Senior Test Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Pension contribution

Learning & development support

OS Maps subscription

Job summary

Ordnance Survey is seeking a Senior Test Engineer to shape high‑quality software across services in a hybrid Southampton environment. You will drive automated testing, mentor peers, and partner with engineers and product teams to ensure reliability, security and scalability.

You’ll implement tests, refine testing strategies, and contribute to Agile ceremonies, helping the organisation reduce risk and improve delivery velocity.

Qualifications

• Experience creating, maintaining and peer reviewing test automation code in Scala/Python.
• Strong data testing/ETL testing experience with relevant tools.
• Solid knowledge of software testing principles and Agile practices.

Responsibilities

• Implement automated tests and build/extend testing tools or frameworks as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve testing practices within the team and community.
• Analyze upcoming deliverables to design robust test strategies ensuring requirements and quality.
• Contribute testing expertise to agile ceremonies and sprint planning.
• Mentor junior test engineers and take on people leadership responsibilities.
• Communicate risks, goals and outcomes with stakeholders across data teams.
• Support testing guilds by standardizing practices and sharing methods.

Skills

Test automation

Scala

Python

Agile Scrum

Tools

Azure Cloud Platform

Azure DevOps

GIT

Databricks

Apache Spark

Parquet

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.

• 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.

Security & eligibility

OS conducts pre‑employment checks for anyone made an offer of employment, including identity, right to work, employment history and criminal record checks (via Disclosure & Barring Services (DBS).

Some of our roles may require additional security vetting. We will advise candidates during the recruitment process if additional vetting may be required for that specific role.

This role requires the right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, OS cannot provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Inclusion at OS

Research shows that people from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. At Ordnance Survey, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and welcoming workplace.

If this role excites you but your experience doesn’t match every point, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right person for this role or another opportunity at OS.

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that people may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during the application process.

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.

Who we are

We are Ordnance Survey, Great Britain’s national mapping service and a pioneer in geospatial technology. With over 230 years of trusted data, we empower better decisions, deeper understanding, and meaningful connections to the places we live, move through, and care for.

Three principles one direction

• Clear the path - Cut the noise. Simplify. Move at pace
• Seek the story - Listen. Understand. Speak up
• Do what matters - Focus on value

Our principles unite us in delivering our Data & Destinations strategy with more simplicity, more clarity, and renewed momentum for each other and for our customers.

They’re here to create more good days, and fewer harder ones but only if each one of us plays our part.

Skills required for this role:

Computer Coding, Leadership, Production Services, Resilience Training, Software Development, Software Engineering, Technical Leadership, Waterfall Model, Web Development