Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)

Stack

Responsibilities

• ▹Design, develop and maintain automated test frameworks and tools using Python, enabling scalable and reliable testing across services, APIs and UI workflows
• ▹Build Python- or Go-based simulators, mocks and emulators to replicate third-party environments, network behavior and integration scenarios for in-house testing
• ▹Develop, maintain and execute automated API test suites using Python Requests, custom harnesses and Postman/Newman when appropriate
• ▹Build and maintain automated UI test suites using Python Playwright, focusing on reusable components, selectors and page-object patterns
• ▹Monitor nightly automated test runs, analyze failures and provide actionable insights through integrations with Jira/X-Ray, Slack and CI/CD pipelines
• ▹Troubleshoot and diagnose issues across APIs, backend services and UI workflows, collaborating with developers to isolate root causes and verify fixes
• ▹Perform targeted manual testing for new feature development, complex regression scenarios and defect reproduction where automation is not yet feasible
• ▹Validate functional behavior, edge cases and system workflows across distributed application components
• ▹Document test frameworks, automation patterns, test cases, expected outcomes and defect reproduction steps
• ▹Support and improve internal Python-based test applications, tools and services used in daily verification workflows
• ▹Ensure adequate test coverage for new features, releases and high-risk areas
• ▹Contribute to continuous improvement of automation tooling, coding standards and test strategy
• ▹Assist in ensuring readiness of builds for deployment and release
• ▹Other job-related duties as assigned

Requirements

• ▹Minimum of six (6) years of experience as a Software Test Engineer, Automation Engineer, or SDET, with significant hands-on software development responsibilities
• ▹Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (or equivalent additional four years of experience)
• ▹Strong proficiency in Python, including writing reusable modules, building automation frameworks, and creating test harnesses or tools
• ▹Experience developing automated API tests using Python Requests or equivalent frameworks; Postman/Newman experience preferred
• ▹Experience designing and maintaining automated UI tests (Python Playwright preferred), with emphasis on code structure and maintainability
• ▹Experience building Python-based utilities, simulators, mocks, or environment emulators to support complex test scenarios
• ▹Familiarity with reporting test results and integrating automation with Jira/XRay, Slack, or similar tools
• ▹Strong ability to analyze automated test results, identify root causes across services and layers, and validate fixes in collaboration with developers
• ▹Working knowledge of CI-based automated test pipelines, nightly execution workflows, and test orchestration
• ▹Understanding of distributed systems, API-driven architectures, and service interactions
• ▹Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills across application layers (API, backend services, UI)
• ▹Ability to document test plans, automation approaches, and defect reports with clarity and precision
• ▹Due to program requirements, this position requires US-born citizenship

Nice to have

• ▹Experience with RabbitMQ and Kafka in event-driven or message-based architectures
• ▹Experience coding in Go
• ▹Experience with secure, on-prem, or air-gapped deployment environments
• ▹Experience with performance and load testing
• ▹Defense, aerospace, or government program background
• ▹Geospatial or remote sensing system experience
• ▹Experience writing integration documentation, runbooks, or system validation procedures
• ▹Master's degree in a relevant field

Soft skills

What we offer

• ▹Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D insurance, plus voluntary life and AD&D
• ▹BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision, and contributes $100/month toward out-of-pocket expenses
• ▹15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays (pro-rated by hire date), one paid volunteer day per year, parental leave and more
• ▹401(k) with pre-tax and Roth deferral options and employer match
• ▹Flexible Spending Accounts
• ▹Employee Stock Purchase Program
• ▹Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• ▹Employer matching donations
• ▹Professional development
• ▹Choice of Mac or PC
• ▹Company swag

About the company

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that owns and operates one of the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platforms, providing customers with satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events around the globe.