Senior Software Test Engineer

Rowden; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Rowden in Bristol is seeking a Senior Software Test Engineer to own software quality across diverse, mission‑critical projects. You will lead test design, introduce structured, risk‑based approaches, and mentor others while collaborating with hardware‑integrated systems and cloud platforms.

Your role spans automated testing with Playwright, PyTest and UI Automator, plus scripting in Python/Bash/PowerShell to deliver robust, traceable artefacts and evidence for product readiness.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering software test within agile environments, with a track record in complex software or system‑level environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of fundamental software testing principles and structured test design techniques (e.g. decision tables), with proven experience applying them in practice.
• Ability to produce clear, structured and traceable test artefacts, including test design documentation, test cases, execution records and release documentation.
• Ability to quickly close knowledge gaps and provide authoritative advice on all aspects of the software test lifecycle.
• Experience testing systems with connected hardware and diagnosing and troubleshooting integration and interoperability issues.
• Background in developing and maintaining scalable and resilient automated test solutions, making use of modern tools and frameworks (e.g. Playwright, PyTest, UI Automator).
• Hands‑on experience scripting for test automation and tooling (Python, Bash, PowerShell etc.).

Responsibilities

• Own test design, execution and reporting, ensuring traceability, providing clear visibility and communicating quality and risk to stakeholders.
• Design and deliver structured, risk‑based test approaches, producing clear, traceable test artefacts and outcomes.
• Support release and acceptance activities, providing confident, evidence‑based recommendations on product readiness.
• Embed seamlessly within delivery teams, contributing to agile ceremonies and ensuring requirements are unambiguous, testable, and aligned to quality goals.
• Drive the adoption and development of automated testing, ensuring scalable, maintainable solutions are embedded in delivery.
• Influence test strategy across complex, multi‑disciplinary systems, including hardware‑integrated, distributed and embedded platforms.
• Strengthen test governance across teams, promoting consistent standards, sound judgement and effective risk management.
• Champion and evolve test best practices, raising quality and consistency across products.
• Mentor and develop test engineers, building capability, confidence and technical depth across the function.

Skills

Software testing

Agile environments

Test design principles

Traceability

Automated testing

Python scripting

Bash/PowerShell

Tools

Playwright

PyTest

UI Automator

Job description

About the role

We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience. We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision‑making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.

Department: Engineering
Location: Bristol, UK
Compensation: £55,000 - £75,000 / year

Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 200 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest‑growing engineering businesses.

We’re looking for a Senior Software Test Engineer to play a key role in delivering assured software across complex, mission‑critical systems. You’ll take ownership of software quality across your projects, ensuring Rowden’s software is robust, reliable, and meets the standards expected by our mission‑focused customers.

You’ll work across a diverse set of projects, including bespoke mobile applications, geospatial tooling, cloud platforms, sensing and provisioning systems. Many of these integrate closely with hardware, so experience working across software and hardware ecosystems is essential.

As a senior member of the team, you’ll operate confidently across multidisciplinary environments, contributing to complex deliveries and helping shape how we approach quality in challenging, real‑world conditions. You will play a pivotal role in delivering our next generation of critical technologies that bridge the gap between frontline operators and the commercial advancements they need to succeed.

While this role offers hybrid working options, it requires a minimum of 3 days per week on site at our Bristol HQ, with occasional travel to support integration and testing activities.

Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance. More information about security clearance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Key areas of responsibility

• Own test design, execution and reporting, ensuring traceability, providing clear visibility and communicating quality and risk to stakeholders.
• Design and deliver structured, risk‑based test approaches, producing clear, traceable test artefacts and outcomes.
• Support release and acceptance activities, providing confident, evidence‑based recommendations on product readiness.
• Embed seamlessly within delivery teams, contributing to agile ceremonies and ensuring requirements are unambiguous, testable, and aligned to quality goals.
• Drive the adoption and development of automated testing, ensuring scalable, maintainable solutions are embedded in delivery.
• Influence test strategy across complex, multi‑disciplinary systems, including hardware‑integrated, distributed and embedded platforms.
• Strengthen test governance across teams, promoting consistent standards, sound judgement and effective risk management.
• Champion and evolve test best practices, raising quality and consistency across products.
• Mentor and develop test engineers, building capability, confidence and technical depth across the function.

Key skills, experience and behaviours

Essential

• Experience delivering software test within agile environments, with a track record in complex software or system‑level environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of fundamental software testing principles and structured test design techniques (e.g. decision tables), with proven experience applying them in practice.
• Ability to produce clear, structured and traceable test artefacts, including test design documentation, test cases, execution records and release documentation.
• Ability to quickly close knowledge gaps and provide authoritative advice on all aspects of the software test lifecycle.
• Experience testing systems with connected hardware and diagnosing and troubleshooting integration and interoperability issues.
• Background in developing and maintaining scalable and resilient automated test solutions, making use of modern tools and frameworks (e.g. Playwright, PyTest, UI Automator).
• Hands‑on experience scripting for test automation and tooling (Python, Bash, PowerShell etc.).

Desirable (not essential)

• ISTQB or equivalent certifications.
• Experience testing Android‑based systems.
• Experience mentoring and developing early‑career test engineers.
• Solid understanding of Git, GitHub Actions and build pipelines and processes.
• Understanding of how AI can be best‑utilised across the software test lifecycle.
• Experience working within assurance‑driven, safety‑critical, or highly regulated environments requiring clear traceability and auditability.
• Experience working with device management, mobile platforms or system‑level debugging tools.
• Knowledge of security and non‑functional testing.

About you

The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of the software testing craft and be comfortable navigating their way through complex environments. You will:

• Operate with a high degree of autonomy, taking ownership of quality and making sound, evidence‑based decisions in complex, fast‑moving environments.
• Work effectively across multidisciplinary teams, collaborating daily with fellow engineers, product, and operational stakeholders.
• Approach problems with a pragmatic delivery‑focused mindset, balancing rigour and assurance with the need to move at pace.
• Influence standards and ways of working, driving consistency and continuous improvement.
• Support and develop others, sharing knowledge and building capability across the wider test function.
• Operate confidently in customer‑facing environments, supporting integration and test activities and facilitating discussions around quality.

Working at Rowden

We are committed to building a flexible, inclusive, and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills, experience, and backgrounds, so please apply and come as you are! We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible, hybrid‑working model, with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility, part‑time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.

Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company, and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.

Finally, if you feel that you don’t meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience, we’d still love to hear from you!