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- Tasks: Lead quality engineering efforts, designing tools and frameworks for high-quality solutions.
- Company: Join The Very Group, a company dedicated to helping families thrive with flexible payment options.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid working model, ÂŁ1,000 benefits allowance, 30 days holiday, and discounts on products.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and technical excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in QA engineering, cloud services, and a passion for code quality are essential.
- Other info: Inclusive employer offering support for diverse needs throughout the application process.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 ÂŁ per year.
About us.
We are The Very Group and we’re here to help families get more out of life. We know that our customers work hard for their families and have a lot to balance in their busy lives. That’s why we combine amazing brands and products with flexible payment options on Very.co.uk to help them say yes to the things they love. We’re just as passionate about helping our people get more out of life too; building careers with real growth, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.
About the role.
We’re looking for an experienced Principal QA Engineer to join our technology team and help shape the future of quality engineering at The Very Group.
As a Principal QA Engineer, you’ll lead the QA approach within an agile squad, ensuring that products meet the highest standards for quality, compliance, and customer experience. You’ll play a key role in ensuring adherence to our delivery framework and SDLC principles, while driving an automation‑first approach across all functional and non‑functional testing.
You’ll work closely with the Performance Unit QA Engineering Manager, Engineers, and other stakeholders to embed quality throughout the product lifecycle, championing modern testing practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop the QA capability within your squad in line with The Very Group’s tech standards.
- Ensure a Test‑Driven approach is adopted for all work.
- Drive an automation‑first strategy for functional and non‑functional testing.
- Oversee preparation, documentation, and evidence capture for all QA activities.
- Own the overall test plan and test approach, taking full accountability for its successful delivery.
- Work closely with the offshore resource management team to coach and mentor team members, fostering growth and alignment with The Very Group’s standards and values.
- Promote a value‑add approach in all delivery activities.
- Review lessons learned and share insights across squads and the QA community.
- Collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to prevent defects and improve quality throughout the SDLC.
About you
You’re a hands‑on QA leader with a passion for quality and a proven track record in delivering robust, compliant, and high‑performing solutions. You thrive in agile environments and enjoy influencing teams to adopt best practices in testing and automation.
What you’ll bring
- 5+ years of QA and testing experience at both leadership and practitioner levels.
- Proven expertise in software testing and modern QA methodologies.
- Strong experience delivering within an SDLC framework, ensuring compliance with regulatory and governance standards.
- Experience in any of Financial Services, Retail and Logistics would be beneficial.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a curious, collaborative mindset.
- Experience leading and influencing teams in QA best practices.
- Strong exploratory and technical testing skills.
- Experience with Test‑Driven approaches (ATDD, BDD, TDD).
- Proficiency in at least one programming language for automation, with the ability to learn others.
- Experience with API testing tools (Postman, Swagger, SOAPUI, Karate).
- Strong knowledge of non‑functional testing, particularly performance and security.
Some of our benefits
- Flexible, hybrid working model
- Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews
- ÂŁ1000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
- 30 days holiday + bank holidays
- LinkedIn learning access
- Bonus potential (performance and business‑related)
- Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
- Matched pension up to 6%
- More benefits can be found on our career site
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
Equal opportunities
We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
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Principal QA Engineer employer: The Very Group
Contact Detail:
The Very Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal QA Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with The Very Group's products and services. Understanding their offerings will help you demonstrate how your skills as a Principal QA Engineer can directly contribute to enhancing the quality and reliability of their solutions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current employees or alumni who have worked at The Very Group. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which you can leverage during your interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've implemented quality automation and monitoring in previous roles. Highlighting your hands-on experience with tools and frameworks relevant to the position will showcase your capability to drive best practices.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on the latest trends in quality assurance and observability platforms, particularly Elastic. Being knowledgeable about current technologies will not only impress the hiring team but also show your commitment to continuous improvement in the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal QA Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the Principal QA Engineer role. Focus on your hands-on experience in quality engineering, automation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for quality assurance and your understanding of The Very Group's mission. Mention specific examples of how you've contributed to high-quality solutions in previous roles.
Highlight Technical Skills: Emphasise your technical expertise, particularly in AWS, Azure, and the Elastic Observability platform. Provide concrete examples of how you've applied these skills in past projects to enhance software quality and security.
Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate both competency and technical questions during the interview process. Be ready to discuss your approach to mentoring others, driving best practices, and your experience with threat modelling and CI processes.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Very Group
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of what a Principal QA Engineer does, especially in the context of The Very Group. Familiarise yourself with their focus on quality automation, observability, and security to demonstrate your alignment with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with AWS, Azure, and the Elastic Observability platform. Highlight specific projects where you've built secure and scalable applications, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with engineers, tech leads, and other stakeholders. This will show that you're a team player who values communication and mentorship.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect both competency and technical questions during the formal interview. Brush up on your knowledge of threat modelling, CI processes, and best practices in reliability engineering to confidently tackle these topics.
