Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) - Costa Rica

SimSpace serves as an AI Proving Ground where organizations can confidently train, test, and outmaneuver adversaries in any environment. Trusted by allied governments, militaries, enterprises, and research institutions worldwide, SimSpace enables adaptive, AI-ready defenses that stay ahead of evolving threats. Founded in 2015 by experts from U.S. Cyber Command and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, the platform unifies training, testing, and validation in a realistic, live-fire simulation—helping teams evaluate security investments, optimize performance, and compress cyber readiness cycles from months to days.

Why join SimSpace? We are an organization that is focused on building our culture and mindfully enhancing our atmosphere every day which is why we have collaborated on an integral value system. Our governing philosophy of being Human Centered is deeply embedded within our value system. We apply this philosophy to every one of our internal team members, external clients, and their customers.

How Do We Work? We believe that people are at the center of everything we do. SimSpace fosters a culture of continuous learning, curiosity, and professional growth. That belief shows up in action: in-house training, internal and external learning platforms, cyber conferences, industry events, and dedicated time for skill development. Our people are empowered to shape their careers - and it shows. Year over year, SimSpace consistently outperforms industry benchmarks in internal mobility, promotions, and total rewards growth.

Who Thrives Here? We are a team of innovators, protectors, and problem-solvers. We believe diversity of thought and experience fuels better solutions, and we’re committed to building teams that reflect the communities we serve. Whether you’re remote or office-based, you’ll collaborate with talented colleagues across departments and time zones, united by the mission to create a safer digital world.

We invite you to apply today!

SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER IN TEST (SDET), COSTA RICA

We are looking for an experienced Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join our engineering team in Costa Rica and partner closely with our U.S.-based engineering organization. This is a high-ownership role focused on improving quality across complex, distributed systems by influencing engineering practices—not simply writing automated tests.

The ideal candidate is a quality engineer who thinks critically about risk, identifies issues before they become production incidents, and helps engineering teams build more reliable software from the start. You'll collaborate daily with software engineers, product managers, and Site Reliability Engineers to ensure our systems are observable, testable, and resilient. Because this is a nearshore role, strong English communication skills are essential for real-time collaboration.

In this position, you'll help define and execute the quality strategy across our engineering organization. Rather than operating independently from development, you'll partner closely with engineering teams throughout the software development lifecycle. Specifically, you'll be responsible for:

• Building and maintaining automated test coverage across APIs, backend services, and user interfaces for complex distributed systems.

• Developing quality strategies that identify risk early and improve confidence in every release.

• Driving improvements in CI/CD pipelines, reducing test flakiness, and increasing the reliability and speed of automated testing.

• Helping engineering teams design software that is observable, testable, and measurable from the earliest stages of development.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING AS A SENIOR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER IN TEST (SDET) AT SIMSPACE?

• Own the quality strategy for major features and initiatives, identifying technical risks early and partnering with engineering teams to build practical mitigation plans.

• Design, develop, and maintain reliable automated test suites covering APIs, backend services, distributed systems, and end-to-end user workflows.

• Collaborate with engineers during design and implementation to improve testability, observability, and overall software quality before code reaches production.

• Improve the reliability, speed, and signal-to-noise ratio of CI/CD pipelines by reducing flaky tests, optimizing automation, and continuously improving quality metrics.

• Apply AI-assisted development tools, intelligent test selection, and risk-based testing techniques to improve automation efficiency and coverage.

• Continuously evaluate emerging testing technologies and modern quality engineering practices, including AI-driven tooling for coverage analysis and defect detection.

• Help establish engineering-wide quality standards through mentoring, code reviews, process improvements, and collaboration across engineering teams.

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY?

To be successful as a Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET), you need to have:

• Strong bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, with excellent written and verbal communication skills for daily collaboration with U.S.-based engineering teams.

• 5+ years of experience in software quality engineering, test automation, or SDET roles supporting complex backend or distributed systems.

• Strong experience designing and maintaining automated tests across APIs, backend services, and end-to-end application workflows.

• Deep understanding of quality strategy, including risk assessment, test planning, coverage analysis, and quality metrics—not just test implementation.

• Experience working in modern CI/CD environments and improving pipeline reliability through automation and test optimization.

• Experience collaborating closely with software engineers throughout the development lifecycle to improve software quality, observability, and testability.

• Familiarity with modern testing frameworks and technologies such as Cypress, Playwright, or similar automation tools.

• Experience working within cloud-native or Kubernetes-based environments is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated ability to independently identify quality gaps, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and influence engineering teams without direct authority.

• Interest or experience in AI-assisted software development, intelligent testing, or modern quality engineering practices is a strong plus.

WE'RE PROUD TO OFFER A COMPETITIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT YOUR WELL-BEING, GROWTH, AND SUCCESS:

• Compensation. Base monthly pay range: 1,500,000 CRC - 2,500,000 CRC reflecting our confidence in your expertise and impact, with the opportunity for annual bonuses tied to company performance and individual contributions.

• Health & Wellness. Private medical, dental, vision, and life benefits.

• Mental Health Support. Access to company-paid counseling, coaching, and resources for you and your family through Spring Health.

• Parental Leave. Paid leave plans to support you and your loved ones during life’s most important moments.

• Ownership Opportunities. Equity stock options at hire, with annual performance-based grants—become an invested stakeholder in our shared success.

• Continuous Learning. Access a LinkedIn Learning membership to prioritize your personal and professional development.

• Social Connections: Monthly reimbursements for meaningful connections with teammates through our SocialSpace Community.

SimSpace is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

SimSpace is an 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. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Research shows that women and people from underrepresented groups only apply to jobs if they meet all of the qualifications. However, no one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. SimSpace encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. We look forward to your application!

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, in accordance with applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact careers@simspace.com.

SimSpace does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies.

Actual compensation for the position is based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to affordability, skills, qualifications and experience, and may vary from the range.