Senior Test Engineer in Cowbridge

Location: Crown Way, Cardiff, UK; 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh EH8 8FT, UKSalary: 41,509 - 52,509 per yearEmployment: Full timeCategory: ITPosted: 2026-08-18Valid to: 2026-09-08Employer: Companies HouseJob summaryCompanies House is undergoing significant digital transformation, modernising the technology and services that support millions of companies and users across the UK. As a Senior Test Engineer, you will work within a multidisciplinary agile team to help deliver reliable, accessible and secure digital services. You will take a leading role in defining effective test approaches, developing automated tests and embedding quality throughout the software development lifecycle. You will combine strong hands-on testing skills with technical leadership, supporting Test Engineers and working closely with developers, delivery colleagues and other specialists. You will help teams move beyond testing at the end of development by promoting early collaboration, appropriate automation and continuous improvement. This is an opportunity to influence how testing is delivered across a large and diverse technology estate while continuing to develop your own technical and leadership capabilities. Watch this video to find out more about working in Digital at Companies HouseAbout Companies HouseCompanies House holds one of the largest sources of data in the UK, supporting transparency, economic research and public trust. As we continue to evolve through legislative reform, the need for well-governed, trusted and clearly defined data has never been more important. Why choose Companies House?Companies House offers a flexible and welcoming culture that promotes a healthy work life balance as well as a proactive approach to wellbeing that allows us to be our best at work. We recognise that people are the key to our success so offer a fantastic benefits packageOur benefits include: Flexible working with no core hours (between 6am and 8pm) 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays Civil Service Pension scheme, with an average employer contribution of 28% A strong focus on career development and progression Find out more about what a great place Companies House is to workJob descriptionPlease noteYou will be based at either our Cardiff or Edinburgh office where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. Companies House cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. Security Check (SC) Clearance is an essential requirement (you must have been present in the UK for at least 3 out of the last 5 years). Please see 'Things you need to know' section below for more information. We can only accept applications for those looking to work full time or compressed hours, working 37 hours over 4 or 5 days per week (Monday to Friday).As a Senior Test Engineer, you will be responsible for supporting testing activities within an agile delivery team and ensuring that quality is considered throughout the development process. You will work collaboratively with developers, product managers, business analysts, delivery managers and other specialists to understand requirements, identify risks and agree proportionate test approaches. You will provide constructive challenge where required and ensure that testing provides meaningful evidence to support delivery decisions. A key focus of the role will be the design, development and maintenance of automated tests for web applications and APIs. You will help ensure that automation is reliable, maintainable and integrated into continuous delivery pipelines, while recognising where exploratory, manual or specialist testing provides greater value. You will: Support the planning and delivery of testing within an agile multidisciplinary team - design and implement automated tests for user interfaces, APIs and supporting services Contribute to the maintenance and improvement of shared automation frameworks and testing standards Identify quality risks early and ensure they are clearly communicated and managed Work with developers to improve testability and encourage testing throughout development Use exploratory and risk-based testing to assess areas that are not appropriately covered by automation Analyse test results, investigate failures and provide clear evidence to support release decisions Contribute to non-functional testing, including accessibility, performance and security, where appropriate Review test code and provide constructive technical feedback Coach and mentor Test Engineers, helping them develop their technical skills and confidence Share knowledge and contribute to the wider Companies House testing community Identify opportunities to improve tools, processes and ways of working Support a culture of collective ownership, continuous learning and continuous improvement. Our current testing technologies and tools include Playwright, TypeScript, Karate, Java, Selenium, Docker, Concourse, BrowserStack, MongoDB, Oracle, Postman and SQL. You are not expected to have experience with every tool, but you should be comfortable learning new technologies and applying transferable testing and automation skills. You can read more about a career in Digital and Data within the Civil Service in the Government Digital and Data Candidate Information Pack.About the team:You will join a large and supportive testing community working across a diverse range of digital services. Our Test Engineers work as part of multidisciplinary agile teams, collaborating closely with developers, delivery colleagues and product teams to build quality into services from the outset. We use modern testing approaches and technologies, including Playwright, TypeScript and Karate, alongside exploratory and risk-based testing. You will be encouraged to develop your skills, contribute to our testing standards and automation frameworks, and help us continually improve how we deliver reliable, accessible and user-focused services.Person specificationSkills and Experience,We are looking for an experienced Senior Test Engineer with:Hands-on technical delivery with leadership, collaboration and a strong commitment to improving quality. