Junior QA Engineer

Acorn Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Career development

Mental health support

Flexible hours

Job summary

Acorn Insurance, a UK-based specialist broker and part of the Acorn Group, is seeking a Junior QA Engineer in Liverpool City Centre. You’ll contribute to customer-facing platforms and internal systems, working with Developers, Product Owners and Business Analysts.

This role offers a clear path to build expertise in manual testing, defect management, accessibility, mobile testing, automation awareness and agile delivery, with support from experienced QA colleagues.

Qualifications

• Some experience in QA or a similar role.
• Strong understanding of manual testing including functional, regression, smoke and exploratory testing.
• Ability to analyse requirements, identify gaps and ask clarifying questions early.
• Confidence writing and executing test cases with edge cases and negative scenarios.
• Experience raising defects clearly in a test management tool, ideally Azure DevOps.
• Awareness of WCAG 2.2 accessibility and using tools like WAVE or axe DevTools.
• Understanding GDPR and data privacy when testing with test data.
• Strong communication and collaboration with Developers, Product Owners, and Business Analysts.

Responsibilities

• Understand PBIs and requirements, raise questions with BAs to clarify acceptance criteria.
• Create, maintain, and execute test cases aligned to squad deliverables.
• Design edge cases and boundary condition tests beyond happy paths.
• Carry out manual testing across functional, regression, smoke and cross-browser tests.
• Log defects in Azure DevOps with reproduction steps and severity.
• Work with development teams to support timely defect resolution within sprints.
• Contribute to exploratory and risk-based testing for new features and complex changes.
• Flag accessibility issues on customer-facing pages using browser tools (WAVE/axe DevTools).
• Handle test data responsibly, avoiding real customer data and raising GDPR concerns.
• Participate in sprint ceremonies, providing QA input on estimation, planning and blockers.
• Track test execution progress in Azure DevOps and follow QA processes.

Skills

QA basics

Manual testing

Cross-browser testing

Defect reporting

Azure DevOps

Accessibility WCAG 2.2

GDPR data privacy

Communication

Education

ISTQB Foundation

Tools

Playwright

Git

SQL

BrowserStack

TestFlight

Intune

Azure DevOps CI/CD

Job description

Acorn Insurance is a UK-based specialist insurance broker with over four decades of experience arranging practical insurance cover for customers whose needs may not fit standard market criteria. As part of our growing technology and delivery teams, we are looking for a Junior QA to help ensure our customer-facing platforms, internal systems, and digital journeys are tested thoroughly, documented clearly, and delivered to a high standard.

This is a great opportunity for someone early in their QA career who enjoys problem-solving, asking questions, and working closely with Developers, Product Owners, and Business Analysts. You will be supported by experienced QA colleagues while building strong foundations in manual testing, defect management, accessibility, mobile testing, automation awareness, and agile delivery.

Role: Junior QA Engineer
Location: Liverpool City Centre
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 depending on experience
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm

What you’ll be doing

• Take ownership of understanding PBIs and requirements, proactively raising questions with Business Analysts to clarify acceptance criteria before testing begins.
• Create, maintain, and execute test cases aligned to squad deliverables, with support and supervision where needed.
• Design thoughtful test cases that go beyond happy paths, including edge cases, negative scenarios, and boundary conditions.
• Carry out manual testing across functional, regression, smoke, and cross-browser scenarios.
• Raise clear, well-documented defects in Azure DevOps, including reproduction steps, initial root cause analysis, severity, and supporting evidence.
• Work with development teams to support timely defect resolution within sprint cycles.
• Contribute to exploratory and risk-based testing for new features and more complex changes.
• Flag obvious accessibility issues on customer-facing pages, using browser tools such as WAVE and axe DevTools to support basic WCAG 2.2 checks.
• Handle test data responsibly, ensuring real customer data is not used in test environments and raising any potential GDPR or data privacy concerns.
• Participate in sprint ceremonies, providing informed QA input on estimation, planning, progress, risks, and blockers.
• Track and update test execution progress accurately in Azure DevOps and follow established QA processes and checklists.

