At a Glance
- Tasks: Own quality from day one and drive automation in testing.
- Company: Join a leading automotive giant with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work, and potential for long-term progression.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of software delivery and influence quality engineering practices.
- Qualifications: Experience in CI/CD pipelines and strong opinions on modern testing approaches.
We’re partnering with a leading automotive organisation to hire multiple Senior Software Engineers in Test for a major digital programme across a cloud-based, connected data platform.
This isn’t a traditional testing role. This is about owning quality from day one – not testing at the end.
What makes this role different?
- Automation-first mindset – focused on bug prevention over bug detection
- Working on cloud-native, event-driven systems (APIs, message queues, data platforms)
- A mature engineering environment where testing is embedded into delivery
- Opportunity to shape test strategy and influence architecture
- Part of a collaborative test community, sharing best practices across teams
The kind of problems you’ll solve:
- Improving and maintaining existing automation suites
- Embedding testing directly into CI/CD pipelines (not siloed test stages)
- Driving testability in design and refinement sessions
- Moving teams from reactive testing → proactive quality engineering
- Enhancing defect triage and cross-team quality processes
- Supporting integration with third-party systems and services
What we’re really looking for:
This is a genuinely senior role. We need engineers who:
- Think test-first, not “test after build”
- Have experience embedding tests into CI/CD pipelines
- Can influence engineers on testability and quality practices
- Bring strong opinions on modern testing approaches
- Understand backend/API and distributed systems
Tech environment:
- Python + Java-based services
- AWS (or similar cloud platforms)
- API & event-driven architecture (Kafka, RabbitMQ, SQS etc.)
- CI/CD (GitLab or similar)
- Backend-focused (no UI-heavy testing)
The role:
- Hands-on automation engineering
- Driving quality strategy across squads
- Mentoring engineers and contributing to continuous improvement
- Collaborating closely with engineering and SRE teams
Location & setup:
- Manchester
- Hybrid – typically 1–2 days per month onsite
- 12 month contract (£500 a day) Inside IR35
Why join?
- Work on cutting-edge connected platforms
- Influence how software is built, tested, and delivered at scale
- Opportunity for long-term progression or permanent conversion
- Be part of a team that treats quality as an engineering discipline
Senior SDET in Manchester employer: Nixor
Join a dynamic and innovative team as a Manufacturing Infrastructure Project Lead, where you'll have the opportunity to work on diverse and complex capital projects in a fast-paced environment. Our collaborative culture fosters professional growth and development, ensuring that you are not only part of exciting projects but also supported in your career progression. With a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and continuous improvement, this role offers a unique chance to shape the future of manufacturing infrastructure while enjoying a competitive contract rate.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior SDET in Manchester
✨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 Nixor 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 Nixor.
✨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 Nixor.
✨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 Nixor 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 SDET in Manchester
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 Nixor.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Nixor 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 Nixor
✨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 Nixor 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.
