At a Glance
- Tasks: Test and validate software to ensure our railway systems run smoothly and reliably.
- Company: Join Northern, a leading railway company focused on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy free travel, generous pension, and tailored training opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the safety and efficiency of our railway technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in software testing, automation, and a keen eye for detail.
The predicted salary is between 43850 - 43850 € per year.
Reliable journeys don’t just happen on the tracks — they’re built on effective, dependable technology. At Northern, our IT teams play a critical role in keeping the systems behind our railway running safely and smoothly. You’d play a key role in making sure the systems powering our railway are robust, resilient, and ready for anything. This is a role where quality isn’t an afterthought – it’s built in from the start. Working closely with developers, Business Analysts, and Product Owners, you’d help shape how we test, validate, and deliver software. From early design through to release, your work helps make sure what we build works first time, every time.
What You’ll Be Doing
- You’ll be hands‑on with both automated and manual testing, making sure our systems do what they’re meant to – and keep doing it.
- Designing and building automated tests that slot into our continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.
- Running complex functional, integration, regression, and backend tests across systems and services.
- Working closely with developers to review changes, spot risks early, and improve testability.
- Turning requirements and user stories into detailed, practical test scenarios – including edge cases.
- Validating data and integrations using tools like SQL and APIs.
- Identifying, analysing, and clearly communicating defects so they can be fixed quickly.
- Supporting smooth releases by making sure testing is complete and risks are understood.
- Improving how we test – refining frameworks, tools, and ways of working.
- Sharing knowledge with others in the team to build consistency and capability.
About You
You know how to look under the bonnet of a system and understand how it really works. You’re curious, methodical, and confident working with both code and data. Programming knowledge, automation experience, and a sharp eye for detail – that’s three things you’ll bring. Alongside those:
- Experience testing software across functional, integration, and regression levels.
- Confidence building and maintaining automated tests using tools like Selenium, Cypress, JUnit or similar.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and Agile ways of working.
- Ability to work closely with developers and understand code, architecture, and integrations.
- Experience using tools like Git and Jira (or similar) to manage work and track defects.
- Skills in querying databases using SQL to validate system behaviour.
- A practical approach to problem‑solving, with the confidence to raise risks early.
Benefits
- Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
- Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
- Enhanced Family Benefits: 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
- Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
- Electric Car Scheme: Lease a brand new electric or plug‑in hybrid car.
- Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
- Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
- Recognition: Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.
A place for everyone
At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We’re also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview. We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.
Development Test Engineer in Leeds employer: Northern
At Northern, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation. As a Development Test Engineer in York, you'll enjoy generous benefits such as unlimited free travel for you and your family, a robust pension scheme, and tailored training opportunities to foster your career growth. Join us in a role where your contributions directly impact the reliability of our railway systems, all while being part of a diverse team that celebrates every individual's unique talents.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Test Engineer in Leeds
✨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! Research the company, understand their tech stack, and be ready to discuss how your skills fit into their projects. Practise common interview questions and have examples ready that showcase your experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with projects, make sure to share it. Demonstrating your hands-on experience with automated testing tools and CI/CD pipelines can really set you apart from the crowd.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Development Test Engineer in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Development Test Engineer role. Highlight your experience with automated and manual testing, and don’t forget to mention any tools like Selenium or JUnit that you’ve used. We want to see how your skills match what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about testing and how you can contribute to our team. Be sure to mention your experience with CI/CD pipelines and Agile methodologies, as these are key to our work at Northern.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In your application, give examples of how you’ve tackled challenges in previous roles. We love candidates who can think critically and raise risks early, so share specific instances where you’ve made a difference in testing processes or outcomes.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Northern
✨Know Your Tech
Make sure you brush up on your programming knowledge and automation tools like Selenium or Cypress. Being able to discuss how you've used these in past projects will show that you're not just familiar with the tech, but that you can apply it effectively.
✨Understand the CI/CD Pipeline
Familiarise yourself with continuous integration and continuous delivery processes. Be ready to explain how you've integrated testing into these pipelines before, as this is crucial for the Development Test Engineer role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Think about how you would turn requirements and user stories into practical test scenarios. Prepare examples of edge cases you've encountered and how you approached testing them, as this will demonstrate your methodical approach.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts on defects and risks. Being able to clearly communicate issues and solutions is key when working closely with developers and other team members, so make sure you can convey your ideas confidently.
