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- Tasks: Lead testing activities and ensure quality across multiple delivery teams.
- Company: Join the DVLA, a forward-thinking agency embracing cloud-first technologies.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and a generous pension contribution.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for professional growth and skill development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while advancing your career in tech.
- Qualifications: Expertise in functional testing, CI/CD, and modern software development lifecycles required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Swansea
About the job
Would you like to work with cutting edge of cloud-first technologies? Do you have experience with modern software development lifecycles in product delivery and test? Have you deep technical breath, supported by a good knowledge of the functional requirements and activities? If so, we'd love to hear from you!
At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we take testing very seriously. We have Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) and Test Engineers embedded in our delivery squads and specialists in our Performance and Independent testing teams.
As a Senior Test Engineer, you will be a critical part of our team, overseeing and coordinating the independent testing activities across multiple simultaneous deliveries. You will be actively involved with suppliers, partners, and our engineers in ensuring testing activities are performed and reported. You will have an excellent understanding of modern testing and development approaches. We follow an agile methodology, targeting cloud-first deployments. You will often need open communication with several delivery squads and a pragmatic approach to problem solving is essential.
A significant part of this role will be working on deliveries designed to transform our IT estate but is likely to also include deliveries necessitated by legislation on the legacy estate. You will report to the Test Manager and represent the capability internally and externally.
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.
Find out more about what it's like working at: Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - Department for Transport Careers
Job description
In this role you will be part of the Quality Engineering team responsible for continually driving all aspects of quality improvements. You will be working across several of our delivery teams and performance teams.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:
- Select, use and guide others in using the most appropriate technical tooling, engineering approaches, test types and techniques to identify and address risks early.
- Extend, standardise and build reusable frameworks and tools that support testing.
- Communicate and document chosen approaches, tools, techniques and outcomes to the team and appropriate stakeholders.
- Contribute to and agree engineering standards.
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.
For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
Person specification
Required experience:
You will be an expert at evaluating the testing needs for services with a web-based UI and API interfaces. You will be able to converse about products hosted on public cloud infrastructure and specifications in the Gherkin syntax. You will be an expert at functional testing and test analysis, having a deep technical breath, supported by a good knowledge of the non-functional requirements and activities. You will have an understanding of modern software development lifecycles and the role of CI / CD in product delivery and test. You will have a proven track record of delivering QA efficiency through the promotion of tools and an automation-first approach. You will have a high attention to detail and not be afraid to challenge when needed.
Senior Test Engineer - Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency employer: Government Digital & Data
Contact Detail:
Government Digital & Data Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Test Engineer - Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with people 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 those interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to testing and development. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository that highlights your testing projects and contributions. This gives potential employers a tangible look at 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 the DVLA.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Test Engineer - Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior Test Engineer role. Highlight your experience with cloud-first technologies and modern software development lifecycles. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Testing Expertise: In your application, emphasise your expertise in functional testing and test analysis. Share specific examples of how you've evaluated testing needs and contributed to QA efficiency. This will help us see your depth of knowledge!
Communicate Clearly: When writing your application, keep your communication clear and concise. Use straightforward language to describe your experiences and achievements. We appreciate a pragmatic approach, just like the one we use in our teams!
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 DVLA.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Digital & Data
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of cloud-first technologies and modern software development lifecycles. Be ready to discuss specific tools and frameworks you've used in previous roles, especially those related to functional testing and CI/CD processes.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare examples of how you've tackled challenges in past projects. The DVLA values a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, so think of situations where you identified risks early and implemented effective solutions.
✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively
Since you'll be working with various delivery squads, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Be prepared to explain your testing strategies and the rationale behind your choices, as communication is key in this role.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Highlight your experience working in agile teams and how you've contributed to quality improvements across multiple projects. The DVLA looks for candidates who can work well with others, so share examples of successful collaborations and how you supported your teammates.