Mobile testing responsibilities

• Execute manual mobile test cases across iOS and Android using tools such as BrowserStack, TestFlight, and Intune.
• Log mobile-specific defects with device details, operating system versions, clear reproduction steps, and supporting evidence.
• Test native app functionality including offline behaviour, push notifications, and device-specific scenarios.

What we’re looking for

• Some experience in QA, software testing, or a similar role, with a strong interest in building a long-term career in quality assurance.
• A good understanding of manual testing principles, including functional, regression, smoke, exploratory, and cross-browser testing.
• The ability to analyse requirements, identify gaps or unclear acceptance criteria, and ask the right questions early.
• Confidence writing and executing test cases, with an eye for edge cases, boundary conditions, and negative scenarios.
• Experience raising defects clearly in a test management or delivery tool, ideally Azure DevOps.
• Awareness of accessibility principles, including WCAG 2.2, and willingness to use tools such as WAVE or axe DevTools.
• An understanding of GDPR and data privacy principles when working with test data.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to collaborate with Developers, Product Owners, Business Analysts, and other QA colleagues.

Desirable experience and development areas

• Exposure to Playwright web automation, including running existing tests locally and reading traces to understand failures.
• Basic Git knowledge, such as cloning repositories, creating branches, and pulling updates.
• Basic SQL familiarity for verifying records in a database with guidance.
• Awareness of AI-assisted tools such as GitHub Copilot or Cursor, with the ability to review outputs critically and follow company policy.
• Awareness of Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines, including how to locate failed automated test runs and report them to automation colleagues.
• Willingness to work towards ISTQB Foundation certification, with company support.

Why Join Us

• A modern tech stack and a culture that values craftsmanship
• A supportive team where you’ll learn from experienced developers and designers
• Opportunities for training, mentorship and career progression
• Freedom to experiment, ask questions and influence how we work
• Top-tier tools and a workspace built for creativity and collaboration

Team and Culture

You’ll join a friendly, collaborative squad that brings together designers, engineers and product thinkers. We work closely, share ideas openly and always look for ways to get better.

We believe in ownership, curiosity and constant learning. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions, try new things and take on challenges that stretch your skills.

If you’re looking for a place to grow, learn from others and build products you can be proud of, this is the team for you.

Grow with Acorn

At Acorn Insurance, we’re proud of our Liverpool roots — and even prouder of how far we’ve come. As part of the Acorn Group, we bring over 40 years of specialist insurance expertise to the table. From humble beginnings, we’ve grown into a national leader, now employing 1,700+ people across the UK and reached a milestone £750 million in total value of insurance policies written in 2024.

We’re growing fast, with new opportunities emerging every week. That growth is largely due to the values we share:

• We run through walls for our customers and each other
• We challenge the status quo
• We succeed when we help those around us succeed
• We decide quickly when the smart thing to do is use our judgement

Benefits

• A maximum of 35 days’ holiday (including bank holidays) with additional buy/sell options
• 24/7 mental health support & free counselling available
• Grow with us: Through career fairs, leadership programs, and learning on the go!
• Flexible benefits, including early access to salary via our internal platform
• Hybrid working options to support work-life balance and individual needs
• Recognition awards, social events & more

Our Commitment to our colleague’s

• Mindful Employer – championing mental health and wellbeing
• Disability Confident Level 1 & 2 – creating accessible, inclusive opportunities
• Menopause Friendly accredited – supporting every stage of life
• Armed Forces Covenant signatory – honouring those who serve
• Great Places to Work 2024/25 – fostering an engaging and positive workplace culture
• Best Place to Work for Development – proud to be investing in people’s future
• Best Place to Work for Women – breaking down barriers to women's career progression

A Few Things to Know Before You Apply

Checks & Clearances

All roles at Acorn are subject to DBS and financial checks. Any offer we make will be conditional until these are completed to a satisfactory standard.

Visa Requirements

Because our training is quite comprehensive, we can only consider applicants who have at least one year remaining on their Graduate or Post-Study Work visa. At the moment, we’re not able to offer visa sponsorship.

We’re Here to Support You

We’re committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can flourish. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process—or once you’re part of the team—just let us know. Whether it’s flexible hours, adapted equipment, or a bit of extra support, we’ll work with you to make sure you can do your best work.