Junior Automation Test Engineer

We are Skyward. That is, a love for people, for improvement, for human advancement through information technology. We are a people-centered business with a desire to serve others. We are diverse and unified; creative and collaborative; a collection of complementary, not competing talents. And though on the surface we remain relaxed, beneath, a torrent of energy links us to our civic tech mission. We stand by our values, and we won’t compromise on any of them. Integrity: We’re conscientious, intentional, and empathetic. Our words and actions align. That’s our character. Please don’t ask us to play another part, we’re poor actors. Compassionate: If we may borrow a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” Because our team is thoughtful and supportive, caring deeply for each other, our clients, and our work, this comes naturally. Inquisitive: We remain students by failing openly and turning lessons into solutions. Unconventional: For us, life isn’t what happens outside of work. Work happens inside of life and our culture erases the line often dividing the two. Authentic: Made possible only because we embody the values listed above. We’re relaxed and fun yet intensely curious and driven. Team members are placed with thought, care, and precision to ensure that Trust, Truth, and Transparency continue to represent our brand. Because of that, we continue Onward, Upward, and Skyward. We need a Junior Automation Test Engineer. Are you early in your testing career but already the type who can’t leave a bug alone? Do you get satisfaction from writing the test that catches the thing everyone else missed? If you’re hungry to grow into automation, while keeping an enterprise AI platform at CMS reliable with senior testers right beside you, then go ahead and apply. Let’s go Skyward together. What you’ll do: Build the safety net. Write and maintain automated tests for CMS’s enterprise AI platform, learning the frameworks as you go. Support the pipeline. Help wire tests into CI/CD and keep the build green. Hunt the bugs. Investigate failures, update tests, and write clear bug reports. Learn the craft. Pick up performance, regression, and accessibility testing under experienced mentors. Collaborate and grow. Ask questions and take feedback in a badgeless, one-team culture. What we’d like you to have: A bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years in QA or test automation. Familiarity with at least one automation framework (Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, pytest, or similar). Some scripting ability (Python or JavaScript) and a willingness to learn. Curiosity, attention to detail, and coachability. A genuine interest in AI/ML testing. What would blow us away: Exposure to CI/CD or accessibility testing. Previous experience supporting CMS or another federal agency. Even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we encourage you to apply. At Skyward, we’re focused on hiring individuals with the right skills and passion to grow, not just checking off every box. And now the important part. What we offer you: Medical, dental, vision insurance 15 days of paid leave 7 days of sick leave 2 days bereavement leave 11 paid Federal holidays Up to 40 hours for jury duty 401K with 4% employer contribution (and no vesting period) Up to 4 weeks of paid paternity and maternity leave Company provided laptop $5,000 per year for professional development $600 per year for technical supplies and equipment $2,000 referral bonus Life and disability insurance HSA and FSA Legal Shield and ID Shield Voluntary Benefits Opportunity to work in a collaborative, motivated team focused on modernizing government services with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. Who says government work can’t be exciting! $80,000 - $95,000 a year We believe great work deserves great pay. That’s why we ensure our compensation is not only competitive but also fair and transparent, as required by Maryland law. Expect a salary that matches your skills, experience, and the value you bring to the table - because you’re worth it! At Skyward, we support flexible working hours and remote opportunities to help maintain a healthy work-life balance for all employees. Offers of employment with Skyward are contingent upon acceptable results of a background investigation. Applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security clearance due to the nature of our work as a government contractor.