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience of: Proven experience designing and automating software tests, ideally in web and API applications. You will be expected to coach and mentor Test Engineers. Strong proficiency in Typescript/Playwright, Java/Selenium or similar modern testing frameworks.Familiarity with cloud-based testing platforms (e.g. Browserstack Automate).Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.Experience of Non Functional testing practices including Security, Performance and Accessibility Testing. Designing, developing and maintaining automated tests for web applications, APIs or both - using a modern test automation framework such as Playwright, Cypress, Selenium, Karate or an equivalent technology Applying a range of testing techniques, including exploratory, functional and risk-based testing Working within an agile multidisciplinary software delivery team Integrating automated tests into continuous integration or continuous delivery pipelines Investigating failures and distinguishing product defects from test, data or environment issues Identifying, assessing and clearly communicating quality risks Reviewing requirements, designs or proposed changes to improve clarity and testability - producing maintainable test code using appropriate software engineering practices Collaborating effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues Contributing to improvements in testing practices, automation approaches or team processes. It would be beneficial if you have experience of one or more of the following:API testing using tools or frameworks such as Karate, REST Assured or Postman Browser automation using Playwright and TypeScript Testing applications hosted in cloud environments Containerisation technologies such as Docker Accessibility, performance or security testing Testing services that use relational and non-relational databases Test data management or the creation of automated test data Working with shared testing frameworks or reusable automation components Supporting quality improvements across more than one delivery teamDesign and development of test automation and test approachBehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Delivering at PaceManaging a Quality ServiceDeveloping Self and OthersWorking TogetherMaking Effective DecisionsTechnical skillsWe'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:Test planning and automation testingBenefitsAlongside your salary of 41,509, Companies House contributes 12,025 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).We believe that our success is driven by the well-being and satisfaction of our team members at all levels of the organisation. At Companies House we’re committed to providing a comprehensive benefits package that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your career journey with us is not only fulfilling, but also rewarding. We pride ourselves on offering a quality work-life balance with our employee wellbeing being central to our working practices. Head to Our benefits - Working for us - Recruitment (companieshouse.gov.uk) to find out more about the fantastic benefits package we have at Companies House. We celebrate diversity... As an equal opportunity employer, we celebrate diversity, being committed to ensuring we’re representative of the citizens we serve and creating an inclusive environment. Everyone in Companies House brings something different, and so will you. To fulfil our commitment to recruiting and attracting diverse talent we welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We also welcome applications from Welsh speakers. We are proud to be a disability confident leader. Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments as needed through our process. These could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments and receiving interview questions in advance, to name a few. If you require any reasonable adjustments at application stage, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments, please contact us by emailing recruitmentCH@companieshouse.gov.uk.Read our 'Applying under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS)' guide to find out how to successfully complete an application under the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS).Where will you be working?You will be based at either our Cardiff or Edinburgh office where you will be expected to attend on a regular basis. We are currently using a hybrid approach to the way we work which provides opportunities for you to be adaptable in the way you work so that you can achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life. The degree of choice you have will depend on your role and your day-to-day work activities. Your manager will agree regular patterns of attendance with you, however you may be required to make yourself available to attend the office more frequently when required to meet business needs.Occasional travel to other office locations, particularly Cardiff, may be required.Things you need to knowArtificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.Additional details on security and vettingSuccessful candidates must meet the security requirements for Security Check (SC) before they can be appointed. Further information on the vetting process can be found at National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK. To be eligible for SC clearance, candidates must meet the vetting criteria and have been a resident in the UK for at least 3 out of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected. Please review our vetting charter to understand what you can expect from the process - The vetting charter - GOV.UKIf you have questions regarding this or are unsure if you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact recruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.ukCommunications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.We welcome applications in Welsh / Rydym yn croesawi ceisiadau yn y Gymraeg. Key dates (dates are indicative only and could be subject to change) Closing date - 7th September 2026, at 23:55 Sifting of applications - 8th September 2026 onwards Candidate Automation Activity(please note the portal refers to this stage as 'interview 1') - w/c 21st September 2026Sifting of Automation Activity- w/c 28th SeptemberInterviews (please note the portal refers to this stage as 'interview 2') - w/c 19th October 2026, via Microsoft Teams Communications will be electronic via email therefore it is