[Remote] QA Engineer, PLC Automation

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The company develops hyperscale power systems and proprietary software for grid-safe data centers, mission-critical facilities, and energy infrastructure. The Quality Assurance Engineer will design and execute testing for PLC-based control systems, develop Python automation, validate PLC code and industrial protocols, and manage defect analysis and test documentation.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute Unit tests, functional, integration, and regression test cases for PLC-based control systems
• Write and maintain Python-based automated test scripts for testing PLC I/O, HMI interfaces, and communication protocols
• Develop, review, and validate PLC code (Ladder Logic, Function Block Diagram, Structured Text) across Siemens S7-1200/1500
• Collaborate with controls engineers to define acceptance criteria and validate system requirements
• Identify, document, and track defects using tools such as Azure Devops or equivalent; lead root cause analysis for critical failures
• Conduct Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) testing where applicable
• Produce clear test plans, reports, and traceability matrices aligned with release timelines

Skills

• * University degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Quality Engineering, or a related technical field
• * 5+ years of hands-on experience in PLC programming and testing across Siemens platform
• * 5+ years of experience building and maintaining automated test frameworks using pytest or equivalent python framework
• * 3–5 years of experience with Siemens TIA Portal for PLC development, diagnostics, and commissioning support
• * Experience designing and executing functional and integration tests, including test case development, defect tracking, and validation of fixes
• * Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as S7, Modbus TCP/RTU, and OPC-UA
• * Proficiency in automated unit testing the PLC Logic
• * Experience with SCADA systems
• * Familiarity with Agile / Scrum methodologies in industrial settings
• * Knowledge of functional safety standards such as IEC 61508 / IEC 62061

Benefits

• Remote/Hybrid work arrangement

Company Overview

The ASCENDING team commits to delivering scalable and high-available cloud solutions to clients. It was founded in 2018, and is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, USA, with a workforce of 11-50 employees. Its website is https://ascendingdc.com/.

Company H1B Sponsorship

ASCENDING Inc. has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 4 in 2025, 8 in 2024, 7 in 2023, 6 in 2022, 9 in 2021, 2 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.