At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure software quality through testing and automation in a collaborative team.
- Company: Leading tech consultancy supporting UK Government and Defence with impactful solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, flexible hours, career coaching, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team making a real difference to national security.
- Qualifications: Experience in manual and automated testing, Agile methodologies, and CI/CD integration.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Job Description
Are you passionate about quality engineering and ensuring software is secure, reliable, and built to the highest standards?
About Our Client
Our client is a leading technology consultancy delivering secure, mission-critical solutions to the UK Government and Defence sector.
Their work supports some of the nation's most important programmes, helping government departments make critical decisions that strengthen the UK's security and prosperity.
With a team of more than 450 highly skilled professionals, they combine technical excellence with a collaborative, people-first culture.
Every project delivers real-world impact, giving engineers the opportunity to work on challenging problems while contributing to the UK's national security.
This is more than just software testingit's an opportunity to help deliver technology that matters.
The Role
As a
Senior Test Engineer , you'll become part of a small, agile delivery team responsible for assuring the quality of secure, mission‑critical software throughout the entire development lifecycle.
Working closely with software engineers, Dev Ops specialists, architects, and product teams, you'll champion quality from the earliest stages of development, ensuring testing is embedded throughout modern CI/CD pipelines.
You’ll have the opportunity to influence engineering standards, improve automation frameworks, and contribute to the continuous evolution of testing practices across multiple high‑impact projects.
- What You'll Be Doing
- Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks for UI, API, and end-to-end testing.
- Deliver both manual and automated testing across complex software solutions.
- Embed quality engineering practices throughout the Software Development Lifecycle.
- Work within Agile teams using modern engineering approaches including TDD, BDD, ATDD, and Continuous Testing.
- Design and execute functional, integration, regression, and exploratory testing.
- Perform non‑functional testing including performance, security, accessibility, and Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT).
- Collaborate with developers and Dev Ops engineers to ensure quality is integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
- Contribute to improving QA processes, automation frameworks, tooling, and engineering standards.
- Mentor colleagues and promote best practice across delivery teams.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for experienced Test Engineers who enjoy tackling complex technical challenges and continuously improving the way software is delivered.
Essential Experience
- Strong commercial experience in both manual and automated software testing.
- Experience designing and maintaining automated test frameworks.
- Strong understanding of Agile delivery methodologies.
- Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
- Knowledge of API, UI, integration, and end-to-end testing.
- Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
Experience with technologies such as
- Playwright
- Selenium
- Cypress
- Webdriver IO
- Cucumber
- Robot Framework
- Serenity BDD
- Rest Assured
Experience across cloud environments, Dev Ops practices, and modern software delivery pipelines would also be beneficial.
Security Clearance
Due to the highly sensitive nature of the projects, current UK Developed Vetting (DV) Clearance is essential for this position.
Why Join?
You’ll become part of an organisation that invests heavily in its people while working on projects that genuinely make a difference.
Benefits
- Hybrid working with offices in Bristol, Cheltenham, and Manchester
- Flexible working (Flexitime)
- Dedicated Career Coach and personalised development support
- Continuous training and professional development
- Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 wellbeing support
- Regular social events, annual away days, and company celebrations
- On-site lunch and refreshments when working with clients
- A collaborative, inclusive engineering culture where innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged
- Diversity & Inclusion
Our client is proud to be an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident employer.
They are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Applications are welcomed from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process, and candidates with disabilities or long‑term health conditions who meet the essential criteria will be offered an interview in line with the Disability Confident scheme.
Qualifications
- Using a variety of technologies, with a focus on open-source tools and frameworks.
- Manual & automation software testing.
- Working with Dev Ops and agile methodologies TDD, BDD, ATDD and continuous testing through CI/CD pipelines, with manual/exploratory testing when needed.
- Designing and implementing automated test frameworks across UI & API.
- We typically work with technologies like Selenium, Cypress. io, Webdriver. io, Playwright, Cucumber, Robot Framework, Serenity BDD, and Rest Assured.
- Sharing new ideas with the QA team and helping improve our test frameworks and processes.
- Conducting non‑functional testing, covering areas like Security, Performance, Accessibility, and Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT).
- Why Is This a Great Opportunity
Our client is proud of their supportive, inclusive, and team‑focused environment where everyone can thrive.
They value each member of their team and want you to feel excited about coming to work.
Their benefits package reflects how much they care about their people
- WELLBEING Free 24/7 counselling helpline and employee assistance programme.
- WORK YOUR BEST City-centre offices across the UK, with flexitime and the option to work from home.
- LEARN & GROW A dedicated Career Coach to guide your development.
- SOCIAL Fun events throughout the year, including socials, a Summer Party in London, and annual awaydays.
- ONSITE ALLOWANCES Expenses for lunch and drinks.
They have offices in Bristol, Cheltenham and Manchester.
- Salary Type
- Annual Salary
- Salary Min
- £ 40000
- Salary Max
- £ 70000
- Currency Type
- GBP
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Senior Test Engineer - DV in Manchester employer: NPAworldwide
Our client is an exceptional employer located in London, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters diversity and innovation. With a hybrid working model and competitive salary package, including bonuses, employees benefit from excellent career progression opportunities and a supportive culture that values collaboration. Join a team that not only prioritises professional growth but also champions inclusivity across all levels.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Test Engineer - DV 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 NPAworldwide 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 NPAworldwide.
✨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 NPAworldwide.
✨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 NPAworldwide 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 Test Engineer - DV 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 NPAworldwide.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at NPAworldwide 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 NPAworldwide
✨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 NPAworldwide 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.
