QA Engineer - Python, Automation - 12 Month FTC (we have office locations in Cambridge, Leeds a[...]

Genomics England is a global leader in enabling genomic medicine and research, focused on creating a world where everyone benefits from genomic healthcare. Building on the 100,000 Genomes Project, we support the NHS’s world-first national whole genome sequencing service and run the growing National Genomic Research Library, alongside delivering numerous major genomics initiatives. By connecting research and clinical care at national scale, we enable immediate healthcare benefits and advances for the future. Our mission is to provide the evidence and digital systems so that by 2035 genomics could play a role in up to half of all healthcare interactions, whilst securing the UK’s position as the best place to discover, prove and benefit from genomic innovations.

We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody. Behind the Healthcare and Research outcomes, Genomics England delivers through designing, developing and operating complex healthcare software systems. We're on the cusp of big changes with the real prospect of genomics becoming the fabric of everyday healthcare through the lifetime - from birth to old age.

The QA Engineer will:

• Promote and follow Genomics England's software testing standards, processes, and best practices.
• Design, build, maintain, and execute automated test frameworks using Python.
• Contribute to quality engineering practices across the full SDLC, supporting both product-level and service-level assurance.
• Work collaboratively with engineers to improve unit, integration, API, and end-to-end test coverage.
• Help drive shift-left testing practices and ensure quality is built into products from the earliest stages of development.
• Ensure requirements, acceptance criteria, test cases, defects, and evidence are traceable and auditable.
• Support CI/CD implementation and test automation execution within deployment pipelines.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify risks, quality concerns, and opportunities to improve delivery confidence.

Everyday Responsibilities Include:

• Designing, developing, and maintaining Python-based automation frameworks and automated test suites.
• Creating and executing automated UI, API, integration, and regression tests.
• Reviewing requirements and acceptance criteria to ensure they are testable and complete.
• Creating test cases and scenarios in Gherkin format using clear Given / When / Then structure.
• Ensuring traceability between requirements, acceptance criteria, test cases, defects, test execution results, and test evidence.
• Working closely with software engineers to improve automated coverage and support shift-left testing.
• Executing automated and manual tests and recording results in Jira/Xray.
• Investigating defects, supporting root cause analysis, and helping improve product quality.
• Managing and preparing test data required for testing activities.
• Supporting and maintaining CI/CD pipelines for automated testing.
• Producing and maintaining high-quality test documentation, test evidence, and quality reports.
• Participating in sprint ceremonies, backlog refinement sessions, solution discussions, and peer reviews.
• Working collaboratively with Product Managers, Engineers, QA colleagues, and SMEs to deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Supporting non-functional testing activities where required, including performance and security validation.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Strong experience in Python test automation, including designing, developing, and maintaining automated test frameworks and test suites.
• Experience automating both UI and API testing using Python-based frameworks.
• Good understanding of software testing principles, SDLC, Agile development practices, and quality engineering.
• Experience in functional, regression, integration, API, and end-to-end testing.
• Experience reviewing requirements and acceptance criteria, creating test cases in Gherkin (Given/When/Then) format, and ensuring full traceability between requirements, acceptance criteria, test cases, defects, and test evidence.
• Strong understanding of test design techniques, requirements analysis, test planning, test execution, and defect management.
• Experience creating and maintaining test documentation, including test plans, test cases, test scripts, test reports, and test evidence.
• Experience working in Agile squads and collaborating effectively with Product Managers, Software Engineers, SMEs, and QA colleagues.
• Experience using Jira, Xray, Confluence, Git, and other software delivery and quality management tools.
• Experience executing automated tests within CI/CD pipelines and maintaining automation execution processes.
• Experience managing test data and validating data across multiple systems and databases.
• Experience reporting, triaging, and tracking defects through to resolution.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to contribute to shift-left testing practices and work collaboratively to improve quality across the SDLC.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to clearly articulate risks, issues, and quality recommendations.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience working in a regulated environment such as Healthcare, NHS, Genomics, Medical Devices, Life Sciences, or other highly governed industries.
• Experience with AWS cloud technologies, cloud-native applications, and testing distributed systems.
• Experience with modern UI automation tools such as Playwright or Cypress.
• Experience implementing contract testing using tools such as PACT.
• Experience creating and maintaining mock APIs and services using tools such as WireMock.
• Experience using Jira Xray and other test management and reporting tools.
• Experience with security testing and vulnerability scanning tools such as OWASP ZAP, or similar, including knowledge of secure software testing practices.
• Knowledge of healthcare interoperability standards (e.g. FHIR), non-functional testing, performance testing, CI/CD practices, and test automation framework design.

No specific qualifications are required. Relevant QA or software testing certifications are desirable but not essential. What matters most is demonstrable commercial experience as a QA Engineer, along with strong hands-on Python skills.

Being an integral part of such a meaningful mission is extremely rewarding in itself, but in order to support our people, we’re continually improving our benefits package. We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including:

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday, plus bank holidays, plus additional leave for long service, and also the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%, however you can contribute more if you wish), Life Assurance (3x salary), an Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice both within our community and in any other area where we have influence. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. Genomics England’s policies of non-discrimination and equity will be applied fairly to all people, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, being pregnant or recently becoming a parent, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, length of service, whether full or part-time or employed under a permanent or a fixed-term contract or any other relevant factor. Genomics England does not tolerate any form of discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying at the workplace. Such behaviour undermines our mission and core values and diminishes the dignity, respect and integrity of all parties. Our People policies outline our commitment to inclusivity. We aim to remove barriers in our recruitment processes and to be flexible with our interview processes. Should you require any adjustments that may help you to fully participate in the recruitment process, we encourage you to discuss this with us.