Graduate Software Validation Engineer Projects, Engineering, Software, Manufacture

Sonardyne; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonardyne seeks a Graduate Software Validation Engineer in Plymouth to ensure product quality and performance in subsea technologies. The role includes developing validation strategies, testing systems, and collaborating with engineering teams.

Ideal candidates have a degree in relevant fields and experience in software validation and automation testing. Join a pioneering team making a real difference in underwater technology across the globe.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in software or systems validation, including automation testing.
• Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle and CI/CD principles.
• Experience working in structured software engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Analyse system requirements to develop robust validation strategies.
• Design, develop, and execute validation plans for systems.
• Support validation activities at customer sites, including Plymouth.

Skills

Software validation

Automation testing

Analytical skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Information Technology, or related discipline

Tools

Automation frameworks

Test tools

Job description

From the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on earth, to surging shorelines and anywhere in-between, we make the impossible possible through our continuous passion for innovation.

Our people design, engineer and manufacture technologies that are enabling our customers to discover, navigate, measure, detect and communicate in the toughest environment on earth: Our oceans.We’ve been actively developing the technology to make the oceans accessible for over 50 years and we’re only just getting started…At Sonardyne, we value different ways of thinking. Whether you think in code, patterns, systems, or steps, your unique perspective is important to us.

As we continue to develop increasingly complex integrated systems, we are seeking a Graduate Software Validation Engineer to help ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of our products.

In this role, you will be responsible for designing, building, and executing comprehensive validation strategies covering both manual and automated testing. You will work across complex software and hardware subsystems, ensuring they operate seamlessly as fully integrated and compliant systems.

Working closely with software developers, systems engineers, project managers, and wider stakeholders, you will contribute throughout the full product lifecycle—from early design through to final system validation and release—playing a key role in ensuring product readiness and operational confidence.

What You Will Be Doing

In this role, you will:

Verification & Validation

• Analyse system requirements, design specifications, and user stories to develop robust validation strategies across software and hardware systems.
• Ensure requirements are clear, complete, and testable, working closely with stakeholders to refine understanding where needed.

Test Design & Automation

• Design, develop, and execute validation plans covering functional, performance, integration, and regression testing.
• Define appropriate levels of automation to maximise test coverage for critical system functionality.
• Specify requirements for validation tools, environments, and supporting infrastructure.
• Investigate, reproduce, document, and track system issues through to resolution.
• Analyse test results and communicate findings clearly to engineering teams and stakeholders.

System & Field Validation

• Support validation activities at test facilities and customer sites, including Sonardyne’s Plymouth Trials Facility.
• Evaluate system performance under real-world operating conditions, including environmental robustness and repeatability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with software, hardware, firmware, and systems engineering teams to diagnose and resolve issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in validation practices across engineering disciplines.
• Maintain strong communication channels across multidisciplinary teams.
• Support the development and expansion of automated testing capabilities.
• Contribute to improvements in validation processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Maintain and develop technical capability through ongoing professional development.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience in software or systems validation, including automation testing.
• Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle and CI/CD principles.
• Experience working in structured software engineering environments using source control and peer review practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across engineering teams.
• Experience testing web, Windows, or API-based systems in engineering or technical environments.
• Familiarity with automation frameworks and test tools.
• Exposure to hardware/software integration or embedded systems validation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Information Technology, or a related discipline

Why Join Us

At Sonardyne, you will be part of a team developing cutting-edge subsea technologies used in some of the most demanding environments on Earth. You will contribute directly to the validation of complex systems that operate across global energy, scientific, and defence industries—helping ensure they perform reliably when it matters most.

At Sonardyne, you will be part of a team developing cutting-edge subsea technologies used in some of the most demanding environments on Earth. You will contribute directly to the validation of complex systems that operate across global energy, scientific, and defence industries—helping ensure they perform reliably when it matters most.