Principal QA Engineer - Data in Liverpool

About us

We’re the team behind digital retailer Very. Our purpose, helping families get more out of life, powers everything we do. And we want our people to get more out of life too! If you’re high-performing, ambitious and make the most of every opportunity, we want to hear from you. In return, you’ll enjoy heaps of flexibility, great perks and benefits, and the freedom to be yourself, keep learning and take your career wherever you want it to go. If you love making a difference, you’ll love making it sparkle for millions of Very customers.

About the team

Data is at the heart of everything we do at Very. From powering customer experiences and operational decision-making to enabling advanced analytics and AI, our data platforms play a critical role in helping the business move forward with confidence. We're looking for a Principal QA Engineer to join our growing Data Engineering team and help shape the future of quality assurance across our modern data ecosystem. This is a highly influential role where you'll lead the evolution of Data QA practices, champion automation, and help establish the frameworks, standards, and ways of working that will underpin our next generation of data platforms. Working closely with Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, Architects, and Product teams, you'll ensure quality is built into every stage of the data lifecycle. You'll be joining at an exciting time as we evolve our operating model, modernise our testing approach, and significantly increase our automation capability across the Data function.

About the role

As a Principal QA Engineer, you'll be responsible for defining and driving the Data QA strategy across a complex and evolving data landscape. You'll lead the move from a predominantly manual testing approach towards a scalable and automated framework, helping to improve confidence, speed, and quality across our data products and platforms. Working closely with engineering teams, you'll design and implement robust testing frameworks for data pipelines, transformations, integrations, and reporting layers. You'll also play a key role in validating data quality, identifying defects early, and ensuring that data products are reliable, accurate, and fit for purpose. Beyond the technical aspects of the role, you'll act as a technical leader within the team, mentoring and coaching QA Engineers while helping to establish best practices, standards, and a culture of continuous improvement. You'll also explore how emerging technologies, including AI-assisted testing approaches, can help improve quality, efficiency, and delivery outcomes across the wider Data organisation.

• Defining and implementing the Data QA strategy across our data platforms and products.
• Designing and introducing scalable automated testing frameworks for data solutions.
• Developing testing approaches for ETL/ELT pipelines, data transformations, and integrations.
• Creating and maintaining robust test data strategies and test scenarios.
• Working closely with Data Engineering teams to embed quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Performing data validation, reconciliation, and quality assurance activities across large datasets.
• Leading root-cause analysis and helping teams identify and resolve data quality issues.
• Mentoring and coaching QA Engineers, supporting their technical and professional development.
• Driving best practice across automation, quality engineering, and test management.
• Contributing to the adoption of AI-enabled testing tools and modern engineering practices.

About you

• Significant experience in Data QA, Data Testing, Quality Engineering, or SDET roles.
• Strong experience testing modern data platforms, data pipelines, and ETL/ELT processes.
• Excellent SQL skills with the ability to interrogate, validate, and troubleshoot complex datasets.
• Experience building and implementing test automation frameworks.
• Strong understanding of data quality principles, data validation techniques, and testing methodologies.
• Experience working within cloud-based environments, ideally AWS.
• The ability to create meaningful test data and define complex testing scenarios.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, and developing other QA professionals.
• A naturally curious mindset with a passion for identifying issues and improving quality.

Nice to have

• Python experience, particularly for test automation, test data creation, or data validation activities.
• Experience working within Lakehouse architectures and modern data platforms.

Some of our benefits

• Flexible, hybrid working model
• Inclusive culture and environment
• 1000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
• 30 days holiday + bank holidays
• LinkedIn Learning access
• Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
• Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
• Matched pension up to 6%

How to apply

Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.

What happens next?

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you’re successful so keep an eye on your emails! We’ll arrange a short call to learn more about you, as well as answer any questions you have. If it feels like we’re a good match, we’ll share your CV with the hiring manager to review. Our interview process is tailored to each role and can be in-person or held remotely. You can expect a one stage interview process for this position: 1st stage - A one hour face-to-face interview with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience + competency questions. This is also a great opportunity to find out more about the role and to ask any questions you may have.

As an inclusive employer please do let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities

We’re building a culture of everyday inclusion, and welcome applications from anyone who believes they can do the job. We don’t discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We want our recruitment process to be accessible to everyone. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply, interview, or perform a role, let us know. We’ll be happy to support you. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer and have nine brilliant colleague networks - including DAWN (Disability Awareness at Very) and Think (Neurodiversity at Very) - that are helping us make Very an even more inclusive place to work.