Senior Test Engineer

Ordnance Survey; Eastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Pension (OS 12.07%)

Bonus (performance-related)

28 days annual leave

Hybrid working options

Learning and development support

OS Maps subscription

Volunteering leave

Job summary

Ordnance Survey is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to design and implement automated tests, mentor engineers, and help shape testing standards across the organisation. The role focuses on ensuring secure, high-quality software delivery while supporting hybrid working from Southampton.

You'll work with Scala, Python, Spark, and Azure to build reliable, scalable platforms, contributing to testing strategies and agile ceremonies in a collaborative team environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in creating, maintaining and peer reviewing test automation code in Scala/Python.
• Strong experience with data testing or ETL testing.
• Excellent knowledge and skills in software testing & industry best practices.
• Excellent knowledge & experience with Agile Scrum, backlog refinement and sprint planning.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines and integrating testing into build/test cycles.

Responsibilities

• Implement automated tests using existing frameworks, and build new tools or frameworks as needed to meet testing needs and improve testing practices
• Look for and execute opportunities to improve testing practices for your team and the wider engineering community
• Analyse upcoming deliverables to determine suitable test strategies and plans to ensure requirements and quality
• Contribute testing acumen into agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily standups
• Mentor junior test engineers and provide people leadership when needed
• Communicate software risks, test goals, and outcomes with stakeholders across teams
• Support the OS Testing Guild by developing common technical standards and practices

Skills

Test automation

Scala

Python

Data testing

Agile Scrum

CI/CD pipelines

Tools

Azure DevOps

GIT

Databricks

Apache Spark

Apache Parquet

Azure Cloud Platform

Job description

Senior Test Engineer Full time

Salary £56,312 - £65,697 (dependent on experience)

Flexible hybrid working
Southampton

Join Ordnance Survey - Be part of something bigger

At Ordnance Survey, our data and technology help governments, businesses and communities make smarter decisions every day. As we continue to evolve our digital platforms and location services, we're looking for skilled Senior Test Engineers to help us build secure, high-quality software that delivers real impact.

About the role

As a Senior Test Engineer, you'll play a key role in building and maintaining software components using modern, iterative delivery methods. You'll champion best practice in testing and software quality, working closely with engineers and product teams to ensure our services remain reliable, secure and scalable.

You'll contribute hands‑on expertise while helping to mentor others and support services once they're live, identifying issues early and improving how we deliver software across the organisation.

What you'll do

• Implement automated tests using existing frameworks, and build new tools and/or frameworks as is necessary to meet testing needs/improve testing practices

• Look for and execute on opportunities to improve testing practice for your team, and the wider engineering community

• Analyse upcoming deliverables to determine suitable test strategies and plans to ensure business requirements, and a high level of quality are met

• Contribute testing acumen into agile team ceremonies such as sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily standups

• Mentoring junior test engineers for both technical and non-technical skills, as well as taking on people leadership

• Communicate software risks, test goals, and outcomes with a variety of team members, including data architects, delivery managers, data engineers, and other key stakeholders

• Support the Ordnance Survey Testing Guild by developing common technical standards and ways of working, and presenting these to the community

Here's a snapshot of the technologies that we use:

• Scala

• Apache Spark

• Databricks

• Apache Parquet

• Azure Cloud Platform

• Azure DevOps (Test plans, Backlogs, Pipelines)

• GIT

What we're looking for

We'd love to hear from you if you have:

• Strong experience in creating, maintaining and peer reviewing test automation code in Scala/Python

• Strong experience with data testing or ETL testing, including hands‑on experience with the tools used in these areas

• Excellent knowledge and skills in software testing & industry best practices

• Excellent knowledge & experience with Agile Scrum, collaborating with the team for backlog refinement and ability to estimate testing activities for sprint planning

• Hands‑on experience of putting together CI/CD pipelines, knowing how and when to run these as part of an ongoing build & test cycle

The Rewards

We want you to love what you do and feel supported to do your best work.

Our benefits include:

• Competitive salary and pension (OS contribute up to 12.07%)

• Performance‑related bonus (where applicable)

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)

• Enhanced family leave, including paid partner leave

• Hybrid and flexible working options

• Learning and development support, coaching and mentoring

• Free subscription to OS Maps and access to wellbeing support

• Volunteering leave and matched fundraising

Location & working pattern

We embrace a hybrid working model at OS, because we believe in flexibility and balance. You'll be based at our fantastic HQ in Southampton, Hampshire, where you'll spend 50% of your working week collaborating face‑to‑face with colleagues. It's all about combining the best of both worlds connection and autonomy to help you thrive.

Key details

Closing date: 23:59pm 13 September 2026

Interviews will take place from MS Teams

The selection process includes a 30-minute discovery call followed by a 1-hour competency and technical task designed to assess skills and experience relevant to the role.