Senior Scientific Software Engineer - Test Automation & DevOps (IC), Research Software Development
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
7 months ago
Remote friendly (Carlsbad, CA)
United States
IT
Senior Scientific Software Engineer (Test Automation & DevOps, IC) — Research Software Development
Summary
- Own and elevate test automation, CI/CD, and DevOps practices across the research software team; move from bespoke processes to standardized, scalable frameworks that improve quality and delivery velocity.
Responsibilities
- Establish standardized testing, CI/CD, and DevOps frameworks across research software applications.
- Define and implement test strategies aligned to user personas, workflows, and product requirements.
- Design, build, and maintain automated testing frameworks (unit, integration, evolving toward end-to-end).
- Partner with engineers during architecture/design to ensure testability and clear acceptance criteria.
- Develop and standardize AWS-based CI/CD pipelines using AWS-native tools and infrastructure as code.
- Implement and manage automation infrastructure using AWS CDK and CloudFormation.
- Improve reliability and reproducibility via automated validation and deployment.
- Reduce manual testing and inconsistent releases through scalable automation.
- Evaluate current systems and propose maintainable solutions for testing/deployment standardization.
- Analyze test outcomes, identify root causes, and collaborate to resolve issues.
- Build DevOps dashboards and metrics (build health, test coverage, deployment performance).
- Champion testing/DevOps best practices; train and guide team members to drive adoption.
- Collaborate with scientific users to ensure software meets real-world research needs.
Key Success Indicators
- Within 90 days: assess existing apps/environments/testing/CI-CD gaps and deliver a documented assessment + prioritized roadmap.
- Within 180 days: implement standardized CI/CD and unit/integration test frameworks adopted by at least one core application.
- Establish consistent testing standards and measurable reduction in manual/ad hoc release steps.
- Build/maintain DevOps dashboards and improve release reliability (fewer production defects, faster issue resolution).
Requirements
- B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in software engineering, test automation, or DevOps.
- Strong hands-on experience designing/implementing automated test frameworks (unit, integration).
- Hands-on experience writing/executing test plans and automating them within CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience building/maintaining AWS CI/CD pipelines using infrastructure as code (CDK, CloudFormation).
- Proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, or Java.
- Strong understanding of SDLC and testing best practices.
- Ability to collaborate and influence adoption of standards.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with Python.
- Experience transitioning teams from low automation to standardized testing.
- Familiarity with scientific or data-intensive applications.
- Experience in AWS-based microservices or distributed systems.
Key Skills
- Test Automation, CI/CD, DevOps, AWS, AWS CDK, CloudFormation, Infrastructure as Code, Unit/Integration/End-to-End Testing, Research Software, Scientific Computing, Software Quality, SDLC, Test Strategy.
Application Instructions
- Apply via http://www.ionis.com and reference requisition # IONIS003860.
Benefits/Compensation
- Pay scale: $119,600 to $178,300.
Summary
- Own and elevate test automation, CI/CD, and DevOps practices across the research software team; move from bespoke processes to standardized, scalable frameworks that improve quality and delivery velocity.
Responsibilities
- Establish standardized testing, CI/CD, and DevOps frameworks across research software applications.
- Define and implement test strategies aligned to user personas, workflows, and product requirements.
- Design, build, and maintain automated testing frameworks (unit, integration, evolving toward end-to-end).
- Partner with engineers during architecture/design to ensure testability and clear acceptance criteria.
- Develop and standardize AWS-based CI/CD pipelines using AWS-native tools and infrastructure as code.
- Implement and manage automation infrastructure using AWS CDK and CloudFormation.
- Improve reliability and reproducibility via automated validation and deployment.
- Reduce manual testing and inconsistent releases through scalable automation.
- Evaluate current systems and propose maintainable solutions for testing/deployment standardization.
- Analyze test outcomes, identify root causes, and collaborate to resolve issues.
- Build DevOps dashboards and metrics (build health, test coverage, deployment performance).
- Champion testing/DevOps best practices; train and guide team members to drive adoption.
- Collaborate with scientific users to ensure software meets real-world research needs.
Key Success Indicators
- Within 90 days: assess existing apps/environments/testing/CI-CD gaps and deliver a documented assessment + prioritized roadmap.
- Within 180 days: implement standardized CI/CD and unit/integration test frameworks adopted by at least one core application.
- Establish consistent testing standards and measurable reduction in manual/ad hoc release steps.
- Build/maintain DevOps dashboards and improve release reliability (fewer production defects, faster issue resolution).
Requirements
- B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
- 3+ years of experience in software engineering, test automation, or DevOps.
- Strong hands-on experience designing/implementing automated test frameworks (unit, integration).
- Hands-on experience writing/executing test plans and automating them within CI/CD pipelines.
- Experience building/maintaining AWS CI/CD pipelines using infrastructure as code (CDK, CloudFormation).
- Proficiency in TypeScript, JavaScript, or Java.
- Strong understanding of SDLC and testing best practices.
- Ability to collaborate and influence adoption of standards.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with Python.
- Experience transitioning teams from low automation to standardized testing.
- Familiarity with scientific or data-intensive applications.
- Experience in AWS-based microservices or distributed systems.
Key Skills
- Test Automation, CI/CD, DevOps, AWS, AWS CDK, CloudFormation, Infrastructure as Code, Unit/Integration/End-to-End Testing, Research Software, Scientific Computing, Software Quality, SDLC, Test Strategy.
Application Instructions
- Apply via http://www.ionis.com and reference requisition # IONIS003860.
Benefits/Compensation
- Pay scale: $119,600 to $178,300.