At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain automated test frameworks for impactful digital services.
- Company: Join an award-winning digital consultancy making a difference in the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and relocation support.
- Other info: Flexible hybrid work model with a focus on work-life balance.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative team delivering high-volume citizen-facing services.
- Qualifications: Experience in software testing and coding in Java, JavaScript, or Ruby.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About Scrumconnect Consulting
Scrumconnect Consulting is a multi-award-winning digital consultancy whose work has positively influenced the lives of over 40 million UK citizens. We deliver impactful technology solutions across UK government departments, working at the forefront of user-centred design, agile delivery, and scalable digital services that genuinely make a difference.
Location: Swansea (with a regular expectation of 60% on-site attendance).
Strong focus on work-life balance with a flexible hybrid model (3 days onsite).
Be part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary agile environment alongside civil servants and industry experts.
About the Role
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. In this role, you will design, build, maintain, and continuously improve the automated test frameworks and quality-engineering practices that underpin high-volume, citizen-facing digital services handling billions of interactions annually. You will own the full testing lifecycle from strategic planning through to continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline integration. Working alongside software engineers, architects, and product owners, you will ensure that quality is built-in from the start, rather than bolted on at the end. You will be expected to code in the languages used across our modern tech stack and maintain a strong grasp of API, performance, security, and accessibility testing.
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, such as Java, JavaScript (Node.js), and Ruby.
- Pipeline Integration: Embed automated tests within CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins or GitHub Actions) to ensure continuous quality feedback and facilitate fast build cycles.
- Strategy & Planning: Define and own the test strategy for assigned digital products, ensuring appropriate test 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, and execute performance/load testing using Gatling, k6, or JMeter to validate services at a massive national scale.
- Accessibility & Security: Conduct rigorous accessibility testing aligned to WCAG 2.2 standards using automated tools (such as axe-core or Pa11y) and manual screen-reader testing, while embedding security testing practices (e.g., OWASP Top 10, DAST with OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite) within the delivery pipeline in support of secure-by-design principles.
- Shift-Left Quality: Collaborate closely with software engineers, architects, and business analysts to define clear acceptance criteria, review code for testability, and champion shift-left quality practices.
- Environment & Defect Management: Maintain test environments and test data strategies, manage the defect lifecycle, and produce clear quality dashboards and reports for the team and portfolio management.
- Government Service Standards: Support formal government service assessments by providing concrete evidence of test coverage, quality metrics, and accessibility compliance.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Public Sector Delivery: Proven experience acting 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 the following languages: Java, JavaScript (Node.js), or Ruby, with clear evidence of building and maintaining automated test frameworks from scratch.
- Automation Frameworks: Deep, hands-on expertise with modern test automation frameworks such as Selenium, Playwright, Cypress, Cucumber/BDD, RestAssured, or Karate.
- CI/CD & Cloud: Extensive experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions) and interpreting pipeline quality gates, alongside experience with AWS-hosted environments and cloud-based test execution.
- Performance & API Testing: Demonstrable experience in API testing (REST/GraphQL) and executing performance testing at a high-volume scale.
- Accessibility & Security Compliance: Strong knowledge of WCAG 2.2 accessibility testing standards and relevant tooling (such as NVDA or JAWS), as well as familiarity with secure testing practices, vulnerability scanning, and DAST tools.
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Tech Stack Familiarity: Experience testing Java SpringBoot, Ruby on Rails, and AWS Lambda serverless patterns.
- Certifications: Recognised professional qualifications such as the ISTQB Advanced Level Test Automation Engineer certification.
- Advanced Testing Principles: Experience with contract testing (e.g., Pact) for microservices and API ecosystems, as well as familiarity with chaos engineering and site reliability testing principles.
- Tooling Proficiency: Advanced skills in test management tooling such as Jira, Xray, or Zephyr.
- Government Assessments: Prior experience working in GDS-assessed services and actively contributing to service assessment evidence packs within comparable high-volume government digital environments.
What we offer
- 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
- A supportive, inclusive working environment
Our interview process
We keep things straightforward. Following an initial CV review, successful candidates will be invited to a short screening call with our recruitment team, followed by a two-stage process comprising a technical assessment and a values-based interview with the hiring team. 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, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV to recruitment@scrumconnect.com or apply directly through this listing. For an informal conversation about the role, contact [Name] at [contact details].
Software Development Engineer in Test in Swansea employer: Scrumconnect Limited
Scrumconnect Consulting is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises work-life balance through a flexible hybrid model. Located in Swansea, employees benefit from competitive salaries, generous annual leave, and access to extensive learning and development resources, all while contributing to impactful digital solutions that enhance the lives of millions across the UK.
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 your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Scrumconnect Consulting and understand their projects. Tailor your answers to show how your skills can make a real impact on their digital services.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! If you’ve got a portfolio or GitHub with relevant projects, share it during interviews. It’s a great way to demonstrate your coding prowess and problem-solving abilities.
✨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, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
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 coding skills in Java, JavaScript, or Ruby, and any experience with automated test frameworks. We want to see how you can contribute to our team!
Showcase Your Projects:Include specific examples of projects where you've designed and maintained automated test frameworks. This gives us a clear picture of your hands-on experience and how you approach problem-solving in real-world scenarios.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward. Use bullet points for key achievements and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate clarity and want to understand your qualifications quickly!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us track your application better and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scrumconnect Limited
✨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 automation frameworks such as Selenium or Cypress, as well as CI/CD tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
✨Showcase Your Testing Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience with various types of testing, especially API and performance testing. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've implemented automated tests and improved quality assurance processes in previous roles.
✨Understand Agile Methodologies
Since the role involves working in a collaborative, multidisciplinary agile environment, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of agile principles. Be prepared to talk about your experience working in agile teams and how you’ve contributed to successful project deliveries.
✨Emphasise Accessibility and Security
Given the focus on accessibility and security testing, make sure you can discuss relevant standards like WCAG 2.2 and practices such as OWASP Top 10. Highlight any experience you have with accessibility tools or security testing methodologies to show you’re aligned with their values.
