Senior Test Engineer

DVSA.GOV; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Annual leave 25+ days

Flexible working

Job summary

DVSA.GOV is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to lead automated and manual testing across multiple locations, delivering scalable test capability and setting high standards for testing practices.

The role focuses on building quality from the start, guiding test strategy, and mentoring team members while evolving testing tools and processes to meet user needs efficiently.

Qualifications

• Experience testing within a large-scale ICT estate.
• Knowledge of at least one programming language (e.g. Java/JavaScript/Groovy/Scala).
• Ability to mentor and coach QA & testing colleagues.
• Awareness of front-end web development (CSS/HTML).

Responsibilities

• Manage all test processes, including test plans, resources, costs, timescales, test deliverables and traceability.
• Coordinate planning of system and acceptance tests within projects.
• Provide authoritative advice on test planning and execution.
• Build tests to be reusable across projects.
• Coach and mentor the service assurance team to upskill their methodologies and tools.
• Ensure test data and environments meet project test requirements.

Skills

Test automation

Test frameworks

Java

JavaScript

Groovy

Scala

CSS/HTML

Mentoring

Tools

JUnit

Job description

Senior Test Engineer

Location: Bristol, Swansea, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Oldham (Chadderton), Birmingham(Garretts Green) or Uxbridge.

Salary: £44,241 per annum (Plus an additional Government Digital and Data Profession allowance (non-pensionable) up to £14,756.)

Vacancy Type: Permanent,Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Closing Date: 1st of September 2026

The central responsibility of this role is for delivering excellent, scalable automated and manual testing capability and providing overall direction and management of software testing, while ensuring that technology standards are defined and followed to meet users needs efficiently and reliably.

You will perform gap analysis on current testing processes, competencies and capacity and implement plans to remove identified gaps, while keeping abreast of new technology patterns and trends to lead the evolution of test standards, tools, and processes.

The focus will be on building in quality from the start and testing throughout development phases.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Job description

Your responsibilities will include, but aren t limited to:

1. Managing all test processes, including test plans, resources, costs, timescales, test deliverables and traceability.
2. Coordinating, managing, and communicating the planning of the system and/or acceptance tests within a development or integration project / programme.
3. Providing authoritative advice and guidance on any aspect of test planning and execution.
4. Building tests to a standard that allows multiple use.
5. Serving as coach and mentor to individuals in the service assurance team to ensure that the team is appropriately trained and up to speed regarding methodologies, policies, and tools.
6. Providing input to the environment requirements, setup, manage, maintain, and ensure test data & environments are available to satisfy project and/or work package test requirements.

Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Experience in testing within a large-scale ICT estate, including integrating new and legacy products.
2. Experience building test frameworks and detailed knowledge of at least one programming language (we use a range of languages including Java, JavaScript, Groovy and Scala) and awareness of front-end web development (CSS/HTML).
3. Ability to quickly research and learn new programming tools and techniques, learn by proof of concepts and iteration.
4. Ability to mentor and coach other QA & testing colleagues.

Additional Information

• Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements
• Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.
• Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.
• Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.
• This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.