Lead Test Automation Software Developer

About Lynk :

Lynk is the inventor of satellite-direct-to-standard-phone technology (sat2phone), and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial sat2phone system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries.

Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what.

By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives.

Job Summary :

As the Lead Test Automation Software Developer at Lynk, you will have one of the most important and visible roles in the company!  You will be part of the Lynk technical team designing, building, integrating, and testing hardware and software for our satellite-based cellular towers in a rapid and agile manner.  The exposure you gain across the entire Lynk Network will result in you becoming one of our resident SMEs on the operation and performance of the Lynk Network.

We are seeking a highly motivated, organized, and accountable Lead Test Automation Software Developer to build test automation frameworks from scratch and then help lead the testing of the Lynk Network (running manual tests, then automating those tests).  You will work closely with the development team and the product manager to understand the product requirements and provide feedback.  You will then be responsible for designing end-to-end test plans, procedures, and scripts for verifying system requirements are met and identifying bugs.

To be successful as the Lead Test Automation Software Developer, you should have a strong background in software development, testing, and quality assurance, with a focus on cellular network technologies and standards. You should also have excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills. You should be able to work independently and as part of a team, and be able to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.

We are looking for people who :

Enjoy working as part of a development team  in a lab environment to verify functionality and debug potential issues.

Are  passionate about providing highly reliable connectivity  to the entire world.

Enjoy designing , setting up, and executing  software-in-the-loop ,  hardware-in-the-loop , and  in-the-field tests / simulations  to verify technology functions (or concepts) and characterize the performance.

Enjoy a challenge  and have a track record of  creative thinking  to  solve unconventional  or  unexpected problems .

Proactively run manual tests  as needed to validate functionality, while also working to  automate all test cases .

Lynk plans to do field testing in both the  local Northern VA  area and  various remote test sites , travel permitting.

Core Responsibilities :

Because Lynk is a small company, the Test Automation Software Developer will lead the testing of the entire telecommunication system, rather than just part of the system.  Specific responsibilities include :

Work as  part of the telecom development team , in close coordination with product management, to  become a resident expert  on system  requirements  and system  design .

Leveraging your expertise of the Lynk Network,  design end-to-end test plans, procedures, and scripts for verifying system requirements are met and  bugs are identified.

Support the testing of the Lynk Network in the  lab environment as well as out in the field .

Ownership  of  testing new releases , including new features and regressions.

Ownership  of  system performance characterization  and metrics.

Communicate  test  progress, results, and issues  to stakeholders by maintaining up-to-date bug reports and performance metrics.

Conduct  and  organize testing  efforts and plans.

Perform  manual testing  when automation doesn’t yet exist (e.g. new features)  and automated testing  using our automated testing frameworks.

Design and implement  automated test cases  using languages such as Python, ROBOT, etc..

Contribute to  test automation frameworks  and  data analysis tools .

Leverage various tools and methods, such as  network analyzers ,  traffic generators , simulators, emulators, etc.

Selection and / or development of  software tools  to support system verification.

Identify, document, and report bugs  and defects related to cellular network performance, functionality, and compatibility.

Analyze test results  and  provide recommendations  for improvement.

Collaborate with the development team and the product manager to  ensure quality standards and customer expectations are met.

Debug and troubleshoot  issues that arise during testing (including functional and performance testing).

Documentation  of testing plans, operational procedures, and results.

Stay updated  with the  latest cellular network trends  and technologies, such as 5G, LTE, and IoT.

Design, development, and optimization of Lynk’s testing procedures / policies  for our ongoing test campaign for our telecommunications technology.

Implement  continuous improvements  and best practices within the team, and larger organization.

Operation, maintenance, and calibration of  test equipment .

Required Qualifications :

A  Bachelor’s degree (or higher)  in Electrical / Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications Engineering, or a related field.

At least  four years of experience  integrating and testing cellular communications systems including (GSM / 2G and LTE / 4G).

In-depth understanding  of the  GSM and / or LTE  architecture, protocols, and standards.

Experience using network  testing tools and frameworks , such as QXDM, Wireshark, Spirent, IXIA, iPerf, Traceroute, and others (however, UI testing, Selenium, and Cucumber are not relevant).

Experience building test automation frameworks (in Python or other).

Two years of experience developing automated test cases .

Proficiency with  Linux  Operating Systems.

Proficiency with  scripting in Python and Bash .

Proven experience leading product testing.

Understanding of networking concepts (Ethernet, TCP / IP, etc.).

Proficiency desired in Object Oriented Programming (OOP) - e.g. Python, C / C++, or Java.

Experience with programming languages, databases, and web technologies, such as Python, Java, C, SQL, and HTML.

Familiarity with concepts such as DevOps, IaC, CICD, and SCM.

Experience with infrastructure automation tools such as Gitlab, Jenkins, AWS Cloud, Terraform, Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes.

Ability to  write clear and concise test documentation  and reports.

Excellent  verbal and written communication  skills.

Exceptional  organizational skills  and  highly accountable .

Attention to detail  and  quality orientation .

Critical thinking  and  troubleshooting  skills.

Ability to work in a  fast-paced and dynamic environment .