Defense Systems Test Engineer - Software & Validation

Cervus; West of England, Westbury; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 24 days

Cervus Closure days

Bank holidays

Generous pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private health care

Life insurance

Flexible working

Learning and development

Awesome colleagues

Job summary

Cervus is seeking a motivated Software & System Test Engineer for a hybrid role based in the Southwest, UK. You will validate complex distributed software systems, run integration tests, and ensure quality across backend, data pipelines, UI, and hardware interfaces.

You will collaborate with development, product, and delivery teams to identify defects early, improve robustness, and support production deployment. The role involves 2–3 days in Bristol/Westbury and travel within the UK and overseas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field preferred or equivalent practical experience.
• Proven experience as a Software & System Test Engineer or similar role.
• Practical implementation of tests and test plans across the whole testing pyramid for good coverage and fast feedback.
• Ability to bring real user empathy to exploratory testing, focusing on friction points that matter.
• Strong understanding of system engineering, verification, and validation methodologies.
• Hands-on experience with protocol analyzers, test equipment, measurement tools, and automation frameworks.
• Solid knowledge of networking protocols, system interfaces, and data flows.
• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g. JIRA, or similar).
• Ability to read and interpret system specifications, schematics, and technical documents.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and maintain software integration and test plans, procedures, and scripts.
• Perform system-level integration, verification, and validation activities across system and software components.
• Conduct functional, regression, performance, security and acceptance testing.
• Perform exploratory testing, identify defects, and support troubleshooting with engineering teams.
• Work with design and development engineers to define test requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Contribute to test automation frameworks and tools.
• Maintain test environments, labs, and test equipment.
• Support system certification, compliance, and customer acceptance testing.
• Provide input into system design reviews from an integration and verification perspective.
• Ensure compliance with security, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Champion our users' needs and help to train and support our users on how to use our products.

Skills

Test planning

System testing

Test automation

Agile

User empathy

System engineering

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

JIRA

Protocol analyzers

Test equipment

Automation frameworks

Job description

Cervus is seeking a motivated Software & System Test Engineer for a hybrid role based in the Southwest, UK. You will validate complex distributed software systems, run integration tests, and ensure quality across backend, data pipelines, UI, and hardware interfaces.

You will collaborate with development, product, and delivery teams to identify defects early, improve robustness, and support production deployment. The role involves 2–3 days in Bristol/Westbury and travel within the UK and overseas.