Senior Automation Test Engineer

Howden; England; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Life Assurance up to 4x salary

Contributory pension scheme

Healthcare Cashplan

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

A leading global insurance firm is seeking a Senior Automation Test Engineer for a remote-first position. You will collaborate within agile teams, developing automated test frameworks and driving quality across the software development lifecycle. Ideal candidates will demonstrate proficiency in C#, Playwright, and Microsoft Azure. This role includes mentorship responsibilities and a focus on continuous delivery practices. Excellent benefits package provided.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the test pyramid and a broad range of testing techniques.
• Demonstrable experience with C# or another object-oriented language.
• Experience implementing end-to-end tests with frameworks such as Playwright and SpecFlow.
• Strong documentation skills for acceptance criteria, test plans, and test cases.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain robust automated test frameworks.
• Collaborate with developers to define test strategies.
• Promote a shift-left approach and embed quality throughout software development.
• Mentor and support junior team members.

Skills

C#

Test automation

Playwright

Microsoft Azure

Agile methodologies

Tools

Postman

SpecFlow

Job description

Overview

Senior Automation Test Engineer role at Howden. Contract: 12 - 18 Month Fixed Term Contract. Location: Remote first; with monthly face-to-face in Gloucester.

Role

As a Senior Test Automation Engineer, you’ll be a key member of one of our agile product teams, helping to shape the future of our digital platforms. You’ll use your expertise in C#, Playwright, and Microsoft Azure to build scalable, high-performing, user-centric applications. Your role will drive a quality-first mindset, embed test automation into every stage of the development lifecycle, and champion continuous delivery practices.

You’ll collaborate with engineers, product managers, and QA peers in a supportive environment that values knowledge sharing and cross-team learning. As a senior member, you’ll mentor and coach others, contribute to architectural decisions, and help raise the bar for quality and delivery across the board.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain robust automated test frameworks using tools like Playwright, SpecFlow, and Postman.
• Collaborate with developers and product teams to define test strategies and acceptance criteria.
• Promote a shift-left approach and embed quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Participate in agile ceremonies and contribute to planning, refinement, and retrospectives.
• Lead by example in implementing CI/CD practices and improving test coverage.
• Mentor and support junior team members, helping them grow into senior roles.
• Contribute to architectural and technical design discussions, presenting ideas to the wider team.
• Continuously improve testing processes and introduce innovative practices.

About you

• Strong understanding of the test pyramid and a broad range of testing techniques (smoke, white-box, performance, exploratory, etc.).
• Demonstrable experience with C# or another object-oriented language.
• Experience implementing end-to-end tests with frameworks such as Playwright and SpecFlow.
• Comfortable working closely with software engineers.
• Keen eye for detail and a focus on end-user outcomes.
• Exposure to cloud technologies (preferably Azure).
• Strong communication and facilitation skills.
• Understanding of agile development methodologies.
• Belief in continuous delivery and iterative development based on feedback.
• Strong documentation skills for acceptance criteria, test plans, and test cases.

Rewards

We believe that great work and dedication should be rewarded. We offer:

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), pro-rated for part-year service
• A set of core benefits designed with health and financial protection in mind:
• Life Assurance up to 4x salary
• Income protection for up to 5 years in case of illness or injury
• Contributory pension scheme – 4% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution, rising to 5% & 5% in April 2025
• Healthcare Cashplan with health-related benefits
• Lifestyle and financial benefits including discounts and salary sacrifice schemes
• Access to a range of insurance products and member discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

About Howden

Howden is a collective—an international group of talented people across 100+ countries. We are 18,000 employees strong, united by a culture that values collaboration, balance, and ongoing development.

Reasonable adjustments

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure roles align with your needs. Adjustments may include flexible hours or hybrid working where possible.

If you’re excited by this role but have questions about fit or adjustments, apply and we’ll be in touch to discuss your needs.

*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner for more information.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Information Technology

Industries

• Insurance

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