At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain automated test frameworks for high-volume digital services.
- Company: Join Scrumconnect Consulting, a multi-award-winning digital consultancy.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and relocation support.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on government digital services while working with cutting-edge tech.
- Qualifications: Strong coding skills in Java, JavaScript, or Ruby; experience in automation testing.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are seeking a technically deep, automation-first Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) to embed within a blended digital delivery squad of civil servants and supplier staff. You will design, build, maintain, and improve automated test frameworks and quality-engineering practices for high-volume, citizen-facing digital services. You will own the full testing lifecycle from strategic planning through CI/CD integration, and work with software engineers, architects, and product owners to ensure quality is built in from the start. You will code in languages used across our modern tech stack and maintain a strong grasp of API, performance, security, and accessibility testing.
Location: Swansea (with a regular expectation of 60% on-site attendance).
Key Responsibilities
- Framework Development: Design, build, and maintain automated test frameworks covering functional, regression, API, integration, performance, and security testing.
- Test Code Generation: Write high-quality, maintainable test code in languages aligned to the strategic tech stack (e.g., Java, JavaScript (Node.js), Ruby).
- Pipeline Integration: Embed automated tests within CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins or GitHub Actions) to ensure continuous quality feedback and fast build cycles.
- Strategy & Planning: Define and own the test strategy for assigned digital products, ensuring coverage across unit, integration, system, performance, and accessibility layers.
- Specialised Testing: Lead API testing for REST/GraphQL services using tools like RestAssured, Postman, or Karate; perform performance/load testing (Gatling, k6, JMeter) for large-scale validation.
- Accessibility & Security: Conduct WCAG 2.2-aligned accessibility testing with automated tools (e.g., axe-core, Pa11y) and manual testing; embed security testing (OWASP Top 10, DAST with OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite) in the delivery pipeline.
- Shift-Left Quality: Collaborate with engineers, architects, and business analysts to define acceptance criteria, review testability, and promote shift-left quality.
- Environment & Defect Management: Maintain test environments/data strategies, manage defect lifecycle, and produce quality dashboards and reports.
- Government Service Standards: Support formal government service assessments with evidence of test coverage, quality metrics, and accessibility compliance.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Public Sector Delivery: Experience as an SDET or Senior Test Automation Engineer on large-scale, cloud-hosted digital or government services.
- Programming Proficiency: Strong coding skills in at least two of Java, JavaScript (Node.js), or Ruby, with evidence of building automated test frameworks from scratch.
- Automation Frameworks: Deep expertise with Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, Cucumber/BDD, RestAssured, or Karate.
- CI/CD & Cloud: Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines and AWS-hosted environments.
- Performance & API Testing: Experience in API testing (REST/GraphQL) and high-volume performance testing.
- Accessibility & Security: Knowledge of WCAG 2.2, accessibility tools (NVDA, JAWS), and secure testing practices including vulnerability scanning and DAST.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Tech Stack Familiarity: Testing Java SpringBoot, Ruby on Rails, and AWS Lambda serverless patterns.
- Certifications: ISTQB Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer or similar.
- Advanced Testing Principles: Experience with contract testing (Pact), chaos engineering, and site reliability testing principles.
- Tooling Proficiency: Experience with Jira, Xray, or Zephyr.
- Government Assessments: Experience with GDS-assessed services and service assessment evidence packs in high-volume government digital environments.
Benefits include competitive salary with annual review, company pension scheme, generous annual leave entitlement, critical illness cover, relocation support of £3,000 – £5,000, visa sponsorship for eligible candidates, access to learning and development resources, and a supportive, inclusive working environment.
Interview Process
We keep things straightforward: CV review, screening call, followed by a two-stage process including a technical assessment and a values-based interview. We aim to move quickly and will keep you informed at every stage.
Equal Opportunities
Scrumconnect Consulting is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV to recruitment@scrumconnect.com or apply through this listing. For an informal conversation about the role, contact the provided details.
Software Development Engineer in Test in Swansea employer: Scrumconnect Consulting
Scrumconnect Consulting is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture in Swansea, where you can thrive as a Software Development Engineer in Test. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and generous benefits including relocation support and access to learning resources, we empower our team to deliver impactful technology solutions for UK government departments while fostering a collaborative environment that values diversity and innovation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software Development Engineer in Test in Swansea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with current employees at Scrumconnect. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your automated test frameworks or any projects you've worked on. This gives you a chance to demonstrate your coding prowess in Java, JavaScript, or Ruby.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the technical assessment! Brush up on your knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and testing tools like Selenium or RestAssured. Practising common interview questions can help you feel more confident.
✨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 our team at Scrumconnect.
We think you need these skills to ace Software Development Engineer in Test in Swansea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the SDET role. Highlight your automation expertise and any relevant projects you've worked on, especially those involving CI/CD integration.
Showcase Your Coding Skills:Since coding is a big part of this role, include examples of your work in Java, JavaScript, or Ruby. If you've built automated test frameworks, make sure to mention them and any tools you used like Selenium or Cypress.
Be Clear About Your Experience:When detailing your experience, focus on your public sector delivery and any large-scale digital services you've worked on. This will help us see how you can contribute to our team right away.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scrumconnect Consulting
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re familiar with the programming languages and tools mentioned in the job description, like Java, JavaScript (Node.js), and Ruby. Brush up on your knowledge of automated testing frameworks such as Selenium or Cypress, as well as CI/CD tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Your Testing Strategy
Prepare to talk about your approach to defining a test strategy. Think about how you would ensure coverage across different testing layers, including unit, integration, and performance testing. Be ready to share examples from your past experiences where you successfully implemented a testing strategy in a similar environment.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
During the interview, be prepared to discuss specific challenges you've faced in previous roles, especially related to API testing or performance issues. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, highlighting how you tackled these problems and what the outcomes were.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working closely with engineers, architects, and product owners, be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated in the past. Share examples of how you’ve defined acceptance criteria or promoted quality practices within a team. This will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a blended delivery squad.
