Senior Test Engineer (SEO)

Infected Blood Compensation Authority; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector body in the United Kingdom is seeking an AWS/Databricks Test Engineer to ensure the integrity and security of its AWS tech stack. The role involves designing and executing automated testing frameworks, troubleshooting complex issues, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. Successful candidates will receive a competitive salary of £47,258, flexible working options, and a robust pension scheme. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in providing compensation for those affected by the infected blood scandal.

Benefits

Civil Service pension

Learning and development opportunities

Flexible working options

32.5 days annual leave

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Strong technical expertise in AWS architecture and services.
• Experience in designing test plans and automation frameworks.
• Ability to engage with stakeholders and resolve defects.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance for developing testing frameworks.
• Execute technical testing across various AWS services.
• Work with stakeholders to adapt test strategies based on findings.

Skills

AWS cloud testing

End-to-end test engineering

Automation testing

Communication skills

Agile practices

Problem-solving

Tools

AWS (S3, Lambda, Athena)

Databricks

Quantexa

Python

Terraform

Job description

Overview

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm's-length body set up at unprecedented pace to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal. IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right. We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments. IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant. Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme. The mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be operational for a period of approximately 5 to 7 years. When IBCA's work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer. IBCA is responsible for delivering a compensation scheme on a UK-wide basis and this role will lead our technical testing capability within the engineering team of the Data Operations arm of the IBCA Data Directorate.

The Data Operations team is responsible for developing and running safe and secure data solutions that provide a single source of truth for those going through their compensation journey. We are building a new data platform using Amazon Web Services (AWS) and data management and intelligence products using Databricks, Quantexa and Tableau. We are taking a product-centric approach, treating data as a product and building squads around our products, with a focus on paying compensation to those impacted by the infected blood scandal seamlessly.

Role and team

You will focus on ensuring the integrity, reliability, and security of our AWS tech stack through rigorous technical testing and complex troubleshooting. Working at IBCA gives you a huge opportunity to make an impact on those who deserve compensation, and this role suits a candidate who can work independently to diagnose technical issues and deliver end-to-end test strategies from the ground up, ensuring that data is an enabler to everything IBCA does.

As an AWS/Databricks Test Engineer, you will join a multidisciplinary team to design, build, and deliver high-impact, scalable AWS-based solutions. You will bridge the gap between manual and automation testing while fostering a strong quality engineering community.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance for the development of robust, automated testing frameworks and integration strategies for our data platform, encompassing DevSecOps and 3-Amigos best practices.
• Execute technical testing across AWS services (S3, Lambda, Athena, VPC) and data tools like Databricks and Quantexa to ensure tools and techniques are scalable, secure, and efficient.
• Be responsible for ensuring the right test engineering practices — including API automation, Boto3 deployment checks, and evidence-driven defect tracking — are embedded consistently within the delivery teams.
• Independently diagnose and troubleshoot complex technical problems, reaching out across digital service teams to investigate root causes and assess infrastructure configurations in Terraform.
• Work with business stakeholders and clients, translating complex test findings into actionable insights and ensuring evolving requirements are met with adaptable test strategies.
• Conduct technical testing on AWS services using Databricks, Quantexa and Tableau; perform manual testing across AWS components, including S3, CloudWatch, VPC, Lambda, Athena (SQL), and others.
• Understand AWS infrastructure deployment processes, including Terraform-based configurations.
• Develop and execute test plans, ensuring evidence-driven defect tracking via JIRA; work in a 3-Amigos approach, collaborating closely with architects, developers and business analysts.
• Engage in client-facing meetings and discussions, presenting test findings and solutions.
• Adapt to potential automation testing, including API testing (e.g., REST API), AWS CLI deployment checks using Boto3 (Python) and Front-end UI testing where required.

Qualifications and technical skills

• Strong technical expertise in AWS cloud testing, with a deep understanding of AWS architecture and services (S3, CloudWatch, VPC, Lambda, Athena) and the ability to diagnose complex technical issues within a cloud-native environment.
• Extensive experience in end-to-end test engineering, specifically designing and executing test plans and strategies that cover data-heavy platforms involving Databricks, Quantexa, and Tableau.
• Proficiency in automation and technical testing using Python, Java, or C#, with specific experience in API testing, AWS CLI deployment checks via Boto3, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform) validation.
• Proven ability to work independently and troubleshoot complex problems, demonstrating the confidence to engage with architects, developers, and external stakeholders to investigate and resolve defects.
• Experience delivering through Agile and DevSecOps practices, including the 3-Amigos approach, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions), and evidence-driven defect management via JIRA.
• Strong communication and client-facing skills, with a track record of presenting technical findings, test evidence, and quality solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Adaptable and proactive mindset, with the ability to evolve test strategies in response to changing requirements and a desire to implement innovative testing practices such as contract testing (Pact) or performance testing (K6).

Benefits and terms

• Salary of £47,258 with an employer contribution of £13,690 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options and a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension with 28.97% employer contributions and other pension benefits for dependants.
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• Family-friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities, including enhanced maternity and paternity leave up to 12 months shared parental leave.

Security, nationality and pre-employment

• Security: Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and meet security requirements before appointment. The level of security needed is classified as a security check. Trainees may be subject to baseline personnel security standards.
• Nationality requirements: This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, certain Commonwealth and EU/EEA nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and other eligible categories as described in the advert.
• Pre-employment checks: Applicants will undergo Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland checks; a Right to Work check will be performed. Where applicable, candidates may need to arrange and provide a Statement of Suitability (500 words max) and CV demonstrating responsibilities and achievements relevant to the role.

Additional information

• Applicants will be assessed against the behaviours Changing and Improving, and Communicating and Influencing, and technical skills of Designing and Executing Tests and Test Analysis.
• Expected timeline: sift week commencing 2 February 2026; interviews week commencing 16 February 2026. Interview may be face-to-face or via video.
• Note on sponsorship: Skilled Worker visa eligibility changes may affect sponsorship; if a role is not eligible, sponsorship may not be provided.
• Accessibility: If you experience accessibility problems with attachments, contact the provided address in the advert.