At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure software quality and reliability through automated testing and collaboration with development teams.
- Company: Join Roke, a leader in tech innovation focused on AI, ML, and cyber solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible benefits, and a supportive community for personal growth.
- Other info: Inclusive work environment with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team pushing technical boundaries and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in STEM or equivalent experience; strong analytical and programming skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About Roke
Roke offers specialist knowledge in sensors, communications, cyber, and AI and ML. We change the way organisations think and act – through dynamic insights from the analysis of multiple layers of data. We take care of the innovative, technical stuff that keeps everyone safe – that’s our mission, passion, and motivation. Joining a team united by purpose and ambition, you’ll be at the heart of an exciting growth journey. We push technical boundaries, together. We re-invest in product innovation, and we empower our people to make a difference.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Software Assurance Engineer to help assure the quality, resilience, and operational readiness of complex software systems. The role combines hands-on operational responsibility with deep technical insight into the software stack, using automated testing and observability to expose functional, performance, and robustness issues early and continuously. This is not a black box QA role. You will work closely with development teams, using white box knowledge of system design, code, and architecture to build confidence in software behaviour under real operational conditions.
Your Role
In this role you will work closely with software developers, users, project managers, heads of engineering, quality assurance, and IT colleagues. You will take a cross-cutting view of the software lifecycle, helping ensure that systems are not only functionally correct but also reliable, observable, and performant in service. You will support code releases, deployments, and live services, while also designing and implementing automated tests that exercise software behaviour at multiple levels. The role requires strong technical capability alongside the ability to communicate risks, trade-offs, and system behaviour clearly to a wide range of stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities & Tasks
- Contribute to system reliability and availability through SRE aligned practices, including monitoring, alerting, incident analysis, and post-incident learning.
- Design, implement, and maintain automated test suites to validate:
- Functional correctness
- Performance characteristics
- Stability, resilience, and failure behaviour
- Act as a white box tester, using knowledge of internal design and implementation to target risk areas within the software stack.
- Work alongside developers to build testability, observability, and resilience into software from the outset.
- Support and oversee code releases and deployments, ensuring systems are production ready.
- Develop and maintain tooling for:
- Continuous testing
- Performance and load testing
- Fault injection and robustness testing where appropriate
- Analyse system behaviour using logs, metrics, and traces to identify weaknesses or unexpected interactions.
- Document findings clearly, including test results, limitations, failure modes, and operational risks.
- Participate in sprint ceremonies, including planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives, contributing a reliability and assurance perspective.
- Collaborate with user researchers and stakeholders to ensure system behaviour meets user expectations under real-world conditions.
Skills and Experience Required
We’re looking for individuals with strong analytical thinking, an engineering mindset, and a passion for building reliable systems. You will have experience across several of the following areas:
- Programming / scripting in languages such as C#, Python, JavaScript, or Java
- Designing and implementing automated tests (unit, integration, system, performance)
- Experience with white box testing techniques and code aware test design
- Understanding of CI/CD pipelines (e.g. GitLab CI/CD) and how testing integrates into delivery
- Version control systems (e.g. Git)
- Windows infrastructure (IIS, Windows Server) and/or Linux based systems (Ubuntu, CentOS)
- Experience with containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Familiarity with relational and non-relational databases (e.g. SQL Server, MongoDB, Elasticsearch)
- Observability concepts: logging, metrics, tracing, and alerting
- Scripting languages such as Bash or PowerShell
Most importantly, you are comfortable learning “just in time” and adapting tools and techniques to the needs of the system rather than forcing predefined solutions.
Qualifications and Ways of Working
As a hybrid DevOps / SRE / Software Assurance Engineer, you will have a degree level qualification in a STEM subject or equivalent practical experience. You will be proactive, curious, and comfortable working independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will be able to articulate technical risk and system behaviour clearly, and you will seek out pragmatic, proportionate approaches to improving software quality and reliability.
Why You Should Join Us
We have a competitive salary and access to a number of additional flexible benefits, which will cover Health and Wellbeing, Savings and Protection and Life, Leisure and Entertainment. Roke has a great community of groups with shared interests. These enable people to share ideas and be passionate about tools, technologies and techniques, which interest them. We are committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion. Our working environment is friendly, creative and inclusive and supports a diverse workforce and those with additional needs.
Security Information
Due to the nature of this position, we require you to be willing and eligible to achieve a minimum of SC clearance. To qualify, the candidate should be a British Citizen and have resided in the UK for the last 5 years for SC.
Software Test Engineer in Romsey employer: Roke
At Roke, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our investment in training and development, ensuring that you have the tools and support needed to excel in your role as a Software Test Engineer. Located in a vibrant community, we provide flexible benefits that enhance your health and wellbeing, making Roke not just a workplace, but a place where you can thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Test Engineer in Romsey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with current employees at Roke. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your projects, especially those related to automated testing and software assurance. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your technical prowess beyond just a CV.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your white box testing techniques and understanding of CI/CD pipelines. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects and how you can contribute to Roke’s mission.
✨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, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Roke team.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Test Engineer in Romsey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Software Test Engineer role. Highlight your programming knowledge, automated testing experience, and any relevant projects you've worked on. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about software assurance and how your background aligns with our goals at Roke. Be genuine and let your personality come through – we love seeing enthusiasm!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In your application, don't shy away from mentioning specific tools and technologies you've used, like CI/CD pipelines or scripting languages. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so make sure we know what you bring to the table!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Roke!
How to prepare for a job interview at Roke
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the programming languages and tools mentioned in the job description, like C#, Python, and CI/CD pipelines. Brush up on your knowledge of automated testing techniques and be ready to discuss how you've used them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to share specific examples of how you've tackled complex software issues. Think about times when you identified weaknesses in a system or improved reliability through your testing strategies. This will demonstrate your analytical thinking and engineering mindset.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since the role involves working with various stakeholders, practice articulating technical risks and system behaviours in a way that’s easy to understand. Use clear examples to explain how you’ve collaborated with developers and project managers in the past.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle real-world situations, such as monitoring system performance or responding to incidents. Think through your approach to these scenarios, focusing on your ability to ensure operational readiness and resilience.
