Python Test Developer

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario
• Type: Contract
• Job #35233

The Python Test Developer will work as part of a collaborative engineering team and interact regularly with software developers, requirements engineers, DevOps, scrum masters, product owners, and other stakeholders. This position requires strong Python development skills, practical test automation experience, and the ability to troubleshoot and solve technical issues in a fast-paced engineering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, maintain, and improve automated test scripts, tools, and frameworks using Python.
• Perform functional, integration, regression, system, and performance testing for complex software components.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of software testing processes, test cases, and automation approaches.
• Analyze requirements and convert them into clear, effective, and maintainable test cases.
• Build and support automated testing using Python and test automation frameworks such as Pytest or Slash.
• Validate software functionality using simulated environments, lab-based systems, and hardware platforms.
• Support testing activities related to data path, routing, networking, and system-level software features.
• Integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous validation and faster development feedback.
• Maintain accurate testing documentation, including test plans, test cases, test steps, results, defects, and analysis reports.
• Investigate, troubleshoot, and help resolve software issues in collaboration with development and engineering teams.
• Participate in code reviews, test reviews, and technical discussions focused on software quality and testability.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including software development, requirements, DevOps, scrum masters, product ownership, and management.
• Use test management and defect tracking tools to organize test execution, report issues, and monitor progress.
• Leverage knowledge of cloud technologies, virtualization, and containerization to support test environment deployment and management.
• Help improve testing practices, automation tools, development workflows, and overall quality processes.
• Support Test-Driven Development practices and simulated software testing methods where appropriate.
• Keep current with software testing, test automation, networking, and embedded systems technologies.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in software testing, test automation, or a similar technical testing role.
• Strong experience developing automated tests with Python.
• Experience testing embedded software platforms, networking software, communications systems, or similarly complex software environments.
• Experience working in Agile development environments with cross-functional engineering teams.

Required Skills & Technical Qualifications

• Strong Python development and scripting skills.
• Experience using Python-based automation frameworks such as Pytest or Slash.
• Experience developing, maintaining, and enhancing automated test frameworks.
• Solid understanding of structured software testing practices, including requirements review, test case creation, test script development, test execution, and test data analysis.
• Knowledge of systems engineering fundamentals, including networking, storage, and operating systems.
• Understanding of networking and routing protocols.
• Experience using Git or similar version control tools.
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines.
• Experience working in Linux-based development or test environments.
• Working knowledge of C++ is considered an asset.
• Experience testing embedded software is considered an asset.
• Experience with cloud technologies, virtualization, and containerization is considered an asset.
• Experience with test management tools, including Zephyr Scale, is considered an asset.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex issues across software, system, and test environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and detail-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with Test-Driven Development and simulated software testing approaches.
• Ability to develop and maintain automation software while taking hardware resource limitations into account.
• Agile mindset with a willingness to contribute to ongoing process and quality improvements.