At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to design and maintain automated tests across various platforms.
- Company: A creative communications agency with a rich history and a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Flexible working, diverse environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a friendly team that values creativity and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product quality while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software testing with strong automation skills and agile experience.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
We are looking for a Senior Test Engineer to join a small, high-performing test team supporting product engineering, enterprise platform delivery, and client services through a strongly Lean software development approach. The team works across web applications, enterprise SaaS platforms, and client-facing digital products. This is a hands-on senior individual contributor role for someone who is strongest in test automation and who can implement quality practices across delivery teams through thoughtful test design, robust automation, and targeted manual testing where automation is not the right tool.
The way you roll…
- Design, build, and maintain automated test coverage across UI, API, and integration layers
- Contribute to reliable regression automation that supports confident change and release readiness
- Apply the existing test strategy across delivery teams and help refine team standards and ways of working
- Work closely with engineers, product managers, and designers to shape testable requirements, identify quality risks early, and improve delivery outcomes
- Carry out high-value manual and exploratory testing where automation is not appropriate
- Support release readiness and regression decisions with clear, risk-based quality insight
- Apply OWASP Top 10 awareness during test design and risk assessment
- Actively test for common web security weaknesses and advise teams on risk
- Facilitate light-weight threat modelling with delivery teams
- Test against WCAG standards in a practical delivery context
- Identify accessibility issues in web products and work with teams to improve them
- Help embed accessibility into test design and acceptance criteria
- Create and manage effective test data for automated and manual testing
- Work pragmatically with imperfect or unstable non-production environments
- Identify when environment or test data issues are creating false quality signals
- Represent the test function in client delivery conversations and communicate quality concerns clearly to non-test audiences
What’s in your toolbox…
- 5+ years of experience in software testing, with clear senior-level experience in test automation
- Strong hands-on experience designing and maintaining automation across UI, API, and integration layers
- Experience with regression automation in fast-moving delivery environments
- Strong experience testing web applications, enterprise SaaS products, and client-facing digital platforms
- Practical experience of non-functional testing, with particular strength in performance automation
- Experience with Playwright, Cypress, and Selenium
- Experience with Postman and REST Assured
- Experience working with GitLab CI in support of delivery and release quality
- Strong understanding of risk-based testing, test design, and modern quality engineering practices
- Practical security testing awareness, including OWASP Top 10 and light-weight threat modelling
- Practical accessibility testing experience, including working against WCAG standards
- Experience using coding agents and AI-assisted workflows in day-to-day engineering delivery
- Ability to work effectively in an AI-enabled environment, using these tools to accelerate delivery while maintaining quality, traceability, and sound technical judgement
- Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with engineering, product, and design disciplines
- Extensive experience working in agile delivery environments, with a strong practical understanding of how agile ways of working help teams deliver on time, on scope, and on budget
What success looks like…
- In this role, success means building and maintaining automation that gives delivery teams confidence across UI, API, and integration layers.
- You will help teams make better quality decisions earlier, reduce regression risk, and support smoother releases through clear, practical test engineering.
- Increase reliable automated coverage in the areas that matter most
- Improve confidence in release readiness and regression outcomes
- Spot quality, environment, and test data issues early and respond pragmatically
- Strengthen product quality through thoughtful test design, not just test execution
- Bring practical security and accessibility awareness into everyday delivery
- Work effectively with engineers, product managers, designers, and client stakeholders
- Represent quality clearly and credibly in delivery conversations without adding unnecessary process overhead
How you make it all possible…
You bring a practical, delivery-focused mindset and understand how to apply agile ways of working to help teams deliver on time, on scope, and on budget. You are comfortable working closely with engineers, product managers, designers, and client stakeholders, and you can explain quality concerns clearly to non-test audiences. You use modern tools pragmatically, including coding agents and AI-assisted workflows, to improve test design, automation development, and delivery efficiency while maintaining strong engineering judgement and appropriate quality controls.
Senior Test Engineer in Manchester employer: DRPG
At DRPG, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Our Senior Test Engineers benefit from a dynamic environment in Hartlebury, London, or Manchester, where they can thrive through hands-on experience, continuous learning opportunities, and the chance to contribute to innovative projects. With a commitment to diversity and support for personal growth, we empower our team members to excel while embracing our 'anything's possible' ethos.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Test Engineer in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your test automation projects, especially those using tools like Playwright or Selenium. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of risk-based testing and modern quality engineering practices. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past roles, as it shows you're not just about theory but practical application.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love hearing from passionate candidates who align with our 'anything's possible' mindset.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Test Engineer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Test Engineer role. Highlight your experience with test automation, web applications, and any specific tools mentioned in the job description like Playwright or Selenium. We want to see how your skills align with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about quality engineering and how your experience can contribute to our team. Don’t forget to mention your hands-on experience and collaborative spirit – we love that!
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you've tackled challenges in testing, especially in fast-paced environments. We’re keen on seeing how you’ve improved quality outcomes through thoughtful test design and automation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive – a quality we admire!
How to prepare for a job interview at DRPG
✨Know Your Tools Inside Out
Make sure you're well-versed in the tools mentioned in the job description, like Playwright, Cypress, and Selenium. Familiarise yourself with their features and how they can be applied to test automation. Being able to discuss your hands-on experience with these tools will show that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Your Test Design Skills
Prepare to talk about your approach to test design, especially in relation to risk-based testing and accessibility standards like WCAG. Think of specific examples where you've implemented thoughtful test strategies that improved product quality. This will highlight your ability to contribute meaningfully to the team.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working closely with engineers, product managers, and designers, be ready to share examples of successful collaborations. Discuss how you’ve communicated quality concerns to non-test audiences and how you’ve helped shape testable requirements. This will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a team environment.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect to face practical scenarios during the interview that may involve troubleshooting test data issues or discussing how to handle non-production environments. Prepare to think on your feet and provide clear, pragmatic solutions. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and readiness for real-world challenges.
