[Remote] Scrum Master / QA Test Engineer - Contingent

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Aretum is a mission-driven organization focused on providing technology-enabled solutions in the defense, civilian, and homeland security sectors. They are seeking a Scrum Master/QA Test Engineer to facilitate scrum ceremonies and validate application quality through various testing disciplines within an Agile scrum team.ResponsibilitiesOrganize, conduct, and schedule all Scrum ceremonies, including stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectivesTrain and coach team members on agile processes, methods, and tasks to ensure consistent understanding and application of agile practicesMaintain and groom the backlog, facilitating thorough and productive backlog grooming sessionsManage agile/project artifacts, ensuring all project tracking and documentation are up-to-date and accurately reflect project statusTrack progress towards project delivery goals and provide leadership with high-level summaries and updates on project progressExecute functional testing of web application features, validating stories against acceptance criteria and documenting defects with clear reproduction steps, severity classification, and expected versus actual behaviorBuild, maintain, and expand automated regression test suites using Playwright, Cypress, and Selenium with Cucumber/Gherkin BDD patterns, integrated into GitLab CI pipelines for continuous feedbackCreate and maintain automated API test collections using Postman and Rest Assured to validate microservice endpoints, inter-service contracts, and integration points with external systemsCreate and maintain integration test cases / scenariosPerform digital accessibility evaluations on coded solutions using automated tools (aXe, pa11y, WAVE, ANDI) and manual techniques (JAWS and NVDA screen reader testing) per WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 standards, following the DHS Trusted Tester conformance test processDocument accessibility findings with specific WCAG success criteria references and actionable remediation guidance that enables developers to resolve issues efficientlyExecute load and performance tests using NeoLoad, JMeter, or equivalent tools to validate response times, throughput, and error rates against defined thresholds before production releasesMaintain test plans and test cases in Confluence linked to Jira stories, with test evidence documented for sprint reviewsCollaborate with developers to define clear acceptance criteria and test criteria during backlog refinement, ensuring stories are testable before development beginsParticipate fully in Agile ceremonies within a scrum framework: Sprint Planning, Standup, Sprint Review, Retrospective, and Backlog RefinementMaintain CI-integrated test suites at a 95% pass rate or above and resolve flaky tests promptly to keep automation a reliable quality gateSupport production triage when assigned, diagnosing issues and verifying fixes through the standard CI/CD pipelineContribute to test strategy improvements, automation framework enhancements, and knowledge sharing across the project teamSkillsPublic Trust Eligibility Required4+ years of applicable experience in software quality assurance and testingBachelor's degree (or 2 years of additional experience)Certified Scrum Master (or equivalent certification, or 2 years of experience as a Scrum Master)Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks, including Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright, with the ability to write and maintain test scripts in Java and/or JavaScriptExperience in creating and maintaining system integration test cases / scenarios1+ year of experience with Selenium and/or Playwright for end-to-end browser automation, including test script development, cross-browser configuration, and CI pipeline integration1+ year of experience with performance and load testing tools such as NeoLoad or JMeter, including script creation, threshold definition, and results analysisExperience writing BDD test scenarios using Cucumber/Gherkin syntax and implementing step definitionsProficiency with API testing tools such as Postman and Rest Assured, including creating collections, writing assertions, and validating FastAPI and/or RESTful service responsesWorking knowledge of digital accessibility testing, including WCAG 2.1 AA standards, Section 508 compliance, and experience using automated accessibility scanning tools (aXe, pa11y, WAVE, or ANDI)Experience with manual screen reader testing using JAWS or NVDA for accessibility evaluation beyond automated scanningExperience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab CI preferred) and understanding of how automated tests integrate into build and deployment workflowsStrong defect documentation skills: ability to write clear, reproducible bug reports with severity classification and supporting evidenceFamiliarity with code quality tools such as SonarQube, including reading coverage reports and quality dashboardsExcellent communication skills with the ability to provide clear status updates, collaborate with developers on defect resolution, and present test results to stakeholdersExperience with creation and maintenance of project documentation such as user guides, system changes, system guides, etcExperience with the federal governmentDegree in computer science, engineering or related fieldProficiency with Agile project management tools (Jira, Confluence) and experience working in Scrum or SAFe environments with 2 to 3 week sprint cyclesDHS Trusted Tester certification with experience applying the Trusted Tester conformance test process to evaluate Section 508 and WCAG 2.1 AA compliance on web applicationsISTQB certification (Foundation or Advanced Level) or equivalent QA certificationIAAP certification (WAS, CPACC, or CPWA) or equivalent accessibility certificationExperience testing on open-source applicationsFamiliarity with microservices architecture and container-based deployment patternsExperience testing applications that integrate with federal identity providersBackground in testing VueJs web applications with responsive design requirementsBenefitsHealth Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)Retirement Plan (401k)Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)Paid Time OffFamily Leave (Maternity, Paternity)Short Term & Long-Term DisabilityTraining & DevelopmentCompany OverviewARETUM is a government contracting company specializing in technology-enabled mission support services for the Department of Defense. It was founded in 2023, and is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with a workforce of 501-1000 employees. Its website is https://www.aretum.com.