QA Automation Engineer

GCS Recruitment Specialists; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Part time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment Specialists is seeking an experienced QA Engineer in London for a hybrid, contract role outside IR35. You will own testing strategy, QA governance, supplier testing oversight, and UAT across enterprise applications.

The role emphasizes hands-on testing with governance, stakeholder management, and quality leadership. You will lead end-to-end testing, manage third-party suppliers, and drive improvements in testing processes and automation while ensuring release readiness and robust

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and implementing test strategies, plans, and QA frameworks.
• Experience overseeing testing by third-party suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of functional, integration, regression, and UAT testing.
• Hands-on with test automation concepts and tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and execute test strategies and plans for projects.
• Lead end-to-end testing across workstreams and releases.
• Oversee supplier testing and approve test deliverables.
• Coordinate UAT and business validation activities.
• Define release quality criteria and readiness assessments.
• Manage defects across testing lifecycle and retesting.
• Promote modern testing practices and automation.
• Produce testing progress and risk reports.
• Collaborate with technical and business teams for delivery.

Skills

Test Strategy

QA Testing

UAT

Automation concepts

Stakeholder management

Test Automation Tools

Test Execution

Education

ISTQB Foundation

ISTQB Advanced

Tools

Selenium

Cypress

Postman

RSAT

Azure DevOps

Job description

QA Engineer

Location: London; Hybrid (Minimum 2 days per week in the office)

Job Type: Contract Outside IR35

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced QA Engineer to join a growing technology function responsible for ensuring business-critical applications and platforms are delivered and maintained to the highest standards of quality.

This role will take ownership of testing strategy, quality assurance governance, supplier testing oversight, and user acceptance testing activities across a range of enterprise applications. You will work closely with internal stakeholders, delivery teams, and third-party suppliers to ensure solutions are robust, secure, and fit for purpose before they are released into production.

This is an excellent opportunity for a QA professional who enjoys combining hands-on testing expertise with governance, stakeholder management, and quality leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive test strategies and test plans for new solutions, enhancements, upgrades, and projects.
• Lead and coordinate end-to-end testing activities across multiple workstreams and releases.
• Oversee testing activities delivered by third-party suppliers, ensuring adherence to quality standards and agreed testing methodologies.
• Review and approve supplier-produced test documentation, test scripts, test evidence, and test results.
• Coordinate and support User Acceptance Testing (UAT), implementation rehearsals, and business validation activities.
• Define release quality criteria and provide recommendations regarding go-live readiness.
• Manage defects throughout the testing lifecycle, ensuring timely resolution and successful retesting.
• Drive improvements in testing processes, standards, and quality assurance practices.
• Identify and promote opportunities for test automation and increased testing efficiency.
• Produce clear and concise reports on testing progress, outcomes, risks, defects, and release readiness.
• Collaborate with technical teams, business stakeholders, and suppliers to ensure successful project delivery.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience working as a QA Engineer, Test Analyst, Test Lead, or Quality Assurance professional.
• Strong experience designing and implementing test strategies, test plans, and quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience overseeing and challenging testing activities delivered by third-party suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Functional Testing
  • Integration Testing
  • Regression Testing
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
  • Performance Testing
• Hands-on experience with test automation concepts and tools including:
  • Selenium
  • Cypress
  • Postman
  • RSAT (Regression Suite Automation Tool)
• Experience writing and maintaining automated tests using C# and/or Python.
• Experience working with Azure DevOps or other test management and defect tracking tools.
• Strong defect management and troubleshooting skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and reporting capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple testing activities and competing priorities simultaneously.
• Experience working with SaaS, cloud-based, or packaged enterprise applications.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Experience with NEC Housing or similar housing management solutions.
• Experience within supplier-led delivery environments.
• Understanding of enterprise platform implementations and upgrades.
• Exposure to Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery methodologies.
• ISTQB Foundation, Advanced, or equivalent testing qualification.

Preferred Industry Background

Candidates with experience in any of the following industries will be highly regarded:

• Housing Associations
• Social Housing
• Housing Management Software Providers
• Property Management
• Local Government
• Public Sector Organisations
• Real Estate Technology

Experience supporting business-critical systems used for housing operations, repairs, maintenance, tenancy management, asset management, compliance, finance, or customer services would be particularly advantageous.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Delivers rigorous and dependable quality assurance outcomes.
• Takes ownership of testing standards and release quality.
• Promotes modern testing practices and automation.
• Builds strong relationships with internal stakeholders and third-party suppliers.
• Communicates clearly, confidently, and effectively at all levels.
• Can identify risks early and provide practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Is passionate about delivering high-quality solutions that provide an excellent user experience.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to influence testing and quality standards across enterprise platforms.
• Exposure to large-scale business transformation and technology projects.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Strong focus on innovation, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Hybrid working model offering flexibility and work-life balance.

If you have a strong background in Quality Assurance, Test Management, Test Automation, and Supplier Governance, and are looking to make a real impact within a complex enterprise environment, we'd love to hear from you.

GCS is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.