Graduate QA Engineer

Avanti; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Free office lunches twice per week

Dog-friendly office

Enhanced pension contributions

Childcare contribution scheme

Job summary

Avanti Recruitment is working with an established Oxford-based software company seeking a Graduate / Junior QA Engineer to join their growing Quality Assurance team. The role requires you in the office 3 days per week.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent STEM graduate or early-career professional who enjoys problem-solving, detailed analysis and understanding software from a user perspective. No commercial QA experience is required as training is provided.

Qualifications

• STEM degree (or graduating this year) in Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences or similar.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong written/verbal communication.
• Analytical and logical problem-solving ability; ability to learn new concepts quickly.

Responsibilities

• Testing new software features before release.
• Investigating and reproducing software issues.
• Verifying bug fixes and providing feedback on usability.
• Reviewing documentation and product changes.
• Working closely with developers and product managers.
• Supporting software releases and quality standards.
• Role focuses on manual testing with opportunities to develop automation skills over time.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Learning mindset

Problem solving

Career in tech

Education

STEM degree (or graduating this year)

Tools

Jira

Linux

Python

Java

Job description

Looking for a career in technology but not necessarily software development?

Avanti Recruitment is working with an established Oxford-based software company that develops highly specialised products used by organisations operating in regulated and data-driven environments.

They are looking to hire a Graduate / Junior QA Engineer to join their growing Quality Assurance team. This role will require you in the office 3 days per week.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career professional who enjoys problem-solving, spotting details others miss and understanding how software works from a user's perspective.

No commercial QA experience is required. The company is happy to provide training for the right person, but you will need a 2:1 or above degree in a STEM subject.

The Role

As a QA Engineer, you'll be responsible for ensuring software is thoroughly tested before release.

You'll work closely with developers and product teams, helping to identify bugs, improve user experience and maintain high standards of software quality.

Typical responsibilities include:

• Testing new software features before release
• Investigating and reproducing software issues
• Verifying bug fixes
• Providing feedback on usability and functionality
• Reviewing documentation and product changes
• Working closely with developers and product managers
• Supporting software releases and quality standards

The role is primarily focused on manual testing, with opportunities to develop automation skills over time.

What We're Looking For

You will need to be Naturally curious and an analytical, detail-oriented, strong communicator, comfortable learning new technologies, interested in software quality/testing, and motivated to build a career within technology.

Must Have Skills & Experience

• STEM degree (or graduating this year) in a subject such as Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences or similar
• Excellent attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Analytical and logical problem-solving ability
• Ability to learn new concepts and technologies quickly
• Strong organisational skills
• Genuine interest in software quality, testing and user experience
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment
• Willingness to work from the Oxford office a minimum of 3 days per week

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Previous software testing or QA experience (commercial, internship, placement year or personal projects)
• Experience with Java or Python
• Experience using Linux
• Familiarity with Jira or similar issue-tracking tools
• Understanding of Agile development methodologies
• Exposure to API testing
• Experience writing or maintaining automated tests
• Previous customer-facing experience
• Summer internships, industrial placements or part-time work demonstrating initiative and responsibility
• Understanding of software development lifecycles

What's On Offer?

• £30,000 starting salary
• Up to 8% annual bonus
• Enhanced pension contributions
• Childcare contribution scheme
• Free office lunches twice per week
• Dog-friendly office
• Hybrid working
• Excellent training and career development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative team environment

Interview Process

1st stage: Initial video interview (30 minutes)

Final: Face to face interview onsite in Oxford (60-90 minutes)

No coding test required.