Mid Manual and Automation Test Engineer

Trace Solutions is a pioneering, employee-owned software company that builds enterprise-grade property management and accounting systems.

For over 50 years, our software has served as the technological backbone for major UK managing agents and housing associations.

We are a mid-sized organisation of around 60 people, based in Clerkenwell in central London, with a strong focus on providing exemplary service and cultivating absurdly happy customers.

How we work

Our engineering teams are organised into small, Agile teams of 5 to 6 people using Scrum to deliver focussed product increments. Our time is split across three core areas:

• Core Product Development: Building the next generation of our Mojo platform.
• Client Requests: Delivering tailored, high-value features directly for our users.
• 3rd-Line Support: Diving deep into complex, rewarding technical troubleshooting to assist our internal support teams

We operate a hybrid working model with a minimum of 2 days per week in our London office.

We choose to work this way because we value face-to-face collaboration, team brainstorming, and peer-to-peer mentoring.

• What we are looking for
• Summary

The Test Automation Engineer is expected to have a solid understanding of software testing principles and practical experience of both manual and automated testing.

You should be comfortable translating business requirements into effective test coverage, investigating defects, and working closely with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders throughout the software development lifecycle.

This is a mid-level role, so we would expect you to be capable of working independently on most testing activities, while continuing to broaden your technical expertise and contribute to improving our overall quality practices.

Experience with modern automation frameworks, test design techniques, and Agile delivery processes will be important.

Technical skills

We'd expect some familiarity with

• Creating and executing test plans, test cases, and test scenarios from business requirements.
• Manual testing of web-based applications.
• Test automation concepts and practical implementation.
• Test automation tools and frameworks, ideally Playwright.
• Writing and maintaining automated tests using Type Script, C#, or similar languages.
• Investigating, reproducing, and documenting software defects.
• Working with version control systems such as Git.
• Agile working practices and Scrum ceremonies.
• Basic SQL querying and the use of database tools such as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
• JIRA or similar work tracking and defect management systems.
• An understanding of modern web applications and client-server architectures.
• An interest and some experience in using AI tools (like Copilot, Chat GPT, or LLMs) to assist with test design, debugging, investigation, and improving day-to-day productivity.

Bonus points for any of the following

• Experience designing or maintaining test automation frameworks.
• Software testing qualifications such as ISTQB.
• Experience of supporting production systems or providing second-line support.
• Exposure to property management software or related business domains.
• Experience working closely with development teams to improve quality practices across the software development lifecycle.
• Personal Skills & Mindset
• Quality-Focused: Takes pride in delivering reliable, thoroughly tested software and maintains excellent attention to detail.
• Analytical Thinker: Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and enjoys understanding how systems behave under different conditions.
• Continuous Improvement: Looks for opportunities to improve testing approaches, automation coverage, and team effectiveness.
• Resourceful Collaboration: Can investigate issues independently but seeks input from others when appropriate and shares knowledge openly.
• Agile Mindset: Enjoys working within an iterative Agile environment and embraces changing priorities and requirements.
• Clear Communicator: Communicates effectively with both technical and non-technical colleagues, ensuring issues and risks are understood.
• Positive Influence: Willing to challenge constructively, suggest improvements, and advocate for quality throughout the development process.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Quality Assurance: Review requirements and specifications to identify risks, ambiguities, and opportunities for improved test coverage.
• Test Design: Produce clear and effective manual and automated test cases from business requirements and user stories.
• Manual Testing: Execute exploratory, functional, regression, and validation testing of new and existing features.
• Test Automation: Create, maintain, and improve automated test coverage using our automation tooling and frameworks.
• Framework Enhancement: Contribute to the ongoing improvement, reliability, and maintainability of test automation assets.
• Defect Investigation: Work closely with developers to investigate, reproduce, troubleshoot, and validate software defects.
• Environment Management: Assist with configuring and maintaining test environments and test data where required.
• Agile Participation: Actively contribute to sprint planning, refinement sessions, stand-ups, retrospectives, and estimation activities.
• Support Collaboration: Assist with complex support issues and help identify root causes when production issues arise.
• Quality Advocacy: Champion quality practices within the team and encourage a testing-first mindset across the development process.
• Continuous Learning: Stay up to date with emerging testing tools, frameworks, and industry best practices and help bring valuable improvements into the team.

What we offer

At Trace Solutions, we believe that great work happens when people feel supported, valued, and genuinely engaged.

In joining us, you'll become part of a collaborative, employee-owned business where your contribution matters and your development is taken seriously.

We offer a culture built on transparency, innovation, and mutual respect — with real opportunities to grow your skills, take on meaningful work, and make a lasting impact in the Prop Tech space.

In addition, we offer

• Enhanced pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Life assurance
• Group Income Protection
• Hybrid working arrangements (2 days a week in our Clerkenwell office)

Trace Solutions is an equal opportunities employer.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

#J-18808-Ljbffr