At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and develop automation frameworks for cloud-based AI products.
- Company: Join a dynamic tech team in Manchester with a hybrid working model.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, health benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent career advancement opportunities.
- Why this job: Make an impact by enhancing product quality through innovative testing solutions.
- Qualifications: Experience in SDET or QA Automation roles with strong technical skills.
The predicted salary is between 37800 - 46200 £ per year.
Is this the role you are looking for? If so, read on for more details, and make sure to apply today.
Location: Manchester, Exchange Quays
Working pattern: Hybrid - 2 days on site
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to join a growing technology team and take ownership of test automation across a suite of cloud-based AI products. This is a hands-on engineering role rather than a traditional manual QA position. You will design, build and evolve automation frameworks while working closely with software engineers, Product and BA teams to improve the quality and reliability of our products. Our technology combines modern web applications, APIs, databases, data pipelines, analytics dashboards and machine-learning technology. You will have the opportunity to investigate issues across the full technology stack, from the user interface through to the underlying data and application code.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop and maintain robust UI and API automation frameworks using TypeScript and Playwright.
- Build and maintain automated tests using Cucumber/Gherkin and BDD principles.
- Develop scalable and maintainable automation using Page Object Model or similar frameworks.
- Maintain and expand a large automated regression suite.
- Run automated tests in parallel while maintaining reliable test data, isolation and execution.
- Investigate and resolve flaky or unreliable automated tests.
- Investigate defects across the full technology stack and identify the true root cause.
- Use browser developer tools to investigate network requests, console errors, DOM behaviour, cookies and client/server interactions.
- Validate REST APIs and request/response payloads.
- Use SQL to investigate data issues and reconcile UI and API results against underlying database data.
- Investigate data pipelines, ETL processes and dashboard calculations where required.
- Read and understand application source code to support technical investigations.
- Work with Git, pull requests, code reviews and CI/CD pipelines as part of the wider engineering team.
- Identify opportunities to improve automation and prevent recurring defects.
- Provide clear, evidence-based technical findings to developers and stakeholders.
- Contribute to maintaining technical documentation and QA knowledge across the team.
About You
You will be an engineering-focused QA professional with strong commercial experience in SDET or QA Automation roles. You should be comfortable going beyond simply reproducing a defect.
Software Development Engineer in Test (QA Engineer) employer: Oliver James Careers
Join a forward-thinking organisation in London that prioritises innovation and employee development. As a Service Design and Transition Lead, you'll benefit from a collaborative work culture that values your expertise while offering competitive rates and flexible onsite arrangements. With a focus on meaningful projects and opportunities for professional growth, this role is perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Development Engineer in Test (QA Engineer)
✨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 Oliver James Careers 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 Oliver James Careers.
✨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 Oliver James Careers.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
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We think you need these skills to ace Software Development Engineer in Test (QA Engineer)
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 Oliver James Careers.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Oliver James Careers 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 Oliver James Careers
✨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 Oliver James Careers 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.
