Senior Appian QA Automation Engineer

Who Are We? 
Groundswell is a premier technology integrator and solution provider, resolutely committed to solving the most complex challenges facing federal agencies today. Our name, Groundswell, represents our commitment to be an unstoppable, seismic change in government. Ours is a small company culture with big company reach and results.  Are you ready to be audacious, be bold and drive change at a rapid pace?  Join us, where we’ll make a greater impact together.
 

What You'll do:

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Appian QA Automation Engineer to lead the design, development, and execution of automated testing strategies for mission-critical Appian applications. This role is ideal for a hands-on engineer who thrives in building scalable automation frameworks, optimizing CI/CD pipelines, and driving quality across the full product lifecycle.
 

You will serve as a technical leader and subject matter expert, partnering closely with developers, product teams, and project leadership to ensure high-quality, performant, and reliable Appian solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Architect, design, and implement scalable automation frameworks (Python or similar) for testing Appian applications

Define and lead automated testing strategies, including functional, regression, API, performance, and end-to-end testing

Own and optimize CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab, Jenkins) to support automated testing across build, install, upgrade, and backward compatibility workflows

Develop and execute performance and load testing strategies (e.g., Locust or similar tools) to validate application scalability under real-world conditions

Design and implement API-level automated tests, reducing reliance on manual tools and ensuring full system coverage

Lead QA efforts across multiple projects, ensuring consistency, scalability, and adherence to best practices

Support release readiness by coordinating cross-functional testing efforts, including security, performance, and accessibility validation

Analyze defects and testing results to identify root causes, trends, and opportunities for continuous improvement

Collaborate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to user story development and acceptance criteria, ensuring testability and quality are built in early

Serve as a technical advisor and mentor, providing guidance through code reviews, demos, and knowledge sharing

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Business, or related field

5+ years of experience in QA automation, with strong hands-on experience building and maintaining automation frameworks

Experience testing Appian or other low-code/BPM platforms

Proficiency in Python-based automation (or similar languages)

Strong experience with CI/CD pipeline integration for automated testing (e.g., GitLab, Jenkins, Azure DevOps)

Experience with API testing and backend automation

Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., Locust, JMeter, or similar)

Proven ability to manage testing efforts across multiple projects simultaneously

Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and QA best practices

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills

Ability to work remotely with flexibility to support East Coast hours

Must be able to obtain and maintain up to a Secret level security clearance . (U.S Citizenship required for clearance purposes)

Preferred Skills

Experience with Selenium, Playwright, or similar frontend automation tools

Experience modernizing or migrating legacy test frameworks

Familiarity with DevOps practices and release operations

Trusted Tester Certification (508 compliance)

Experience supporting enterprise-scale or product-based releases

Active Secret Clearance

Skills:

Certification:

Why You’ll Never Want to Leave:

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans 

Flexible Spending Account 

4% 401K Match (immediate vesting) 

Paid Time Off 

Tuition reimbursement, certification programs, and professional development

Flexible work schedule

On-site gym and childcare option 

The salary range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. At Groundswell, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:

$136,969.00 - $165,023.00

NOTE: Groundswell does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Groundswell, and Groundswell will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Read a copy of the Company’s Non-Discrimination Policy Statement.

Additional Resources:

EO 13496 Notification of Employee Rights under NLRA

Know your rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal
 

Disability Accessibility Accommodation: If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us at hr@gswell.com or 703-639-1777.