important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder. What will the process look like?Stage 1- SiftAn initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements: Experience & Skills.We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as your name and age) from your personal statement. This also applies to your employment history, this means excluding names of schools, or any personal identifiers. Your CV will be used to assess your suitability for the role alongside your Experience. In your application form we’d like you to: CVTell us about your employment history, including key responsibilities and achievements. Personal statementWrite a Personal Statement of up to 1250 words explaining how you meet the criteria below. To ensure we can assess all the requirements, please structure your statement into five separate sections, using approximately 250 words for each.For each section, provide clear examples from your experience that demonstrate your knowledge, skills and achievements in that area:proven experience designing and automating software tests, ideally in web and API applications. You will be expected to coach and mentor Test Engineers (Lead Criteria).strong proficiency in Typescript/Playwright, Java/Selenium or similar modern testing frameworks.familiarity with cloud-based testing platforms (e.g. Browserstack Automate).experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.experience of Non Functional testing practices including Security, Performance and Accessibility Testing. For guidance on how to structure your application please visit:About the application process , Civil Service Careers. Please note: In the event of a high volume of applications, an initial sift may be conducted against the Lead Criteria: proven experience designing and automating software tests, ideally in web and API applications. You will be expected to coach and mentor Test Engineers. If you pass the initial sift (lead criteria), you may either move on to a full sift (full personal statement) or go straight to interview 1, depending on number of applications received. We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applicationsWhen answering, give clear and specific examples of what you personally did, explaining the actions you took and the results or impact of your work. We’re committed to being diverse and inclusive, so please make your application anonymous by removing all identifying personal information (such as your name and age) from your personal statement. At sift we may choose to take through the highest performing candidates to the next stage. If, after the final stage is completed and roles are unfilled, we will proceed to invite lower scoring candidates to interview. Stage 2- Technical Assessment (please note the portal refers to this stage as 'interview 1')Candidates successful at sift will progress to the assessment stage, where you will asked to complete a technical activity to demonstrate the technical skills and experience listed in the job description. Full details will be emailed across to candidates, including information about submission deadlines. The technical assessment stage will be assessing Technical Skill: design and development of test automation and test approach.Stage 3- Interview (please note the portal refers to this stage as 'interview 2')Companies House uses a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you. We use the Success Profile framework and at interview we will use Success Profiles assessing the Behaviours listed in the advert. Successful candidates from the sift stage and technical assessment will be invited to a virtual interview, which will be conducted using Microsoft Teams. If after the interview you are not found appointable at the advertised grade, you may be offered a lower grade role if you are considered to meet the skills, experience and behaviours for the lower level. The benchmark for appointing to the lower grade is set at the start of each campaign. Stage 3- offerOnce all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. Reserve listThis recruitment campaign will keep a reserve list for 12 months. If you meet the requirements for this role but aren't offered after passing the interview, you'll be placed on the reserve list. Subject to business need, if a suitable position opens up during this time, we will reach out to individuals in merit order. Successful applicants will be required to start on the date offered to align with the training schedule. Those who are unable to start on that date or are unavailable for certain parts of the training period will be placed on the reserve list for consideration in a future intake. This post is being advertised Externally. Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, or if you'd like to discuss any person-centred adjustments then please let the recruitment team know viarecruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.ukPre-Employment CheckingIn line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. From June 2026, applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). Your personal details (name, National Insurance number, and date of birth) will be checked against the Civil Service Resourcing Extract IFD. This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. If your details appear on this database, you will not be offered employment unless you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. Companies House, acting on behalf of the vacancy holder, will inform you if your application is refused for this reason. Please note: You are not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis job is broadly open to the following groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Diversity and InclusionThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).Apply and further informationThis vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact point for applicantsJob contact : Name : Hannah MatthewsEmail : hmatthews@companieshouse.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : recruitmentch@companieshouse.gov.ukFurther informationWe welcome applications in Welsh / Rydym yn croesawi ceisiadau yn y Gymraeg. Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact infopoint@companieshouse.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission . info@csc.gov.ukCivil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