At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality engineering efforts, designing tools for high-quality software solutions.
- Company: Join The Very Group, dedicated to helping families thrive with flexible payment options.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, 30 days holiday, and a £1,000 benefits allowance.
- Other info: Inclusive employer with a tailored interview process and support for diverse needs.
- Why this job: Be part of a culture that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and technical excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in QA engineering, cloud services, and a passion for code quality required.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
About us.
We are The Very Group and we’re here to help families get more out of life. We know that our customers work hard for their families and have a lot to balance in their busy lives. That’s why we combine amazing brands and products with flexible payment options on Very.co.uk to help them say yes to the things they love. We’re just as passionate about helping our people get more out of life too; building careers with real growth, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.
About the role.
We’re looking for an experienced Principal QA Engineer to join our technology team and help shape the future of quality engineering at The Very Group.
As a Principal QA Engineer, you’ll lead the QA approach within an agile squad, ensuring that products meet the highest standards for quality, compliance, and customer experience. You’ll play a key role in ensuring adherence to our delivery framework and SDLC principles, while driving an automation-first approach across all functional and non-functional testing.
You’ll work closely with the Performance Unit QA Engineering Manager, Engineers, and other stakeholders to embed quality throughout the product lifecycle, championing modern testing practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop the QA capability within your squad in line with The Very Group’s tech standards.
- Ensure a Test-Driven approach is adopted for all work.
- Drive an automation-first strategy for functional and non-functional testing.
- Oversee preparation, documentation, and evidence capture for all QA activities.
- Own the overall test plan and test approach, taking full accountability for its successful delivery.
- Work closely with the offshore resource management team to coach and mentor team members, fostering growth and alignment with The Very Group’s standards and values.
- Promote a value-add approach in all delivery activities.
- Review lessons learned and share insights across squads and the QA community.
- Collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to prevent defects and improve quality throughout the SDLC.
About you
You’re a hands‑on QA leader with a passion for quality and a proven track record in delivering robust, compliant, and high‑performing solutions. You thrive in agile environments and enjoy influencing teams to adopt best practices in testing and automation.
What you’ll bring
- 5+ years of QA and testing experience at both leadership and practitioner levels.
- Proven expertise in software testing and modern QA methodologies.
- Strong experience delivering within an SDLC framework, ensuring compliance with regulatory and governance standards.
- Experience in any of Financial Services, Retail and Logistics would be beneficial.
- Strong interpersonal skills with a curious, collaborative mindset.
- Experience leading and influencing teams in QA best practices.
- Strong exploratory and technical testing skills.
- Experience with Test-Driven approaches (ATDD, BDD, TDD).
- Proficiency in at least one programming language for automation, with the ability to learn others.
- Experience with API testing tools (Postman, Swagger, SOAPUI, Karate).
- Strong knowledge of non‑functional testing, particularly performance and security.
Some of our benefits
- Flexible, hybrid working model
- Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews
- £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%
- More benefits can be found on our career site
Equal opportunities
We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool employer: Very Group
At The Very Group, we prioritise the well-being and growth of our employees just as much as we do for our customers. As a Principal QA Engineer, you will thrive in a flexible, hybrid working environment that fosters collaboration and innovation, while enjoying a comprehensive benefits package including a £1,000 flexible benefits allowance, 30 days holiday, and opportunities for professional development through Udemy. Join us to be part of an inclusive culture that champions continuous improvement and technical excellence, making a meaningful impact on both your career and the lives of families across the UK.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with The Very Group's products and services. Understanding their offerings will help you demonstrate how your skills as a Principal QA Engineer can directly contribute to enhancing the quality and reliability of their solutions.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your experience with AWS and Azure during your conversations. Be prepared to discuss specific projects where you've successfully integrated these technologies, as this will highlight your technical expertise and relevance to the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Emphasise your collaborative skills. Since the role involves working closely with various teams, share examples of how you've effectively collaborated in past roles to drive best practices and improve processes.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your approach to mentoring and coaching others. The Very Group values a culture of knowledge sharing, so be ready to explain how you've supported the development of your colleagues in previous positions.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in quality engineering, particularly in designing and maintaining tools and frameworks. Emphasise your hands-on experience with AWS and Azure services, as well as your knowledge of the Elastic Observability platform.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, express your passion for building scalable, high-quality solutions. Mention specific examples of how you've influenced engineering culture and mentored others in previous roles, aligning your experiences with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Technical Skills:Highlight your technical skills related to performance, security, and scalability. Provide examples of past projects where you took ownership of non-functional requirements and drove best practices in logging, monitoring, and alerting.
Prepare for Interviews:Anticipate both competency and technical questions during the interview process. Be ready to discuss your experience with threat modelling and your approach to continuous improvement in CI processes. Prepare questions that demonstrate your interest in The Very Group's culture and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Very Group
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
As a Principal QA Engineer, it's crucial to demonstrate your deep understanding of quality engineering principles. Be prepared to discuss your experience with AWS, Azure, and the Elastic Observability platform, as well as any relevant certifications you hold.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Highlight your ability to work closely with Engineers, Tech Leads, and other stakeholders. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across teams to drive best practices in quality assurance and reliability engineering.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect both competency and technical questions during the formal interview. Brush up on your knowledge of non-functional requirements, threat modelling, and CI processes to confidently answer any queries related to these areas.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Use the informal video call to ask thoughtful questions about the role and the company's culture. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if The Very Group is the right fit for you.
