Factory Applications Engineer (Mil/Aero, North Reading)

About the role

The Software Quality Applications team plays a critical role as the first customer in the product development lifecycle, ensuring that hardware and software are evaluated through controlled, repeatable, and scalable quality processes. This role is a highly technical engineering position that blends software test-suite design, architecture, development, execution, systems-level analysis, and hardware debugging.

Responsibilities

• Implement and enhance Software Quality Applications automation processes, tools, methodologies, and test automation frameworks, with emphasis on scalable regression coverage, repeatable release validation, continuous integration workflows, and a shift-left quality approach.
• Design test plans, scenarios, and execute product, integration, regression, and configuration testing while documenting and maintaining all test cases in source control.
• Design, develop, and maintain comprehensive automated and manual test suites for software drivers and desktop applications, ensuring high test coverage, reliability, and meaningful validation of both expected and error-path behavior.
• Debug analog, digital, and bus-test hardware using benchtop lab equipment.
• Apply strong logical and problem-solving skills to identify, isolate, triage, and troubleshoot issues in complex software and hardware-integrated systems.
• Communicate test results, product quality status, and release risks clearly, providing factual, measurable input that supports engineering and management decision-making.
• Interact closely with product managers, development teams, and Software Quality Applications colleagues to understand project objectives, review requirements and design concepts early, and provide design input focused on usability, testability, and customer impact.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret test metrics; summarize test data and reporting findings; and contribute to documentation review, installation validation, and traceability of release status and issues.
• Execute testing strategies that go beyond the happy path, including negative testing, error scenario coverage, and validation of real-world customer workflows.
• Support defect triage and, where applicable, perform security- and compliance-related validation activities such as hardened image verification, virus scan checks, or other release-quality controls.
• Act as part of the quality release gate by evaluating release readiness, highlighting key issues and risks, and helping ensure products meet a high standard before customer delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 2+ years of related experience in test development engineering, software quality applications engineering, applications engineering, systems engineering, or a closely related engineering role.
• Fluent programming experience in C/C++, experience with C#, Powershell, or other Windows based scripting and automation tools preferred.
• Experience developing or maintaining automated test suites in a structured engineering environment.
• Knowledge of software test techniques, case modeling, regression strategies, and automated test methods.
• Experience debugging analog, digital, and bus-test hardware using standard benchtop lab equipment.
• Experience using defect tracking and source control tools like Git, TFVC, Azure DevOps, or Jira in a structured development environment.
• Demonstrated adaptability in fast-paced development environments, with a strong customer-focused and quality-driven mindset.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and cross-functional teamwork skills.
• Experience with regression, integration, or system-level testing in a software or hardware-integrated environment.
• Experience supporting security or compliance-related release validation activities.
• Experience planning and executing testing-related tasks within an Agile or iterative development environment.
• Demonstrated AI fluency, including the ability to effectively use AI-assisted tools to improve engineering productivity, test development, analysis, and documentation while applying sound technical judgment.

Qualifications

• Passionate about delivering high-quality products and ensuring mission readiness.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Skills

• Software test techniques, case modeling, regression strategies, and automated test methods.
• Debugging analog, digital, and bus-test hardware using standard benchtop lab equipment.
• Defect tracking and source control tools like Git, TFVC, Azure DevOps, or Jira.
• AI-assisted tools for improving engineering productivity, test development, analysis, and documentation.

Benefits

• Compensation range: $97,800 - $156,400.
• Incentive Plan: Discretionary bonuses based on financial performance.
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance, paid vacation & holidays, tuition assistance programs, and more.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $97,800 - $156,400. This range is a good faith estimate, and the amount of base salary will correspond with experience and skill set. This range can also fluctuate depending on demand and location.

Schedule

This job is eligible for discretionary bonus(es) based on financial performance.