Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) II/III

Join us at Zone 5 Technologies where innovation and cutting-edge technology drive pioneering advancements in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Based in the vibrant city of San Luis Obispo CA, we're seeking talented individuals to join and contribute to our growing team.

We thrive on pushing boundaries and inventing solutions to real-world challenges. Join a community of forward-thinkers who collaborate to create impactful products with a global reach. Our team, consisting of engineers and professionals, is prepared to overcome new frontiers and deliver innovative solutions in the field of unmanned aircraft systems.

We are seeking an experienced Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) II/III  to join our team. As an unmanned aerial systems (UAS) company, we are looking for an individual with experience in designing, building, and maintaining advanced test automation frameworks to validate complex, high-performance software systems in secure and distributed environments. You’ll collaborate cross-functionally with our technical teams to embed quality into every phase of the development lifecycle—from concept through deployment. 

Key Responsibilities 

Test Architecture & Automation 

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automated test frameworks for API, backend, and UI testing using modern languages (e.g., Python, C/C++, C#). 

• Build reusable test harnesses and tools to support automated testing across microservices, embedded systems, and distributed architectures. 

• Author detailed, reusable test cases and scenarios from technical requirements and system architecture. 

CI/CD & DevSecOps Integration 

• Integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, enabling secure and frequent deployments using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or GitHub Actions. 

• Develop and maintain automated test execution in containerized environments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes). 

• Ensure alignment with cybersecurity compliance frameworks (e.g., NIST, STIGs, CMMC) in testing environments. 

Quality Assurance & Risk Mitigation 

• Drive adoption of quality engineering practices such as code coverage analysis, static/dynamic code analysis, and early-stage defect prevention. 

• Execute functional, regression, integration, performance, and security testing on real-time and embedded systems. 

• Contribute to software reliability, availability, and risk mitigation strategies during design and deployment. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Participate in code reviews and technical design discussions, providing input on testability and quality implications. 

• Document and communicate test plans, test reports, defect tracking, and quality metrics for both internal and external stakeholders. 

• Collaborate with engineering, PM, and security teams to ensure end-to-end test coverage aligned with business and mission goals. 

• Mentor junior engineers on QA best practices, automation tools, and secure test methodologies. 

 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience). 

• 2+ years (SDET II) or 5+ years (SDET III) of experience in test automation or software QA, with a focus on backend and API testing. 

• Proficiency in programming/scripting languages such as Python, C/C++, C#, or Java. 

• Experience building or maintaining test automation frameworks in CI/CD environments. 

• Strong working knowledge of software QA methodologies, tools, and processes. 

• Familiarity with defect tracking systems (e.g., JIRA) and version control (e.g., Git). 

• Experience testing distributed systems, containerized apps,