Quality Assurance Engineer New Carrollton, MD (Local Preferred , Onsite IRS Office) long term contract Visa ; Only Citizenship and active MBI clearance Job Description. As a Senior Software Quality Assurance Engineer and Tester, you will lead and execute complex testing efforts across enterprise systems. You will ensure that mission-critical applications meet rigorous standards for functionality, performance, security, and accessibility. You will prepare and execute test plans, automate test cases, document results, and participate in peer reviews and defect resolution. You will also contribute to the development of standard operating procedures, provide training and knowledge transfer to team members, and support the creation of desk instructions and process documentation. This role typically reports to a project or program manager and may also receive direction from technical leads or quality assurance supervisors. You will work independently under general guidance and may coordinate or mentor other testers as needed. In this role, you will work with a broad range of technologies including IBM Rational tools (ETM, RFT, RPT, DNG, EWM), Selenium, JMeter, LoadRunner, Informatica, Control-M, and platforms such as Windows, Linux, UNIX, and mainframe environments. Familiarity with databases like Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, and tools supporting Agile and DevOps practices is essential. What you will need: Required Qualifications: Active Internal Revenue Service (IRS) MBI Clearance (No substitutes) US Citizenship is required A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline. At least eight (8) years of experience in software quality assurance, IT security, infrastructure, or information systems testing. Experience evaluating, recommending, and implementing automated test tools and strategies. Proficiency in designing, implementing, and executing test and evaluation procedures to ensure system requirements are met. Ability to develop, maintain, and upgrade automated test scripts and testing architectures. Strong skills in writing, executing, and reporting on system test cases and test results. Experience analyzing test cases and providing regular progress reports. Ability to serve as a subject matter expert in support of complex software/hardware testing requirements. Experience participating in all phases of risk management assessments and software/hardware development, with emphasis on user requirements analysis, test design, and tool selection. Familiarity with enterprise testing tools such as IBM Rational ETM, RFT, RPT, and EWM. Hands-on experience with automation tools such as Selenium, JMeter, LoadRunner, SOAPUI, and Parasoft. Working knowledge of mainframe environments (e.g., IBM z/OS, Unisys), JCL, and scripting. Experience with relational databases such as Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, and Greenplum. Ability to work across multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, UNIX, and Solaris. Understanding of Agile, SDLC, and test lifecycle methodologies. Core Competencies: Enterprise Testing Leadership: Leads test strategy, planning, and execution across complex systems. Test Automation Strategy: Designs and implements automation frameworks and CI/CD integration. Performance & Accessibility Testing: Expertise in load testing, stress testing, and Section 508 compliance. Tool Mastery: Advanced use of IBM Rational Suite, LoadRunner, Control-M, Informatica, and test data management tools. Agile & DevOps Integration: Deep understanding of Agile methodologies and DevOps workflows. Risk & Quality Management: Identifies risks, ensures compliance, and drives continuous quality improvement. Stakeholder Communication: Interfaces with technical and non-technical stakeholders to align testing with business goals. Mentorship & Training: Provides guidance, training, and Preferred Qualifications: Knowledge of Section 508 accessibility testing standards and tools (e.g., JAWS, ZoomText, Dragon NaturallySpeaking). Experience supporting test automation initiatives that streamline manual testing processes and increase test coverage. Familiarity with performance monitoring and diagnostics tools (e.g., AIX thread dumps, OEM, AWR, Splunk). Exposure to enterprise scheduling and orchestration tools such as Control-M or OpCon. Experience with ETL tools like Informatica and data masking technologies (e.g., IBM Infosphere Optim). Ability to contribute to test automation strategy, including framework design and tool evaluation. Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines and DevOps workflows. Strong documentation skills and experience contributing to standard operating procedures, training materials, and knowledge transfer.