Data Test Engineer

Royal Berkshire Nhs Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Reading is looking for a Data Test Engineer to ensure the quality and performance of digital applications and data platforms. The role involves designing and executing tests, collaborating with various teams, and managing data accuracy across systems. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in data testing, preferably in healthcare settings, and strong programming skills. This position offers flexible working opportunities and comprehensive staff benefits including generous leave policies and an NHS pension scheme.

Benefits

Flexible working opportunities

NHS pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous leave

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in data testing and data quality assurance.
• Familiarity with EPR systems and digital infrastructure.
• Expertise in both functional and non-functional testing.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute functional tests across data pipelines.
• Communicate results to stakeholders.
• Conduct non-functional testing for speed and security.

Skills

Data testing expertise

Automated testing (Selenium, Protractor)

Problem-solving abilities

Collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Experience in NHS or healthcare environment

Advanced programming (Java, JavaScript, Python)

Tools

JIRA

Job description

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is "Working together to provide outstanding care for our community." Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated 'Good' with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust's overall rating has also improved to 'good'. We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success. Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don't you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical., 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 prioritize 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
• 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.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are appointed to a post information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Appointment to any position is conditional on the satisfactory completion of the core NHS Employment Checks Standards. Information disclosed in your application will be checked and any offer of appointment may be withdrawn if you knowingly withhold information or provide false or misleading information. All new appointments to the Trust, with the exception of executive positions, are subject to a 6 month probationary period. The Trust may close any vacancy prior to the advertised closing date due to the high level of responses we receive for some of our vacancies. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is committed to improving the health of its staff, patients and the wider community by providing a smoke free environment. A smoke free policy is in operation and smoking is not permitted on any of the Trust's sites.

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Staff 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.