At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and maintain automated test frameworks for mission-critical software systems.
- Company: Join a leading Central Government defence organisation in Portsmouth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary up to £80,000, with opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Active DV clearance required; work in a secure, regulated environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security through quality assurance and automation.
- Qualifications: Experience in QA or test automation, with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 80000 £ per year.
MERITUS are recruiting for a QA & Test Automation Engineer (SFIA 4) to join a leading Central Government defence organisation in Portsmouth, supporting the assurance, automation, and validation of complex, mission critical software systems.
This role sits within a highly regulated engineering environment where software quality is critical to operational confidence and system reliability. You will be responsible for designing and maintaining automated test frameworks, strengthening regression coverage, and ensuring that every release is supported by clear, repeatable and auditable validation evidence. The work is hands on and technical, requiring a strong understanding of both functional and non functional testing in complex software environments.
Key Responsibilities- Own and maintain automated regression test suites across key system components
- Design and implement functional and non functional testing approaches including robustness and results verification
- Support user acceptance testing readiness aligned to agreed operational use cases
- Ensure defects are clearly reproducible, properly tracked, and verified through to closure
- Strengthen release confidence through structured test reporting and clear documentation
- Embed quality assurance practices across the software lifecycle including testing, verification and validation standards
- Ensure outputs meet customer acceptance criteria in regulated and security constrained environments
- Work closely with developers and engineers to identify issues early and improve overall system quality
- Contribute to continuous improvement of test processes, tooling and automation coverage
- Experience in a QA or test automation role within complex software environments
- Strong understanding of automated testing frameworks and regression testing approaches
- Experience working with defect tracking, test reporting and structured QA processes
- Ability to design both functional and non functional test cases with a focus on reliability and robustness
- Comfortable working in secure or regulated environments, ideally defence or government
- Strong analytical mindset with attention to detail and a methodical approach to problem solving
Active DV clearance is essential for this role. This is a strong opportunity for a test engineer who wants to operate in a high trust environment, take ownership of automation strategy, and directly influence the quality and reliability of critical national systems.
Locations
QA And Test Automation Engineer in Hampshire, Portsmouth employer: Yolk Recruitment Ltd
MERITUS offers an exceptional work environment for QA & Test Automation Engineers, particularly in the vibrant city of Portsmouth. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, the company fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation within a highly regulated engineering setting. Employees benefit from competitive salaries, the opportunity to work on mission-critical projects, and the chance to make a significant impact on national security systems.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land QA And Test Automation Engineer in Hampshire, Portsmouth
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Yolk Recruitment Ltd or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Yolk Recruitment Ltd.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Yolk Recruitment Ltd.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Yolk Recruitment Ltd that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace QA And Test Automation Engineer in Hampshire, Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Yolk Recruitment Ltd.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Yolk Recruitment Ltd and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Yolk Recruitment Ltd
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Yolk Recruitment Ltd uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
