Senior Software Engineer, Design in Test (SDET)

Senior Software Test Engineer About Us: BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun. The Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) is responsible for designing and implementing automated test frameworks, tools, and simulated environments that ensure the reliability and quality of our enterprise software systems. This role is development‑focused and centers on building test harnesses, emulating third‑party systems and network conditions, and creating robust automation infrastructure that enables comprehensive in‑house validation. The SDET develops reusable test code, service/API simulators, and scalable Python‑based frameworks that integrate into CI/CD pipelines to deliver consistent and repeatable coverage across complex application workflows. In addition to building automation systems, they analyze system behavior, investigate failures, collaborate closely with developers, and validate fixes to drive overall product stability and release confidence. Because this role frequently works with physical lab environments, shared test equipment, and cross‑team collaboration, the engineer will be expected to work onsite in both our Seattle and Tukwila offices in a hybrid capacity. Typical expectations are approximately two days per week in the office, with flexibility to adjust based on project needs, lab access requirements, or collaborative testing efforts. This position reports to the Senior Manag er, Test and is responsible for all software test activities within the company, providing high visibility and significant influence on test strategy, automation direction, and product quality. Responsibilities: Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks and tools using Python, enabling scalable and reliable testing across services, APIs, and UI workflows.