Principal Automation Test Engineer

The Talent Locker Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading talent management firm is seeking a Principal Automation Test Engineer in London. This senior role involves shaping automation strategy across multiple teams, designing frameworks in C# and Java, and influencing quality standards. You'll mentor engineers and work closely with stakeholders, all within a supportive culture that values flexibility. The position offers a competitive salary of up to £80k plus bonuses and strong benefits, ideal for a seasoned engineer ready for ownership and impact.

Benefits

Performance-related bonus

Strong pension contribution

Market-leading health insurance

Career progression investment

Supportive work culture

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on test automation experience in C# / Java & Selenium.
• API automation experience including design and validation.
• Understanding of automation framework engineering and maintainability.
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers.
• Confidence in fast-paced, multi-team environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead test automation across multiple teams and platforms.
• Design and maintain scalable automation frameworks.
• Drive testing standards and best practices.
• Mentor and coach engineers to enhance capability.
• Align quality with business outcomes through collaboration.

Skills

Test automation

C#

Java

Selenium

API Automation

Mentoring

Influencing testing direction

Agile environment

Job description

Principal Automation Test Engineer, £60–80k + Bonus, Hybrid (London, 1-2 days per week)

A senior opportunity for an experienced Test Automation Engineer ready to influence quality at scale. This role sits at the heart of multiple delivery teams, giving you the chance to shape automation strategy, set testing standards, and lead by example while still staying hands‑on. If you enjoy solving complex testing challenges, mentoring engineers, and building frameworks that last, this is a role with real ownership and impact.

You’ll design, evolve, and own automation frameworks using C#, Java, and Selenium, driving best practice across web, API, and integration testing. Working closely with developers, architects, and product leaders, you’ll influence test strategy across multiple workstreams, ensuring quality is embedded from design through to release. This is a role for someone confident operating at principal level who is technically strong, respected, and comfortable setting direction.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading test automation across multiple teams and platforms
• Designing and maintaining scalable, maintainable automation frameworks
• Driving testing standards, strategy, and best practice across the wider organisation
• Mentoring and coaching engineers to raise capability and consistency
• Working closely with senior stakeholders to align quality with business outcomes

Experience required

• Strong hands‑on test automation experience in C# / Java & Selenium
• API automation experience (design, data setup, validation)
• Understanding of automation framework engineering and long‑term maintainability
• Experience leading or mentoring engineers and influencing testing direction
• Confidence working in fast‑paced, multi‑team environments

Why apply?

• £60–80k salary + performance‑related bonus
• Strong pension (up to 12% with employer contribution)
• Market‑leading private health insurance and wellbeing benefits
• Clear investment in career progression, learning, and leadership development
• A genuinely supportive culture that values balance, flexibility, and growth

If you’re a senior test engineer who enjoys automation, leadership, and influence, and you’re ready to step fully into a principal‑level role, please apply.