QA Engineer - UK

QA Engineer - UK

Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
SourceWhale

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Ensure top-notch quality in our innovative platform through strategic manual testing and user-focused feedback.
  • Company: Join SourceWhale, Europe's fastest-growing software company, known for its supportive culture and innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and comprehensive health insurance.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on a product used daily by thousands while growing your skills in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in manual testing of complex web applications; bonus for recruitment tech or data fluency.
  • Other info: Collaborative team with a focus on continuous learning and career growth.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Location: Hybrid / Remote (UK-based)

Team: Engineering

Reports to: VP of Engineering

About SourceWhale

SourceWhale is a group of really smart people solving productivity problems for people-intensive industries using AI and automation. Founded in 2020, we are currently focused on automating the manual, tedious parts of sales and recruitment activities, empowering companies and their employees to get more done. The platform consolidates every stage of the industry's workflows into one sleek, integrated tool. Building alongside cutting-edge LLMs, SourceWhale is poised to be the company that puts the AI 'agent' in recruitment agencies. Voted one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work (2025), we pursue innovation, champion employee wellbeing and offer fast-paced growth in a supportive transatlantic culture.

Our engineering team is a group of thoughtful, collaborative professionals who value quality, continuous improvement, and meaningful product outcomes over outputs. As we enter our next stage of growth, we’re on the lookout for a QA Engineer who wants to make an impact on a platform used all day, every working day, by thousands of people.

The Role

As a QA Engineer at SourceWhale, you won’t just "receive specs"—you’ll help shape them. You will work within a small, highly experienced team, collaborating closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers to ensure our users experience a reliable, intuitive, and high-performing product. This role focuses primarily on manual, exploratory, and context-driven testing. You will take a user-focused mindset, challenging assumptions, assessing risk, and ensuring quality is baked into the process from feature design to release.

What You’ll Do

  • Own Product Quality: Take end-to-end responsibility for quality, from the initial design phase through to production release.
  • Strategic Manual Testing: Design, plan, and execute thorough exploratory tests across our web application, going beyond predefined cases to find critical edge cases.
  • Collaborative Design: Actively participate in product discussions, challenging design and implementation decisions to uphold high standards.
  • Risk Communication: Identify and communicate technical and UX risks clearly and constructively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Data-Informed Testing: Use logs, production issues, and usage patterns to guide your testing efforts and identify where the biggest risks lie.
  • Voice of the User: Ensure every release supports a seamless customer experience by spotting usability issues and providing actionable UI/UX feedback.
  • Process Evolution: Help define and refine QA processes and documentation as our engineering team continues to scale.

Core Traits We’re Looking For

  • Startup Mindset: You thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities move quickly. You are comfortable taking ownership and making decisions without rigid processes.
  • Self-Starter: You are confident picking up tickets, exploring features independently, and proactively engaging with developers to clarify behaviour.
  • Exploratory & Context-Driven: You possess strong critical thinking skills. You naturally explore systems and can quickly pivot your testing focus based on the product’s immediate priorities.
  • UI/UX Intuition: You have a keen eye for user interface flows and a passion for advocating for a high-quality user experience.
  • Thoughtful Use of AI: You demonstrate practical use of AI tools in your workflow. You understand where AI adds value and where its limitations lie.
  • Strong Communicator: You can navigate high-trust environments, offering feedback respectfully while remaining firm on quality standards.

Experience & "Nice-to-Haves"

  • Required: Solid experience in manual testing of complex web applications.
  • Bonus: Experience in the Recruitment Tech industry or working with CRM integrations.
  • Bonus: Data fluency (validating data integrity or working with data-heavy systems).
  • Bonus: Exposure to test automation.

Our Engineering Principles

These principles guide how we work and grow together:

  • Teamwork: We collaborate openly, communicate honestly, and celebrate shared success.
  • Product quality: We take pride in delivering robust, high-impact solutions for our users.
  • Peer leadership: We foster continuous learning, feedback, and accountability.

Benefits

  • 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
  • MacBook + any additional tech or software you need
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • Private Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Aviva
  • Income Protection Insurance
  • Extended mental health cover and Employee Assistance Programme
  • Compassionate leave policy
  • Private pension contributions (Royal London)
  • Monthly company social events
  • Regular in-person hackathons

QA Engineer - UK employer: SourceWhale

SourceWhale is an exceptional employer, recognised as one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work in 2025, offering a dynamic and supportive work culture that prioritises innovation and employee wellbeing. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, employees are empowered to take ownership of their roles, while enjoying generous benefits such as flexible working arrangements, comprehensive health insurance, and opportunities for professional growth within a fast-paced, AI-driven environment.
SourceWhale

Contact Detail:

SourceWhale Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land QA Engineer - UK

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by practising common QA scenarios and questions. Think about how you can showcase your problem-solving skills and your user-focused mindset. We want to see how you think!

✨Tip Number 3

Don’t just wait for job postings—be proactive! Research companies you admire, like SourceWhale, and reach out directly. Express your interest and show them why you’d be a great fit for their team.

✨Tip Number 4

Follow up after interviews with a thank-you note. It’s a simple gesture that shows your appreciation and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role!

We think you need these skills to ace QA Engineer - UK

Manual Testing
Exploratory Testing
Context-Driven Testing
Risk Communication
Data-Informed Testing
UI/UX Feedback
Critical Thinking
Collaboration
Self-Starter
Startup Mindset
AI Tools Usage
Communication Skills
Product Quality Ownership
Web Application Testing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the QA Engineer role. Highlight your manual testing experience and any relevant projects you've worked on, especially in web applications.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about quality assurance and how you can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, demonstrate your critical thinking and exploratory testing abilities. We want to see how you approach problem-solving and ensure quality in your work.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!

How to prepare for a job interview at SourceWhale

✨Understand the Product Inside Out

Before your interview, take some time to explore SourceWhale's platform. Familiarise yourself with its features and think about how you would approach testing them. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you discuss specific scenarios during the interview.

✨Prepare for Collaborative Discussions

Since the role involves working closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers, be ready to engage in discussions about design and implementation. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated in the past and be prepared to share your thoughts on how to uphold quality standards.

✨Showcase Your Exploratory Testing Skills

Be ready to talk about your experience with manual and exploratory testing. Prepare a few examples where you identified critical edge cases or usability issues. Highlight your critical thinking skills and how you adapt your testing focus based on immediate priorities.

✨Communicate Risks Effectively

During the interview, demonstrate your ability to identify and communicate technical and UX risks clearly. Use examples from your previous roles to illustrate how you’ve navigated high-trust environments and provided constructive feedback while maintaining quality standards.

QA Engineer - UK
SourceWhale
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>