Lead Test Engineer

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is seeking Lead Test Engineers to drive transformative change in digital services. You will work in agile teams, ensuring quality through automated and manual testing while mentoring colleagues and improving processes. This role offers career development opportunities within a supportive environment, contributing to a sustainable future.

Qualifications

• Strong commitment to personal and team development.
• Experience with BDD and test automation frameworks.
• Ability to develop test strategies and manage risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead test engineering practices and automation strategies.
• Mentor team members and promote knowledge sharing.
• Ensure quality throughout the service lifecycle.

Skills

Test automation

JavaScript

TypeScript

API testing

CI/CD pipelines

Exploratory testing

Mentoring

Organizational skills

Tools

WebdriverIO

Cypress

Playwright

Postman

Jenkins

Azure DevOps

GitHub

GitLab

Job description

Join to apply for the Lead Test Engineer role at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Our main Defra DDTS hubs are in York, Warrington, Newcastle, Reading, and Bristol. The successful candidate may be contractually based at any Defra office. Please note that space within the London office is limited, and it may not be possible to be based there.

Job Summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the environment, supporting the food and farming industry, and maintaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit impacts daily life, from food and air quality to water resources.

Digital, Data Technology and Security (DDTS) is the trusted digital team within the Defra Group, comprising around 1000 colleagues, aiming to make interactions with Defra easier and faster. We seek innovative individuals ready to drive change and contribute to a sustainable future.

Find Out More About DDTS

• Defra digital, data and technology blog
• LinkedIn
• Defra Jobs

Job Description

We are looking for Lead Test Engineers within Digital and Delivery teams. This role involves delivering transformative change across Defra, influencing strategic delivery of IT transformations as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET). We offer a supportive environment with career development opportunities. We are recruiting five Lead Test Engineers.

You will work on various digital services, contributing to a professional QA&T environment. Our culture emphasizes support, diversity, and work-life balance, helping build a digital future for Defra and its customers.

Responsibilities

• Work in multidisciplinary agile teams, applying GDS standards and testing tools.
• Ensure quality throughout the service lifecycle via automated and manual testing.
• Lead and influence test engineering practices and automation strategies.
• Mentor team members, promote knowledge sharing, and foster continuous improvement.
• Assess and own escalated risks within projects.
• Challenge timelines when necessary, maintaining service quality standards.
• Improve testing processes' efficiency and effectiveness.
• Assist in recruiting testers, including sifting and interviewing candidates.

Skills and Experience

• Strong commitment to personal and team development, with excellent organizational skills.
• Experience validating acceptance criteria and using BDD or similar methods.
• Expertise in test automation with JavaScript/TypeScript using frameworks like WebdriverIO, Cypress, or Playwright.
• Experience testing APIs with tools like Postman, Axios, or RestAssured.
• Knowledge of non-functional testing and open-source tools.
• Ability to advise on testing techniques, review code, and coach others.
• Experience developing test strategies for critical services and managing risks.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or Azure DevOps on cloud platforms.
• Familiarity with source control tools such as GitHub and GitLab.
• Proficiency in exploratory testing focusing on high-risk areas.

Selection Process

The Civil Service assesses each element on merit. Candidates should tailor their CVs to demonstrate their suitability against the responsibilities and skills outlined.