Senior QA Software Engineer - Sensors and Effectors (AU)

Work with cutting edge AI technology, making the world a safer and more secure place. DroneShield (ASX:DRO) offers an opportunity to solve some of world’s most challenging technical problems in the rapidly growing counter-drone sector.   

Our customers operate in some of the most challenging and high-stakes environments in the world, including military organisations, government agencies, airports, critical infrastructure operators, and law enforcement. Protecting airspace in these settings requires technology that performs under pressure and teams that understand what’s at stake. At DroneShield, employees work at the leading edge of counter-drone innovation, helping to address real-world security challenges as drone threats continue to evolve globally. 

With one of the largest listed defence company market capitalisations in Australia, now part of the ASX200 index, DroneShield is experiencing a period of hypergrowth. Revenue has surged from A$57 million in 2024 to over A$217 million in 2025, representing growth of more than 400% year-on-year, with record profitability and cashflow. The total addressable global market for counter-drone is assessed at approximately $100 billion, and is currently at the nascent stage with much of the growth still to come, with DroneShield well positioned as a global market leader, and the only public listed pure-play business in this sector.   

The company has grown from 11 employees in 2017 to over 450 staff globally today, and is on track to reach around 550 by the end of 2026. This expansion includes investment of over A$50 million annually in R&D, a global pipeline exceeding A$2.5 billion, and continuous scaling of production capacity to meet accelerating demand.  

The role is based at DroneShield’s central Sydney headquarters. Overseas on-the-ground presence includes Virginia (USA), Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico and Dubai, as well as distributors in over 70 countries worldwide. 

About the role

DroneShield is seeking a Senior QA Software Engineer to join our Sydney team. You’ll play a key role in defining and implementing test frameworks, automation, and QA processes across DroneShield’s embedded sensors and software platforms.

This role involves hands-on testing, automation development, mentoring other QA engineers, and collaborating with software and hardware teams to ensure the highest standards of product quality, performance, and reliability. You will also be expected to drive continuous improvements, take ownership of deliverables, and work closely with stakeholders across engineering teams.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations 

• Develop design and maintenance of automated test frameworks within CI/CD pipelines.
• Develop and execute test plans for embedded software, integrations, and features.
• Conduct manual and field validation testing to verify product performance.
• Identify and manage test dependencies, risks, and traceability across releases.
• Collaborate with developers and stakeholders to resolve defects and improve quality.
• Drive automation coverage, benchmark validation, and release testing.
• Mentor QA engineers and contribute to QA process improvements.
• Support user acceptance, system integration, and performance testing activities.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 6+ years in Software QA, Verification & Validation, or Test Engineering, ideally in embedded or hardware-integrated systems.
• Strong Python skills with pytest, Selenium, or similar frameworks.
• Experience with Linux, JIRA, Confluence, and CI/CD environments.
• Proven ability to drive improvements and own deliverables with minimal supervision.
• Strong communicator and collaborator across cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on, detail-oriented approach with a focus on reliability and product quality.

Desirable Skills

• Experience leading or mentoring QA team members.
• Familiarity with Xray or other test management tools.
• Exposure to simulation/mocking frameworks or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Understanding of performance benchmarking and test metrics.
• Passion for continuous process improvement.

Note for recruitment agencies: We do not accept unsolicited candidates from external recruiters unless specifically instructed.