualifications:
- Expert with DoD Systems Engineering processes.
- Experience with DoD budgeting and financial systems.
- Experience with Test and Evaluation Engineering.
Clearance Requirement:
- Active SECRET security clearance.
Travel Requirement:
- Up to 25% travel may be required.
See All 44 Test Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
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Find Test Engineer JobsTest Engineer Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Test Engineer Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in test engineer jobs across District of Columbia.
- Active or obtainable U.S. security clearance recognized by federal contracting agencies in District of Columbia
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or a closely related technical field
- Demonstrated experience writing and executing test plans, test cases, and defect reports
- Proficiency with automated testing tools such as Selenium, JIRA, or equivalent frameworks
- Familiarity with Agile and DevSecOps methodologies used across District of Columbia government programs
- ISTQB Certified Tester or equivalent quality assurance credential preferred by many District of Columbia employers
Test Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a test engineer in District of Columbia?
Most test engineer roles in District of Columbia require a bachelor's degree in computer science, systems engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field, though some employers accept equivalent technical experience. There is no District of Columbia state license specific to test engineering, but the federal contracting environment means a security clearance is often a practical prerequisite. Candidates who earn an ISTQB certification and build hands-on QA or systems testing experience are consistently more competitive in the D.C. market.
Which companies hire test engineers in District of Columbia?
Companies currently hiring test engineers in District of Columbia include Shield AI, Leidos, and SAIC, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. The D.C. market is anchored by large federal contractors and defense technology firms that maintain permanent engineering centers in the region.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most test engineer jobs?
Washington and Washington Navy Yard have the most test engineer openings in District of Columbia. Washington D.C. itself drives the bulk of demand because of its concentration of federal agencies, defense contractors, and cybersecurity firms, while suburban hubs in the metro area attract spillover hiring from large prime contractors with offices outside the city core.
Are there remote test engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and they are more common than in many technical fields, particularly for software QA and automated testing roles. About 74% of test engineer openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting strong demand for desk-based testing work. Roles involving classified systems, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or government-facility access typically require full on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a test engineer in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in District of Columbia is applying for QA analyst or junior software tester roles at mid-tier federal contractors, which regularly hire candidates straight from degree programs. Employers like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton run associate and new-graduate programs that place candidates without prior professional experience onto testing teams. An ISTQB Foundation-level certification and a small personal or academic testing portfolio both signal readiness. Adjacent roles such as business analyst and IT support coordinator are also common stepping stones into testing work at D.C.-area agencies.
Where can I find and apply to test engineer jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to test engineer jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the region. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and clearance level, and apply directly to whichever positions fit.
See All 44 Test Engineer Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Test Engineer Jobs