QA Test Engineer

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Company Overview

Metrea is a defense company dedicated to translating commercial innovation into solutions for the hardest problems in national security. With deep mission expertise, Metrea focuses on delivering effects-as-a-service across Aerospace, Electromagnetic & Cyber, Digital & Synthetic domains via its capability groups.

Position Details

• Reports to: Engineering Manager
• Entity: D&S Group
• Capability: Engineering
• Level: S2/S3
• Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Group Overview

The Digital and Synthetic Capability Unit (D&S) is committed to providing mission-driven information solutions that seamlessly bridge the digital and physical realms. Leveraging cutting‑edge technologies and advanced platforms, we empower operational readiness and elevate situational awareness across diverse domains—including air, maritime, and space.

Position Summary

We are looking for an outcome‑oriented senior Test Engineer with experience in defining and leading test strategy in software development teams. Candidates should have knowledge of best practice across both manual and automated testing, and ideally some experience of the intersection between software engineering and systems engineering. An eye for detail is essential, with a pragmatic approach to accelerating the development of quality software products.

Role and Responsibilities

• Assist the team with refinement of user stories, through a testing lens.
• Work with product and engineering to clarify acceptance criteria.
• Estimate test effort associated with user stories.
• Execute manual software tests.
• Help to define and execute the team’s test strategy.
• Create and maintain test plans and appropriate documentation.
• Create and maintain automation scripts.
• Support other testers and developers with broader system testing.

Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience of hands‑on software testing and QA.
• Mixture of manual testing and automation experience.
• Experience defining & delivering test strategy.
• Enthusiasm for team delivery in an Agile environment.
• Drive to learn constantly and further your knowledge.
• Strong organisational skills, proactive approach to task admin and docs.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Shift‑left approach to testing and willingness to participate throughout the whole lifecycle of user stories.
• Great interpersonal skills, able to confidently communicate issues to both technical and non-technical team members.
• Experience of championing best practices in testing.

Bonus Skills

• Experience working on geospatial visualisation products.
• Coding Experience.
• Knowledge of git and source control strategies.
• Familiarity with the Azure DevOps platform.

Our Culture

Metrea’s single core value, “rooted in humility,” is supported by four key attributes: entrepreneurial, systematic, discerning, and over‑deliver. These attributes, combined, form our Teammate Firmware, our culture. We explore these attributes during the hiring process when we grow our teams and continually support the growth of our culture. We are a hyper‑collaborative, dynamically hierarchical organization united by a passion for what we do, how we do it, who we do it with, and who we do it for.

Benefits

• Private Medical Insurance
• Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub
• Electric Car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• £1500 Training Allowance
• 30 days annual PTO plus bank holidays
• Eye Tests

Right to Work

The employee will have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom and will be able to produce right to work documentation.

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

Employee must be a UK citizen. Employee must be able to have and maintain a SC Clearance as a minimum.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Metrea is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full‑time non‑exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs. Exempt Employees must have the ability to be on‑call and available, as business needs require. Non‑Exempt employees may be required to work over 37.5 hours per week with approval from the department manager.

Work Location

Harwell

Work Environment

This job operates in an office setting.

Travel

This role may require occasional travel to other Metrea UK offices.