At a Glance
- Tasks: Review and challenge C#/.NET code to ensure quality and testability.
- Company: Established tech team in Belfast focused on software quality.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and a chance to influence real projects.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Join a collaborative team and make a genuine impact on software quality.
- Qualifications: Senior C#/.NET experience with strong QA/testing expertise required.
The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.
12-month contract, hybrid: 2 days a week in Belfast, 3 days remote.
Rare hybrid role combining senior C#/.NET engineering depth with test architecture authority. Protect quality across established development teams, working within existing testing frameworks. Genuine technical authority, able to challenge developers directly on code, design and testability.
About the Company: A well-established Belfast technology team is completing its testing capability as part of a longer-term investment in software quality. Three of four planned specialist roles in this area are already in place, backed by established testing frameworks and processes, and the team is now looking for the right person to complete the group.
The Role: This isn't a conventional Test Architect role focused purely on strategy, process and automation. You'll need enough hands-on C#/.NET development knowledge to read code directly, understand how it's been designed and challenge developers where the implementation creates testability or quality issues. The testing environment (NUnit, SpecFlow, unit, component, acceptance and user acceptance testing, and internal proprietary frameworks) is already established, so this isn't a build-from-scratch role. Instead, you'll ensure development teams stay aligned with what's already in place, spot gaps in what's being delivered, and provide additional capacity without existing senior team members having to pick up the slack. It suits someone with a genuine development background before moving into testing, comfortable saying 'this isn't testable, and here's why' with the technical grounding to back it up.
Key Responsibilities:
- Review C#/.NET code directly to assess design quality and testability.
- Challenge developers on implementation choices that create testability or quality risks.
- Protect quality standards across development teams throughout the development lifecycle.
- Work within established testing frameworks, including NUnit, SpecFlow, unit, component and acceptance testing.
- Identify gaps between the existing testing strategy and what development teams are actually producing.
- Keep development teams aligned with the established testing approach.
- Provide burst testing capacity without relying on existing senior team members.
- Operate independently once ramped up, reducing the load on the wider team.
What You'll Need:
- A genuine development background as a C#/.NET Software Engineer before moving into testing (a Software Engineer in Test / SDET career path).
- Senior-level experience able to read and critique C#/.NET code for design and testability issues.
- Strong QA/testing expertise, including unit, component and acceptance testing.
- Confidence to challenge developers directly and explain the technical reasoning behind it.
- Comfortable working within an existing testing framework rather than building one from scratch.
- Able to work 2 days a week from Belfast, with the remaining 3 days remote.
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Direct experience with NUnit and SpecFlow.
- Experience operating in a burst-capacity or short-term contractor role within an established team.
Why Apply?
- Hybrid pattern: 2 days a week in Belfast, 3 days remote.
- Genuine technical authority, not just process ownership... real influence over what gets shipped.
- Step into established frameworks and processes rather than starting from zero.
- Join a team that's already three-quarters staffed, working alongside people who know the environment well.
Software Engineer in Test employer: Ocho
Join a dynamic and innovative digital consultancy that champions a remote-first work culture, offering exceptional benefits such as a competitive salary, generous annual leave, and a commitment to professional development. With a focus on quality and collaboration, you'll thrive in an environment that values your expertise and provides the autonomy to shape QA processes while working on complex, multi-component systems alongside a talented team in Northern Ireland.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Engineer in Test
✨Get Involved in Open-Source Projects
Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at Ocho who values hands-on experience over just theory.
✨Attend Local Tech Meetups
Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at Ocho!
✨Showcase Your Work Online
With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at Ocho to see what you bring to the table.
✨Leverage Temporary Job Boards
Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!
We think you need these skills to ace Software Engineer in Test
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at Ocho!
Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!
Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Software Engineer in Test at Ocho! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho
✨Nail the Technical Skills
For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that Ocho uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!
✨Prepare for System Design Questions
Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.
✨Demonstrate Your Adaptability
Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at Ocho that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest Ocho, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.
