Lead Test Engineer

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Lead Test Engineer

Permanent

Guildford

Salary £52,200 - £60,600

Smart Hybrid Working

Are you enthusiastic about delivering top-quality software? As a Lead Test Engineer, you'll be at the heart of our Agile team, playing a crucial role in ensuring our products meet the highest standards. Reporting to the Head of Test, you'll represent the Test Team in the day-to-day activities, taking charge of creating and delivering automated testing. You'll design and implement test strategies that align with our goal to deliver secure, reliable, and high-performing software. Your work will directly impact our ongoing transition to cloud-based technologies and modern Agile practices.

What Will I Be Doing?

• Hands-On Testing: Designing, creating and running automated and non-functional tests, ensuring our software is robust and reliable.

• Test Design & Implementation: Design tests based on requirements and acceptance criteria, and creating and maintaining automated test scripts.

• Defect Management: Identify and report defects, ensuring they are properly documented and managed according to our defect management processes.

• Collaboration & Leadership: Work closely with Agile team members, mentoring and coaching them in best testing practices, particularly in automation.

• Continuous Improvement: Drive process improvements in testing and contribute to our journey toward adopting cutting-edge cloud-based technologies and Agile methodologies.

What’s in it for me?

• This role offers opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, with a focus on the latest testing practices and technologies.

• You'll work alongside a talented and supportive team, where your ideas and expertise will be valued and utilized.

• Start with 25 days of annual leave, growing to 30 days, plus additional closure days between Christmas and New Year. 

• Take up to 5 paid days to volunteering for charities close to your heart. 

• Enjoy private medical insurance through Bupa, covering all conditions from day one. 

• Access the cycle-to-work scheme, corporate Headspace access, a variety of networks and well being initiatives and more

• Benefit from up to 11.5% employer pension contributions. 

• Enjoy a balanced 35-hour workweek with a mixture of in person and remote working – at AQA great things happen when we work together. 

What Will I Need to Succeed?

• Expertise in Testing: A strong understanding of the testing lifecycle, including hands-on experience in automated testing. You should be familiar with Agile methodologies and have a background in developing solutions within a .Net/C# environment.

• Technical Skills: Proven ability to implement automated testing using tools like TDD/BDD, Cucumber, SpecFlow, Selenium, and CodedUI. Experience in API testing is essential.

• Communication & Leadership: Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. You should be proactive, collaborative, and able to mentor colleagues in testing techniques.

• Problem-Solving Abilities: Strong analytical skills with a pragmatic approach to testing. You should be able to quickly understand systems and apply appropriate testing techniques to mitigate risks.

• Adaptability: A willingness to embrace new technologies, tools, and procedures as we continuously improve our processes and products.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Join us and be part of our exciting journey toward delivering world-class software solutions!

How to Apply

Read the full job description and upload your most recent CV with a cover letter to explain how your skills and experience match what we are looking for.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received , if the right person is identified, the advert will be closed.

Interviews will be over 2 stages – a teams call followed by a face to face interview in the Guildford Office in the week beginning 16th September.

