At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead automated and manual testing to ensure top-notch software quality.
- Company: Join the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, a key player in public service.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career development opportunities await you.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on technology standards while mentoring future talent.
- Qualifications: Experience in large-scale ICT testing and knowledge of programming languages required.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Location: Bristol, Swansea, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham (Chadderton), Birmingham (Garretts Green) or Uxbridge. (This role is suitable for hybrid working)
Salary: £44,241 - £58,997. Candidates based in Yeading will receive the London Weighting allowance of £4,000 plus an additional Government Digital and Data Profession allowance (non-pensionable) up to £14,756. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time.
Available Positions: 2.
The central responsibility of this role is for delivering excellent, scalable automated and manual testing capability and providing overall direction and management of software testing, while ensuring that technology standards are defined and followed to meet users’ needs efficiently and reliably.
You will perform gap analysis on current testing processes, competencies and capacity and implement plans to remove identified gaps, while keeping abreast of new technology patterns and trends to lead the evolution of test standards, tools, and processes. The focus will be on building in quality from the start and testing throughout development phases.
Top Responsibilities:
- Managing all test processes, including test plans, resources, costs, timescales, test deliverables and traceability.
- Coordinating, managing, and communicating the planning of the system and/or acceptance tests within a development or integration project/programme.
- Providing authoritative advice and guidance on any aspect of test planning and execution.
- Building tests to a standard that allows multiple use.
- Serving as coach and mentor to individuals in the service assurance team to ensure that the team is appropriately trained and up to speed regarding methodologies, policies, and tools.
- Providing input to the environment requirements, setup, manage, maintain, and ensure test data & environments are available to satisfy project and/or work package test requirements.
Benefits:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
- 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
- Access to the staff discount portal.
- Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
- 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
About You:
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Experience in testing within a large-scale ICT estate, including integrating new and legacy products.
- Experience building test frameworks and detailed knowledge of at least one programming language (we use a range of languages including Java, JavaScript, Groovy and Scala) and awareness of front-end web development (CSS/HTML).
- Ability to quickly research and learn new programming tools and techniques, learn by proof of concepts and iteration.
- Ability to mentor and coach other QA & testing colleagues.
Government Digital and Data Allowance:
The role is part of the Government Digital and Data (or Government Security Profession Career Framework) profession and utilises an enhanced Capability-Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance. The base pay is £44,241. In addition to this the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £14,756. The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process.
How to Apply:
Read the full description and apply at CS Jobs using the link provided. This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Tuesday 1st September 2026.
Senior Test Engineer in Leeds employer: Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With flexible working options, generous annual leave, and a substantial pension contribution, DVSA empowers its staff to thrive while contributing to the safety and sustainability of Britain's transport system. Join a diverse team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in frontline training delivery across various locations, including Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Contact Details:
Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Test Engineer in Leeds
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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.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Driver & 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 & 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.
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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.
