Senior Test Analyst

Universities Superannuation Scheme (Ltd); Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Health & wellbeing services

Learning & development opportunities

Volunteer days

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) is seeking a Senior Test Analyst to lead testing across a large change portfolio within our Pensions Solutions and Control team. You will plan, design, prepare and execute testing with minimal guidance, building strong relationships with business and technical stakeholders and third-party suppliers.

The role requires ownership of test design, data preparation and automation where appropriate, ensuring traceability and conformance to USS standards as we

Qualifications

• Full testing lifecycle experience from business requirements to test execution across phases (including UAT).
• Experience with third party suppliers and testing software delivered into USS environments.
• Knowledge of testing best practices and industry standards; familiarity with web/digital applications and end-to-end testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, preparation and execution of testing aligned to the testing strategy.
• Review requirements and solution designs to determine the optimal approach to testing.
• Design tests and input planning information into test plans and schedules.
• Create high-quality test deliverables (scenarios, scripts, cases, expected results).
• Ensure end-to-end traceability of requirements to test artefacts and testability.
• Collaborate with internal/external tech teams to setup test environments.
• Lead test data preparation for all test cycles.
• Design automated tests where appropriate and ensure support is in place.
• Review deliverables and obtain approvals per USS standards; manage defects to resolution.
• Maintain controlled test environments to preserve data integrity during testing.

Skills

Test design

Test execution

Test automation

Stakeholder communication

Education

ISEB Foundation Level in Software Testing

Tools

Azure DevOps

Testing tools

Job description

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Senior Test Analyst you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to take a leading role in the planning, design, preparation and execution of testing needed to support USS’ large and complex change portfolio and small change initiatives, with minimal guidance. In your capacity as Senior Test Analyst you will develop key relationships with business, technical colleagues, and senior stakeholders across the organisation, as well as third party suppliers.

This role requires you to develop and maintain your knowledge of USS’ business, products and services and industry best practice in testing. You will also take ownership of the key responsibilities listed below, whilst recognising that the role requires flexibility and adaptability to support the business in the delivery of change.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Pensions Solutions and Control team you will be responsible for:

• Taking the leading role in the robust planning, design, preparation and execution of testing aligned to the agreed testing strategy, including:
• Leading the assessment and review of business requirements and solution designs, to determine the optimal approach to testing, ensuring the scope of testing is understood, agreed, and communicated to all project stakeholders.
• Leading the design of the required tests, ensuring appropriate planning information is proactively input into test plans and schedules, where relevant and appropriate, including test objectives, areas of testing, number of required tests & cycles.
• Producing high-quality test deliverables and test designs appropriate to the phase of testing e.g. business test scenarios, test scripts, test cases and expected results.
• Ensuring that all tests include meaningful and measurable pre-requisites and success criteria.
• Ensuring that there is end-to-end traceability of requirements to designed test scenarios and scripts, and that business requirements are fit-for-purpose in terms of their testability.
• Working in collaboration with technical colleagues (internal and external) to ensure that test environments are set-up and sufficiently maintained to support the agreed phases of testing.
• Leading the preparation of test data, including identifying the data appropriate for the designed test scenarios, and working with technical colleagues, if required, to ensure data is available in support of all cycles of testing.
• Designing automated tests where appropriate, using the agreed testing tools, ensuring the necessary technical support is in place.
• Ensuring that all test deliverables are reviewed and approved as per agreed standards, including peer review by USS BAT Team colleagues, and by project stakeholders where appropriate.
• Leading and performing test design and execution activities at the required level, across all phases of testing, and being the technical expert from a test perspective throughout all project test activities, assuring:
• Agreed testing tools are used to execute tests (where possible and in accordance with USS’ standards), record and monitor testing progress and support management reporting, as required by the project.
• Test results are recorded and evaluated against the success criteria, and any deviations from expected results logged as defects.
• Testing is executed as per the planned testing cycles and coverage, with any deviation recorded and reported appropriately.
• All logged defects are actively managed to a stakeholder agreed conclusion.
• Test environments remain controlled throughout test execution cycles such that the integrity of test data is assured.

About you

• Exceptional test design, test preparation and test execution skills
• Able to demonstrate experience of the full testing lifecycle from business requirements to test execution through various test phases (Integration Testing, User Acceptance Testing [UAT], Regression Testing), Integration Testing including risk-based testing approaches
• Use of testing tools for test execution and defect management including test automation
• Experience of working with third party suppliers and testing software delivered into USS’ environments including COTS packages
• Excellent communication skills: able to present complex scenarios with clarity and brevity to key project stakeholders
• Industry recognised qualification in testing e.g. ISEB Foundation Level in Software Testing
• Pensions administration system and/or investment platform knowledge
• Web-based / Digital applications e2e testing through a full stack with automated test tool experienc
• Azure DevOps for test management and execution

How we will reward you

• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting [e-mail].