At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead automation testing and shape AI-influenced quality strategies.
- Company: Join Vitality, a top-rated UK insurance brand focused on health and happiness.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonus schemes, health insurance, and a generous pension plan.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values your voice and career development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic role that embraces innovation and personal growth.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in automation testing with expertise in C#, Java, and Selenium.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 β¬ per year.
About The Role
Team Vitality Applications
Working Pattern - Hybrid 2 days per week in any Vitality Office. Full time hours.
Top 3 skills required:
- Expertise in Test Automation and Framework Engineering and AI-augmented testing
- Leadership and Strategic Influence
- Multi-Specialism Technical Expertise
What this role is all about:
Join Vitality as a Principal Test Engineer and help shape how quality is delivered in an evolving, AI-influenced engineering landscape. You will lead the technical direction of our automation capability while guiding teams through the practical adoption of AI-enabled testing and intelligent tooling. This role combines deep hands-on engineering with genuine influence, giving you the opportunity to raise standards, shape strategy, and grow your own expertise as AI becomes an increasingly integral part of how we build and assure software.
Key Actions:
- Implement the software test lifecycle: Own and continuously refine the full software test lifecycle, from analysis and design through execution and reporting. You will champion automation-first and AI-assisted testing approaches that are scalable, efficient, and embedded from the earliest stages of delivery.
- Recognised technical authority: Act as a trusted technical leader for advanced automation, modern testing, and emerging AI-enabled quality practices. You will set direction, unblock complex challenges, and raise the bar for engineering excellence across teams.
- Adhere to testing standards: Champion Vitality's Group test strategy, embedding progressive engineering standards while evolving our approach to incorporate intelligent tooling and smart analytics where they add value.
- Subject matter expert in standards: Serve as the SME for testing standards across Vitality. You will lead the adoption of best-in-class frameworks, patterns, and tooling, ensuring consistency, maintainability, and continuous improvement including experimentation with AI where appropriate.
- Engage stakeholders: Work closely with architects, developers, UX designers, product owners, analysts, and delivery leads. You will translate complex requirements into robust test strategies, ensuring quality and AI-enabled insight are tightly aligned to business outcomes.
- Build and transfer knowledge: Invest in your own growth through hands-on learning, mentoring, and exposure to AI engineering capabilities within the business. You will coach and inspire engineers, helping to build a high-performing automation and quality community.
- Specialist expertise: Bring deep expertise in two testing specialisms (including automation), while continuing to develop capability in a third. You will also have the opportunity to broaden your skill set into AI-supported testing and quality engineering over time.
- Collaborate within and across teams: Work collaboratively across squads, sharing knowledge, aligning on best practices, and delivering reliable, scalable solutions at pace.
- AI powered testing automation: Encourage appropriate and ethical use of AI-Powered Test Tools ensuring ethical and secure use of AI, staying informed over emerging AI capabilities & best practices. Ensuring AI enhances your role without compromising accountability, quality and trust.
What do you need to thrive?
- 6+ Years of hands-on Automation Testing experience with extensive knowledge of C#, Java & Selenium.
- Bring a strong capability across at least two areas (such as test automation and a relevant coding language), with a curiosity to keep learning and growing alongside the team.
- Proven experience in shaping and sharing non-functional testing approaches & working closely with others to raise quality across the board.
- Strong experience in API test automation, including scenario design, data setup, and validation.
- Experience with synthetic test data management and orchestration, supporting teams to deliver reliable, scalable solutions together.
- Proven ability to lead test teams and coach developing engineers.
- Strong communication skills to influence and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Curiosity and appetite to learn and apply AI engineering concepts within a quality and automation context.
So, what's in it for you?
- Bonus Schemes: A bonus that regularly rewards you for your performance.
- A pension of up to 12%: We will match your contributions up to 6% of your salary.
- Our award-winning Vitality health insurance: With its own set of rewards and benefits.
- Life Assurance: Four times annual salary.
These are just some of the many perks that we offer! To view the extensive range of benefits we offer, please visit our careers page.
Fantastic Benefits. Exciting rewards. Great career opportunities!
If you are successful in your application and join us at Vitality, this is our promise to you, we will:
- Help you to be the healthiest you've ever been.
- Create an environment that embraces you as you are and enables you to be your best self.
- Give you flexibility on how, where and when you work.
- Help you advance your career by playing you to your strengths.
- Give you a voice to help our business grow and make Vitality a great place to be.
- Give you the space to try, fail and learn.
- Provide a healthy balance of challenge and support.
- Recognise and reward you with a competitive salary and amazing benefits.
- Be there for you when you need us.
- Provide opportunities for you to be a force for good in society.
We commit to all these things because we want you to feel that you belong, and are supported to be happy and healthy.
About The Company
We're really excited to announce that we have recently been awarded "Top 10 Best Places To Work" in The Sunday Times Awards 2024! Vitality is a multi-award-winning UK insurance brand, here to make the world a healthier, happier place. We've been a purpose and values-driven business from day 1 - long before it became fashionable. Our core purpose is to make people healthier and enhance protect their lives.
Ready to find out if we're the right fit for you? We can't wait.
If we are fortunate in receiving a high volume of quality applications we may need to close this vacancy early. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.
Principal Test Engineer employer: Vitality Corporate Services Limited
At Vitality, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that champions health, well-being, and personal growth. As a Principal Test Engineer, you'll enjoy a hybrid working model, competitive bonuses, and a robust pension scheme, all while leading innovative AI-driven testing initiatives in a supportive environment that values your contributions and encourages continuous learning. Join us to be part of a multi-award-winning team dedicated to making a positive impact on society and fostering a workplace where you can thrive.
Contact Detail:
Vitality Corporate Services Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Adviceπ€«
We think this is how you could land Principal Test Engineer
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Principal Test Engineer role.
β¨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or GitHub repository showcasing your test automation projects and AI-enabled testing strategies. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
β¨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Practice common interview questions related to automation testing and AI, and be ready to discuss how you've led teams and influenced strategy in past roles.
β¨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our team at Vitality and contributing to our mission of making the world a healthier place.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Test Engineer
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in test automation and AI-augmented testing. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so donβt hold back on showcasing your expertise!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Principal Test Engineer, you'll be leading teams and influencing strategy. Use your application to demonstrate past experiences where you've successfully guided others or implemented new processes. We love seeing examples of leadership in action!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and skills stand out. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role β we want to understand your journey easily!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. Itβs super easy, and youβll be able to track your application status. Plus, we canβt wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vitality Corporate Services Limited
β¨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of test automation, AI-augmented testing, and the specific tools mentioned in the job description, like C#, Java, and Selenium. Be ready to discuss your hands-on experience and how you've applied these technologies in real-world scenarios.
β¨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Test Engineer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders. Prepare examples of how you've guided teams through complex challenges and raised engineering standards in previous roles. Highlight your mentoring experiences and how you've helped others grow.
β¨Engage with Stakeholders
Familiarise yourself with the importance of collaboration across different roles such as architects, developers, and product owners. Be prepared to discuss how you've translated complex requirements into effective test strategies that align with business outcomes. This shows you understand the bigger picture.
β¨Embrace Continuous Learning
The role emphasises the need for curiosity and a willingness to learn, especially regarding AI engineering concepts. Share your experiences of how you've kept up with industry trends and your plans for further development in AI-supported testing. This will show your commitment to growth and innovation.