Data Test Engineer in Reading

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision: "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community." We are collaborative, aspirational, resourceful, and excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice.

The Data Test Engineer plays a key role in ensuring the quality, reliability, and performance of the Trust’s digital applications, data platforms, and integrated clinical systems, focusing on areas such as Electronic Patient Records (EPR), Clinical Applications, Interoperability, Data Systems, Infrastructure and Digital Assurance.

Reporting to the Data Assurance and Quality Lead, the role requires strong expertise in data testing and validation and involves designing, executing, and maintaining manual and automated testing processes, ensuring that all systems meet the highest standards of performance, security, and usability. The Test Engineer will work closely with developers, business analysts, and other cross‑functional teams to integrate testing into the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), identify and prioritise defects, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

The role requires both functional and non‑functional testing expertise, the ability to mentor junior testers, and effective collaboration with stakeholders to drive quality assurance processes. This position also includes responsibilities for managing relationships with vendors, coordinating Systems Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and overseeing the use of large data sets across relational databases.

Main duties of the job

• Design and execute a wide range of functional tests across data pipelines and data integrations to ensure data accuracy and completeness for the Trust's systems, ensuring they meet defined quality standards.
• Communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, helping the business prioritise defect resolution.
• Conduct a variety of non-functional tests of data systems to ensure systems meet requirements for speed, scalability, and security.
• Identify, document, and track defects using tools like JIRA, collaborating with developers to ensure timely resolution. Help prioritise defects based on severity and impact on business operations.
• Develop, execute, and maintain automated test scripts using automation tools. Ensure automated tests cover key functionality and validate data quality.
• Lead regression testing efforts to ensure system updates do not negatively affect existing data flows and data quality, with a focus on mitigating risks in EPR, clinical applications, and infrastructure systems.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders as needed to manage dependencies and ensure seamless integration across systems.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders, including the Care Group Directors, Directors of Operations, and IT leadership, ensuring their feedback is incorporated into data testing strategies and outcomes.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to data accuracy and quality, addressing issues before they impact Trust operations.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience in data testing and data quality assurance, including both manual and automated testing techniques within large-scale, complex environments, preferably within healthcare settings.
• Experience with EPR systems, clinical applications, data platforms, and digital infrastructure.
• Expertise with automation frameworks such as Selenium or Protractor for data focused testing.
• Strong experience in functional and non-functional testing, including performance, security, and scalability, with a focus on data validation, data quality, and testing of data flows and integrations.

Desirable criteria

• Testing experience gained in Acute NHS or a healthcare environment, with knowledge of healthcare-specific digital and data systems.
• Experience with Agile and DevOps practices, particularly within data driven CI/CD pipelines.

Skills, knowledge & abilities

Essential criteria

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary data-focused team.
• Strong understanding of testing frameworks and methodologies, including functional, non-functional, data flow and integrations, performance, and regression testing.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey technical information to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple testing activities simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.

Desirable criteria

• Advanced programming skills in languages such as Java, JavaScript, or Python, particularly in the context of writing and maintaining automated tests.
• Strong understanding of NHS digital platforms, data flows, and data driven applications.

Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance.
• Annual leave – 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff.
• NHS pension scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Money Advice Service.
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave for eligible staff.
• On‑site nursery (based at RBH).
• Full educational library services.
• Cycle to work scheme, lockable storage for cycles.
• Bus to work scheme.
• Excellent rail and bus links.
• A huge range of Health Service Discounts at hundreds of big brands from holidays to gadgets and restaurants to retail.

Contact for application support

Our primary method of communication will be via email. If you would prefer a different method, please inform the recruitment team. Telephone: 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Application process

After applying via NHS Jobs, your submitted application will be imported into our preferred third‑party recruitment system (TRAC). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs. You will not be able to track the progress of your application or receive messages through the NHS Jobs website, and we will not be able to respond to any emails sent to us via the NHS Jobs website.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview. Diversity makes us interesting. Inclusion is what will make us outstanding. Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.