Software Developer (Automation & Distributed Integration Systems)

Our Mission:
At Dobbs Defense, we deliver mission-centric IT, Cyber, and data analytics solutions for our government and commercial clients through the convergence of automation, innovation, training, and education. Delivering high-quality IT, cybersecurity, and data analytics solutions through proven and innovative methods is our vision.

Job Description:
Dobbs Defense Solutions is seeking an experienced Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to design and implement automated test solutions for a distributed integration service that supports license plate capture from video streams, RFID card reads, and entry/exit sensor simulation.

This role will focus on validating a .NET Core-based integration service that uses TCP and listeners to receive data from hardware components and exchange requests with downstream services. The ideal candidate will build an automation framework capable of simulating hardware inputs, validating message flows, testing service interactions, and ensuring reliability, accuracy, and performance across end-to-end workflows.

Duties:

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for a distributed integration system built on .NET Core
• Create automated test solutions to validate:
• License plate capture and processing from video streams
• RFID card read events
• Entry and exit sensor trigger simulation
• End-to-end message flow between hardware-facing listeners and downstream services
• Develop test harnesses, simulators, and mock services to emulate hardware devices and external service dependencies
• Build automated tests for TCP and listener interfaces, including positive, negative, edge case, and fault-injection scenarios
• Validate data ingestion, parsing, routing, transformation, and handoff across multiple services in a distributed environment
• Automate integration, system, regression, and interface testing
• Develop test scenarios for sequencing and timing-sensitive events, such as vehicle entry, sensor trigger order, RFID reads, and plate capture correlation
• Verify system behavior under abnormal conditions such as delayed messages, malformed payloads, dropped connections, duplicate events, and out-of-order events
• Create automated validation for logs, service responses, queues/messages, and database or persisted outputs where applicable
• Partner with software engineers, architects, and integration teams to understand interface control documents, service behavior, and operational workflows
• Support CI/CD integration so automated tests can run in build and deployment pipelines
• Produce clear test documentation including test plans, test cases, traceability, defect reports, and automation run results
• Help define test data strategy for video clips, RFID event payloads, and simulated sensor event sequences
• Contribute to performance and reliability testing for distributed service communication and event processing

Qualifications
Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of experience in software testing and test automation, with strong hands-on SDET experience
• Strong programming experience in C# and .NET / .NET Core
• Experience building automation frameworks for backend services, APIs, and distributed systems
• Experience testing APIs and TCP socket-based interfaces
• Experience developing mock services, simulators, or test harnesses for external systems or hardware interfaces
• Strong understanding of integration testing, system testing, regression testing, and end-to-end automation
• Experience validating asynchronous and event-driven workflows
• Familiarity with log analysis, troubleshooting distributed systems, and root cause investigation
• Experience using test tools and frameworks such as xUnit, NUnit, MSTest, Postman/Newman, RestAssured-like API tools, or custom test harnesses
• Experience with source control and DevOps tools such as Git, Azure DevOps, GitLab, or Jenkins
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience testing systems that integrate with physical hardware devices, sensors, cameras, RFID readers, or other field equipment
• Experience with video-based testing or validating image/video processing workflows
• Experience with message-oriented or distributed architectures, including queues, brokers, or service-to-service communication patterns
• Familiarity with network protocols, socket communication, and troubleshooting connectivity issues
• Experience with performance, load, or soak testing for integration services
• Experience working from ICDs, interface specifications, sequence diagrams, and system requirements
• Familiarity with containerized environments and service deployment patterns
• Experience in regulated, operational, or mission-critical environments

Technical Skills:

• Languages/Frameworks: C#, .NET Core, scripting in PowerShell or Python preferred
• Interfaces/Protocols: TCP/IP, sockets
• Testing: API automation, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, negative testing, fault injection
• Tools: xUnit/NUnit/MSTest, Git, CI/CD pipelines, log analysis and monitoring tools
• Nice to Have: Docker, mock servers, network packet analysis tools, test data generation tools

Working Environment:
Hybrid; 2 days per week on-site in Ashburn, VA required.

Required Clearance:
Ability to obtain and maintain CBP clearance.

Our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy:
Dobbs Defense Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), sexual orientation, gender or gender identity (except where gender is a bona fide occupational qualification), gender expression and transgender status, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, military or veteran status, marital or domestic partner status, genetic information, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to equal employment opportunity in all decisions related to employment, promotion, wages, benefits, and all other privileges, terms, and conditions of employment.

Salary Range:
Pay range information will be disclosed consistent with applicable state and local pay transparency laws once available. For this position, the anticipated salary range is $114,700.00-$117,475.00 annually, depending on experience, qualifications, and overall fit for the role.