At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our QA team to enhance a .NET test automation framework and collaborate on exciting projects.
- Company: Dynamic tech company focused on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a vibrant team with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in software testing while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience in C# and test automation, with strong collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 51750 - 63250 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced Automated Test Architect to join the QA team. The successful candidate will maintain and extend an enterprise-grade .NET test automation framework built on Reqnroll (BDD) and Microsoft Playwright on .NET 8. The role sits within a cross-functional delivery team working on the Microsoft Dynamics 365-based application for council tax property assessment. The candidate will work closely with Functional Testers, developers, BAs and DevOps engineers to embed automated testing into the CI/CD pipeline and shift testing left across the delivery lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain and extend the Reqnroll (SpecFlow) BDD automation framework written in C# / .NET 8 using Microsoft Playwright
- Write and review Gherkin feature files, step definitions and page objects to support new and changed functionality
- Ensure automated tests are submitted alongside pull requests for new features - contributing to a shift-left testing model
- Investigate and resolve test flakiness - replacing hard sleeps with condition-based waits, standardising step definitions, eliminating duplicate bindings
- Maintain and improve the Azure DevOps CI/CD pipeline - test result publishing, environment switching, and PR gate configuration
- Triage pipeline failures and distinguish test failures from environment or infrastructure issues
- Work with the DevOps team to configure and maintain the agent pool
- Manage test data in Excel and database - ensuring data integrity and environment isolation between SIT, UAT and FAT
- Participate in sprint ceremonies - providing test estimates, flagging automation risk, and contributing to Definition of Done
- Mentor junior QA team members on framework usage, Gherkin best practices and Playwright
- Contribute to the Ways of Working improvement programme - defining PR gate criteria and embedding tests into the delivery pipeline
Technical Skills - Essential
- Test Automation C# (.NET 8) - Solid hands-on C# experience - OOP, generics, async/await, LINQ
- Playwright - Hands-on experience with Microsoft.Playwright - locators, auto-wait, trace viewer, assertions (Expect), async/await patterns
- Reqnroll or SpecFlow - Experience writing and maintaining BDD feature files, step definitions and hooks in a .NET context
- Gherkin / BDD - Ability to write clear, readable Gherkin scenarios - correct use of Given/When/Then, Background:, Scenario Outline
- NUnit or xUnit - Test framework experience in a .NET context
- Page Object Model - Strong POM implementation - separation of locators and functions, reusable components
- CI/CD and DevOps Git - Branch strategy, PR workflow, commit hygiene
Supporting Skills
- Excel test data management - EPPlus or similar - reading parameterised test data from Excel sheets
- SQL / database - Ability to write and validate SQL queries for test data retrieval and assertion
- Serilog or similar logging - Structured logging in a test context
- Microsoft Dynamics 365 - Experience automating D365 CRM - iframe handling, BPF stages, lookup fields, command bar interactions
- Selenium WebDriver - Prior Selenium experience - useful for understanding existing test patterns and diagnosing legacy issues
- Azure AD / OAuth - Understanding of session tokens, re-authentication popups, service account configuration for pipelines
- Accessibility testing - Axe integration or similar - a11y test execution
- PDF evidence generation - PDF-based screenshot capture and evidence trail (PdfSharp or similar)
- AutoIt - Windows automation for file upload dialogs
Automation Test Architect in London employer: Cognizant
Cognizant is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration within the UK Public Sector. Employees benefit from comprehensive growth opportunities, including training in cutting-edge AI technologies, while contributing to meaningful projects that impact government services. With a commitment to quality and excellence, Cognizant provides a supportive environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Test Architect in London
✨Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups
We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like Cognizant!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Automation Test Architect position at Cognizant, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.
✨Leverage Your Uni Career Services
If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when Cognizant is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!
✨Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications
While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Automation Test Architect role at Cognizant!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Test Architect in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!
Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to Cognizant and its goals.
Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cognizant
✨Master Your Technical Knowledge
In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to Cognizant.
✨Understand Industry Trends
Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at Cognizant, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.
✨Commit to Continuous Learning
As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.
