At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive quality across Exchange and Clearing systems with hands-on automation testing.
- Company: Join a high-growth prediction markets trading firm at the forefront of financial innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, health coverage, and generous paid time off.
- Other info: Enjoy a hybrid working model and excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Take ownership of quality in a dynamic, regulated trading environment and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in QA, strong Java and Python skills, and experience with financial services preferred.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 60000 £ per year.
Individual contributor QA role at a high-growth prediction markets trading firm.
Core stack: Java, Python, FIX, SQL, Cucumber, Playwright, JUnit.
Salary: £45,000 - £60,000 plus discretionary annual bonus.
3+ years experience required, financial services testing background preferred.
Central role in quality for a CFTC regulated exchange and clearing platform.
As QA Automation Specialist you will drive quality across the firm's Exchange, Clearing and Instrument Management systems, working closely with Product and Engineering to extend the Java based QA automation framework and build out comprehensive front-end and back-end test coverage. This is a hands-on, detail-focused role suited to an engineer who takes genuine ownership of quality across a regulated, high-stakes trading platform. You will test everything from FIX protocol and proprietary binary message interfaces through to Admin and Customer facing UIs, ensuring the platform performs reliably under real exchange conditions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Extend and maintain the Java based QA automation framework supporting the exchange, clearing and instrument management platforms.
- Design and execute manual and automated test cases across new products and features.
- Test FIX protocol, proprietary binary message formats and file based interfaces for both internal and external consumption.
- Automate Admin and Customer UI testing using Playwright alongside targeted manual test cases.
- Validate data integrity, security compliance and performance under expected load.
- Partner with Product and Engineering to review, triage and resolve bugs.
- Define and enforce rigorous quality standards across the platform in collaboration with Product and Engineering.
- Monitor test platform performance and reliability to meet the demands of a regulated exchange.
- Maintain up to date knowledge of current testing methodologies and tooling.
What You'll Need:
- Essential:
- 3+ years experience in a QA or software testing role, ideally within financial services.
- Strong proficiency in Java, Python, FIX and SQL.
- Hands-on experience with Cucumber, Playwright and JUnit, plus test reporting and analysis.
- Excellent communication skills, able to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related discipline.
- Right to work in the UK on a permanent, indefinite basis (no visa sponsorship available).
- Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Experience with derivative contracts (futures, options) and financial markets.
- Exposure to testing regulated exchange or clearing infrastructure.
Why Apply?
- £45,000 - £60,000 salary plus discretionary annual bonus.
- Central role in quality for a CFTC regulated exchange and clearing platform, not a ticket-driven testing role.
- Genuine ownership of automation strategy across exchange, clearing and instrument management systems.
- Full-time, in-person hybrid working model.
- Pension scheme, plus health, dental and vision cover.
- Generous paid time off and wellbeing support.
- Join a high-growth prediction markets trading firm working alongside major institutional partners.
- Inclusive, values-led workplace that invests in career development.
QA Automation Specialist employer: Ocho People
As a leading IT Managed Services provider in Northern Ireland, our company offers an exciting opportunity for an IT Field Service Engineer to thrive in a dynamic field-based role. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that values flexibility, teamwork, and professional growth, ensuring our employees are equipped with the skills and resources they need to succeed. With competitive salaries, performance bonuses, and the chance to work across diverse client sites, we provide a rewarding environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the tech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land QA Automation Specialist
✨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 Ocho People 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 Ocho People.
✨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 Ocho People.
✨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 Ocho People 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 QA Automation Specialist
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 Ocho People.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ocho People 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 Ocho People
✨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 Ocho People 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.
