Graduate Software Developer in Test

Wiltshire Farm Foods; Trowbridge; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

25 days holiday + BHs

Pension scheme

Free parking

Life assurance

Job summary

apetito is hiring a Graduate Software QA Engineer/SDET to join the Quality Assurance team. You will work across the product stack, performing manual testing and building Playwright-based automation.

The role involves collaborating with stakeholders, presenting to the executive board, and contributing to continuous QA improvements. Ideal candidates are finalising a CS degree (2:2+ by Aug 2026) with basic TypeScript or .NET knowledge, and a drive to learn in a two-year graduate scheme.

Qualifications

• Pursuing or holding a degree in Computer Science or related field with expected 2:2 or higher (graduating by Aug 2026).
• Applied programming experience in commercial/projects.
• Basic TS and/or C#/.NET programming knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Learn and apply software testing techniques across digital products (web, mobile, backend, devices).
• Carry out manual testing and explore features for quality.
• Design/build automated tests using Playwright to validate user journeys.
• Create/execute API tests using Postman for functionality, performance and security.
• Align testing activities with the QA strategy and participate in Agile ceremonies.
• Log and report defects with clear documentation and follow-through to resolution.

Skills

Programming (TypeScript)

Programming (C#/.NET)

Automation

API Testing

GitHub/GitHub Actions

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related (2:2+)

Tools

Playwright

Postman

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Graduate Software QA Engineer / SDET to join our Quality Assurance team at Apetito. This is a fantastic opportunity for a recent graduate to gain hands-on experience in software testing both manual and test automation, working across our diverse product stack and contributing to the delivery of high-quality software.

You’ll be involved in testing across the entire testing pyramid - from unit and integration tests to end-to-end and exploratory testing—ensuring our applications are robust, performant, and aligned with our test strategy.

You will work as part of the wider digital products team and collaborate with stakeholders across the business on a variety of projects, so you'll need to be able to engage audiences from different disciplines in the technical aspect of your work. Presentations to the executive board will also be a regular feature of your graduate program.

Tech Stack You'll Work With

• Languages & Frameworks: TypeScript, .NET
• Automation Tools: Playwright
• API Testing: Postman
• Version Control & CI/CD: GitHub, GitHub Actions

What We Offer

• Structured onboarding and mentorship from experienced QA professionals.
• Hands-on experience with modern testing tools and frameworks.
• Opportunities to contribute to real-world projects from day one.
• Career development pathways and training resources.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive team culture.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Learn and apply software testing techniques across apetito’s Digital Products, including websites, mobile apps, desktop applications, backend services, and connected devices.
• Carry out manual testing to explore new features, identify issues, and ensure a great user experience.
• Design and build automated tests using Playwright to validate user journeys and critical business processes.
• Create and execute API tests using Postman, validating functionality, performance, and security.
• Ensure all testing activities align with the defined test and quality strategy, contributing to consistency and continuous improvement.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and collaborate closely with developers, QA engineers, and product owners.
• Log, investigate and report defects with clear documentation and follow-through to resolution.
• Continuously learn and apply best practices in test automation and software quality.

Qualifications/Personal Qualities

Essential:

• Hold, or be studying towards, a degree in Computer Science or a related discipline with the expectation to receive a 2:2 or higher (graduating by August 2026).
• Applied experience of programming in a commercial or project setting
• Basic programming knowledge in TypeScript and / or C#/.NET
• Understanding of software testing principles and the testing pyramid
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to collaborate with colleagues, including non-technical
• Presentation skills, able to convey complex technical concepts to different audiences

Desirable:

• Exposure to Playwright, Postman, Selenium, Cypress, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with GitHub and version control workflows.
• Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and Agile development practices.
• Undergraduate work placement as part of degree course
• Post-graduate experience in an IT setting
• Experience with writing or maintaining automated tests (academic or personal projects welcome).

The graduate scheme is for 2 years. You must hold right to work for at least the full duration of the graduate scheme to be eligible for this role.

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker route as it does not meet the minimum requirements set out under the UK Immigration Rules.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future.

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.