All applications will receive a written response

#CRE23

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Reporting to the Head of Test and representing the Test Team, this role operates day to day within the “Agile” team as Lead Test Engineer. This role will personally undertake hands on manual and automated functional and non-functional testing. A key purpose of the role will also be to design tests based on requirements / acceptance criteria to produce manual and/or automated test scripts to provide the appropriate level of test coverage.
To code, debug and maintain automated tests and frameworks. Raising defects when encountered and ensuring that initial process steps are undertaken in accordance with defect management processes.
To represent the Test Team in the day-to-day activities, identifying areas of risk and applying appropriate testing techniques to mitigate them.
To help complete AQA’s ongoing transition to a single, consistent set of cloud-based technologies (technology re-platform) and move to an agile delivery model in line with current software development best practices (Scrum/Kanban; continuous delivery) – and to continually improve and enhance that technology for new and changing business needs, once that transition is complete.Section 1 – Accountabilities
Customer (external or internal)
Being trusted and reliable in assessment design and delivery
Build excellent working relationships with our customers internal and external
Demonstrates commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change.
Deliver high quality software to our customers that has been thoroughly tested.
Cash (finances)
Ensuring sound financial management and a robust asset base
N/A
Product and internal processes
Delivering quality products and outcomes – as recognised by the customer
Facilitate product backlog management and iteration planning by providing estimates and advising on Testing approaches and options in the context of delivery cost and risk.
Deliver high quality software that has been thoroughly tested to our customers
Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
Actively participate in review of acceptance criteria/requirements (static testing) to identify errors, omissions and areas of ambiguity.
Provide data to colleagues to enable derivation of testing progress reports and quality metrics.
Facilitate and participate in all Agile ceremonies: Sprint planning, demos, 3 amigos, retrospectives etc.
Based upon solid foundations in manual testing, derive appropriate test coverage and test techniques.
Undertake Test Execution (dynamic testing) tasks, preparing test environments, executing test scripts, comparing actual with expected results and documenting and reporting outcomes.
People and culture
Ensuring we have great people achieving their potential
Collaborate with the agile team to produce high quality output.
Be an advocate for testing (especially automation / technical testing) best practices, leading by example.
Mentor and coach team members in automated testing, embedding automated testing methods in Software Solution activities.
Assist with the continual improvement of ways of working in both Testing and wider departmental processes. To identify opportunities for testing process improvement and act as advocate for their consideration for implementation.
Technology
Delivering demonstrably secure, reliable, agile and cost-effective systems
Deliver Test Automation Framework(s) to support the use of Automation in line with the AQA Automation Strategy.
Provide API testing to support (agile) team delivery.
Keep abreast of state-of-the-art testing practices by reading and attending external events, share learnings within the Software Solutions group to ensure practices remain appropriate and up to date.
Government and external
Providing timely, valued insight and evidence that inform policy
N/A
Section 2 – Key relationships and performance
Key internal relationships:
Test colleagues
Agile team colleagues
departmental managers
Business Users
Product Owners
Key external relationships:
Suppliers
3rd Party Development Partner
Key performance indicators:
Implementation of Test Automation frameworks
Coaching and mentoring of colleagues on automation practices
Successful delivery of (agile) delivery team output that has been thoroughly tested to a very high
Section 3 – Person profile
Knowledge
A broad understanding of testing and its role, relevance and application in either a commercial or an educational environment
In-depth understanding of the testing life-cycle in context of the SDLC (Agile and at least one other)
Detailed knowledge and understanding of testing (including automation) techniques and management tools and their application in Agile and at least one other methodology
Detailed knowledge of Agile best testing practice techniques and SCRUM
Qualification
Degree level qualification in Software Engineering or equivalent discipline, or equivalent professional experience
Skills
Proven ability to develop solutions in a .Net/C# environment
Proven ability to coach and mentor colleagues in automated testing techniques
Proven oral and written communication skills and ability to explain issues to technical and non-technical staff
Proven ability to devise and implement automated testing; egTDD/BDD, Cucumber, Specflow, Selenium, CodedUI
Ability to undertake both functional and non-functional testing
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills in a variety of situations
Excellent analytical skills
Proactive and motivating who facilitates quality and collaboration amongst the team.
A questioning and investigative mind
A pragmatic approach with requisite attention to detail
Ability and willingness to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team
Ability to apply a risk-based testing approach and awareness of commonplace system malfunctions and defects
Ability to quickly glean knowledge of systems and components under test
Ability to adapt to new approaches, technologies, tools and procedures
Ability to positively influence colleagues with regard to Testing matters
Demonstrates resilience and calmness under pressure to meet tight deadlines in complex contexts
Receive feedback and learn from mistakes for continuous self-development
Demonstrates proactive collaborative working across functional areas to deliver shared goals
Behaviours
Communication
Pragmatic
Proactive & Can-do attitude
Experience
Demonstrable experience of successfully undertaking Lead Test Engineer tasks in line with the Key Accountabilities
Demonstrable experience of operating in Agile environments
Experience in using one or more testing tools in a day-to-day hands-on automated testing role
Experience in API testing
Demonstrable experience and knowledge of recognised testing techniques (eg black box, white box, risk-based, scenario-based)
Experience of different Test Activities (eg System, Integration, User Acceptance) including both functional and non-functional testing
Assessment key (criteria to be assessed at the selection stage)
A – application (it is essential to provide evidence on application for shortlisting purposes)
I - interview
T – test (or work sample)
P – probation