At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead testing activities and ensure high-quality digital products for road safety.
- Company: Join DVSA, a key player in UK road safety and digital services.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working options.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on road safety while developing your testing skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in testing large-scale digital systems and proficiency in programming languages.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and a supportive team culture.
The predicted salary is between 44241 - 48581 £ per year.
Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottingham, Oldham, Swansea
Salary: £44,241 (National) £48,581 (London) Plus an additional allowance of up to £14,552
Vacancy Type: Permanent
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 15th February 2026
About the job
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.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- 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), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
- Leading the planning, execution, and reporting of both manual and automated testing activities.
- Designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable test automation frameworks and reusable tooling.
- Embedding quality from the start by defining acceptance criteria and promoting early test engagement.
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to align testing priorities with user and business needs.
- Providing expert guidance on defect management, test analysis, and continuous improvement.
- Driving consistency in testing approaches, standards, and frameworks across delivery teams.
- Using data insights and defect trends to recommend changes that improve quality outcomes.
- Mentoring and coaching colleagues to uplift testing skills and confidence across the organisation.
Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
- Testing across large-scale digital systems, including both legacy and cloud-native environments.
- Designing, implementing, and maintaining test automation frameworks and reusable tools.
- Proficiency in programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, or C#.
- Frontend, API, and database testing experience, including performance, usability, and accessibility.
- Analysing complex test results and automation outcomes to inform risk-based decisions.
- Working effectively within Agile teams and contributing to cross-team quality improvements.
- Using CI/CD pipelines, source control, and containerised environments (e.g., Docker).
- Defining acceptance criteria and embedding quality early in the development lifecycle.
- Mentoring and coaching colleagues to improve testing practices and confidence in results.
- Communicating complex technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for DVSA, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Test Engineer employer: DVSA.GOV
Contact Detail:
DVSA.GOV Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Test Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to test engineering. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio of your testing projects, including any frameworks you've built or automated tests you've implemented. This will give potential employers a clear view of what you can bring to the table.
✨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, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at DVSA.
We think you need these skills to ace Test Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Test Engineer role. Highlight your experience with testing large-scale digital systems and any relevant programming languages like JavaScript or Java. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Testing Experience: In your application, be sure to showcase your experience with both manual and automated testing. Mention any frameworks you've designed or maintained, as well as your ability to analyse complex test results. This will help us see your expertise in action!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language to communicate your technical skills and experiences. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to complex information!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at DVSA.GOV
✨Know Your Testing Frameworks
Make sure you’re well-versed in the test automation frameworks and tools mentioned in the job description. Brush up on your experience with JavaScript, TypeScript, Java, or C#, as well as your knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and containerised environments like Docker. Being able to discuss specific examples of how you've implemented these in past roles will really impress.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since the role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve aligned testing priorities with user and business needs, and how you’ve contributed to quality improvements across teams.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that assess your understanding of both manual and automated testing. Be ready to explain complex test results and how you’ve used data insights to inform decisions. Practising common interview questions related to testing methodologies can help you feel more confident.
✨Emphasise Mentoring Experience
The role requires mentoring and coaching colleagues, so think about times when you’ve helped others improve their testing skills. Share specific instances where your guidance led to better outcomes, and express your enthusiasm for fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the team.