Senior Staff Engineer – Software Test Automation Discipline Lead

Northrop Grumman

. Define and maintain test verification & automation tools, processes, training, and a metrics roadmap aligned with the product strategy.

Posted 4/28/2026full-timeMelbourne • California, Florida • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $157,800 - $289,200 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

JUnitSelenium

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Define and maintain test verification & automation tools, processes, training, and a metrics roadmap aligned with the product strategy.
Foster a “Test as Code” culture through code review practices, pull request templates, and shared libraries.
Provide leadership and define the strategic vision for technical priorities within the Software discipline, aligned with the long-term sector strategy.
Regularly interface with EI&E discipline leads to identifying program needs and closing gaps in engineering tools, processes, digital solutions, and technical training.
Lead the development, deployment, and sustainment of sector-wide engineering tools, standardized processes, digital solutions, and technical training: ensuring they are relevant, scalable, and interoperable across programs.
Build and sustain a strong Software Community of Practice (CoP), ensuring alignment of sub-CoPs, strategies, and priorities while fostering collaboration across programs and sub-disciplines.
Act as a trusted advisor to help resolve technical performance shortfalls through root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and long-term verification of improvement.
Capture, share, and embed lessons learned and best practices across programs to continuously raise the bar for technical performance.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Must have a Bachelor’s degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) discipline and 14 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Master’s degree in a STEM discipline and 12 or more years of experience in software engineering OR a Ph.D. in a STEM discipline and 9 or more years of experience in software engineering.
Subject Matter Expert in one or more of the Core Technical Competency areas: Software Testing Automation Frameworks, Real-Time & Embedded Systems, UI Automation, Software Quality, Software Testing, Software Requirements Engineering, Static Code Analysis Tools, Coverage Analysis.
Must have an active DoD Secret clearance that is in-scope (granted or renewed in the last 6 years) and eligibility for Top Secret/SCI.
Must be able to attain and maintain Special Program Access (PAR).
Strong experience in software verification, assurance, or test automation roles; at least 5 years in safety critical or aerospace environments.
Strong knowledge of test-automation frameworks (EG: JUnit, Selenium, GoogleTest, PyTest, etc.) and CI/CD pipelines.
Hands-on experience with Software-in-the-Loop and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing and integration.
Ability to travel as needed (approx. 25%).

Benefits

Comp & perks

health insurance coverage
life and disability insurance
savings plan
Company paid holidays
paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

software engineeringsoftware testing automation frameworksreal-time systemsembedded systemsUI automationsoftware qualitystatic code analysis toolscoverage analysistest automationCI/CD pipelines

Soft Skills

leadershipcollaborationroot cause analysiscorrective action planningstrategic visioncommunicationmentoringproblem-solvingcommunity buildingtraining

Certifications

Bachelor's degree in STEMMaster's degree in STEMPh.D. in STEMDoD Secret clearanceSpecial Program Access (PAR)