At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality assurance for complex software systems and automate testing processes.
- Company: Rapidly growing tech business with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on software quality while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Strong automation experience and collaboration skills with engineering teams.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
MCS Group is working with a rapidly growing technology business as they look to appoint a Senior QA Engineer into a highly technical engineering team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced QA Engineer who enjoys working beyond traditional UI testing and wants to take ownership of quality across complex, modern software systems. You will work closely with Software Engineers, Product and wider technical teams, helping shape the overall approach to quality while remaining hands-on with automation, API testing, performance testing and the validation of complex back end systems.
The Role
As Senior QA Engineer, you will play a key role in improving quality across a major software programme, helping establish scalable testing practices as the engineering team continues to grow. Responsibilities will include:
- Designing, building and maintaining automated testing frameworks.
- Developing automated tests across APIs, services and user-facing applications.
- Testing complex back end and data-intensive systems.
- Validating data, numerical outputs and system behaviour rather than focusing solely on functional UI testing.
- Building automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
- Carrying out performance, load and reliability testing.
- Working with engineering teams to identify risks earlier in the development lifecycle.
- Improving test coverage, tooling and overall QA processes.
- Investigating complex defects across distributed systems.
- Helping define quality standards and release criteria.
- Supporting and mentoring other engineers around testing and quality best practice.
What We're Looking For
We are particularly interested in Test Engineers with strong technical automation experience who are comfortable working closely with software engineering teams. Ideally you will have experience across several of the following:
- Strong test automation experience using a modern programming language (Python preferred).
- API and backend/service-level testing.
- Performance and load testing using tools such as k6, JMeter, Locust or similar.
- Testing data-intensive, streaming or distributed systems.
- Validating numerical, analytical or data-driven outputs.
- CI/CD pipelines and automated quality gates.
- Linux environments.
- Docker and Kubernetes.
- Cloud-native applications.
- SQL and database testing.
- Modern web automation frameworks such as Playwright, Cypress or Selenium.
Salary Up to £80,000 plus benefits.
Even if this position is not right for you, we may have others that are. Please visit MCS Group to view a wide selection of our current and exclusive roles. All conversations will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Senior QA Engineer in Newtownabbey employer: MCS Group
Join an innovative software business in Belfast that prioritises employee development and a supportive work culture. As an IT Customer Support Team Lead, you'll have the unique opportunity to lead a small, focused team while driving operational excellence and embracing cutting-edge AI technologies. With a competitive salary, flexible hybrid working options, and a commitment to long-term career growth, this role offers a rewarding environment for those passionate about customer care and team leadership.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior QA Engineer in Newtownabbey
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at MCS Group or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to MCS Group.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like MCS Group.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like MCS Group that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior QA Engineer in Newtownabbey
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.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at MCS Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at MCS Group and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at MCS Group
✨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 MCS Group 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.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
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.
