At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and development of innovative test frameworks and tools.
- Company: Join the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, a diverse and inclusive employer.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on road safety while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in designing test frameworks and writing clean code is essential.
The predicted salary is between 44241 - 58793 £ per year.
The Strategy, Policy, Digital & Technology Directorate plays a central role in delivering DVSA's digital services that support road safety and compliance across the UK. The Test Engineering team sits within this directorate and is responsible for ensuring high-quality, reliable, and scalable digital products. Working closely with product, delivery, and engineering teams, the group embeds quality from the outset of development, balancing manual and automated testing to provide confidence in delivery. The team drives improvements in testing practices, builds reusable frameworks, and promotes a culture of collaboration, early engagement, and continuous improvement to meet both user needs and DVSA's strategic goals.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:
- Leading the design and development of test frameworks and tools.
- Building reliable automated checks across API, integration, contract and end-to-end levels.
- Improving CI/CD pipeline confidence through effective automated validation.
- Investigating complex failures across code, environments, data and pipelines.
- Supporting live service reliability by identifying risks and driving improvements.
- Working with developers, testers, analysts and DevOps engineers to embed quality early.
- Mentoring colleagues and promoting consistent quality engineering practices.
- Contributing to engineering standards, continuous improvement and cross-team collaboration.
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Designing and developing test frameworks and tooling.
- Writing clean, reusable and maintainable code in a modern engineering environment.
- Testing across API, integration, contract and end-to-end levels.
- Working with CI/CD pipelines and automated quality checks.
- Investigating complex failures across systems, environments, data and pipelines.
- Working in Agile, multidisciplinary teams to deliver digital services.
- Applying quality engineering practices to improve reliability and scalability.
- Mentoring others and influencing consistent engineering and testing standards.
Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week. Monthly travel to other offices would be encouraged, which may involve overnight stays. This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
Senior Software Development Engineer in Test employer: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an exceptional employer that prioritises inclusivity and employee well-being, offering a generous pension contribution of 28.97% and up to 30 days of annual leave. With a strong focus on professional development, employees have access to excellent career growth opportunities and the chance to undertake relevant qualifications, all within a collaborative and supportive work culture that values quality and innovation in delivering vital digital services for road safety across the UK.
Contact Details:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Recruitment Team
dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Software Development Engineer in Test
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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We think you need these skills to ace Senior Software Development Engineer in Test
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
