QA Automation Engineer- Greater Manchester

QA Automation Engineer- Greater Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 58500 - 71500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and build automated testing frameworks using cutting-edge AI tools.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company revolutionising software delivery with AI.
  • Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and career development.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of quality engineering and influence testing strategies with AI.
  • Qualifications: Experience in QA Automation and familiarity with modern automation tools required.

The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ per year.

  • QA Automation Engineer
  • QA Automation Engineer - End to End
  • Hybrid - 3 Days on-site | 400-500 per day (outside of IR35) | Technology & Data

Shape the future of AI-powered quality engineering.

We're working with an organisation that’s embracing AI to transform the way software is tested and delivered.

As they continue to invest in automation and engineering excellence, they’re looking for an experienced QA Automation Engineer to help lead the next generation of test automation.

This is more than a traditional QA role.

You'll be responsible for building robust, end-to-end automated test coverage across complex applications, data pipelines and reporting layers, while using the latest AI-assisted development tools to improve quality, speed and efficiency.

Working closely with software engineers, data teams and product stakeholders, you’ll play a key role in embedding quality throughout the development lifecycle and helping shape how AI is used within modern software delivery.

  • What you'll be doing
  • Designing and building scalable end-to-end automation frameworks across frontend, backend and data platforms.
  • Creating automated tests that validate applications from data ingestion through to reporting.
  • Leveraging AI-powered development tools such as Claude Code, Git Hub Copilot or similar to accelerate test development and investigation.
  • Reviewing and refining AI-generated code to ensure it meets quality, security and accessibility standards.
  • Integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to provide fast, reliable feedback to engineering teams.
  • Investigating defects and flaky tests, identifying root causes and improving the stability of automation suites.
  • Collaborating with software engineers, data engineers and product teams to promote a shift-left approach to quality.
  • Coaching colleagues on modern automation practices and the effective use of AI within testing.

What we're looking for

  • Strong commercial experience in QA Automation, SDET or Quality Engineering.
  • Proven experience building and maintaining automated testing frameworks.
  • Hands-on experience with Playwright, Cypress or similar automation tools.
  • Experience testing APIs and backend services.
  • A good understanding of CI/CD pipelines and modern software delivery practices.
  • Experience working across complex systems, including frontend, backend and data layers.
  • Commercial experience using AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Git Hub Copilot, Cursor or similar.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence engineering teams and champion best practice.
  • Nice to have
  • Experience testing data platforms such as Databricks.
  • SQL and data validation experience.
  • Experience working within Agile delivery environments.
  • Knowledge of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure or GCP.
  • Experience mentoring or coaching engineers and QA teams.

Why apply?

This is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking engineering team that’s genuinely investing in AI-enabled software delivery.

You’ll have the chance to influence testing strategy, work with modern technologies and help define how AI is adopted across engineering teams.

If you’re passionate about automation, quality engineering and using AI to build smarter testing practices, we’d love to hear from you.

Keywords

QA Automation Engineer, Test Automation Engineer, SDET, Playwright, Cypress, API Testing, CI/CD, AI, Claude Code, Git Hub Copilot, Cursor, Databricks, SQL, Quality Engineering.

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QA Automation Engineer- Greater Manchester employer: Searchability®

Join a dynamic and innovative technology company in the heart of Manchester, where you'll have the opportunity to lead technical innovation on a mature SaaS platform. With a strong emphasis on collaboration, employee development, and a transparent progression framework, this role offers not only competitive pay but also unique benefits like profit sharing and regular team-building activities. Experience a vibrant work culture that prioritises autonomy and continuous improvement, making it an excellent place for passionate engineers to thrive.

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Contact Details:

Searchability® Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land QA Automation Engineer- Greater Manchester

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 Searchability® 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 Searchability®.

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 Searchability®.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Searchability® that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace QA Automation Engineer- Greater Manchester

QA Automation
SDET
Quality Engineering
Automated Testing Frameworks
Playwright
Cypress
API Testing

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 Searchability®.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Searchability® 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 Searchability®

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 Searchability® 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.