Software Developer in Test - UK Security Clearance eligibility required

Appvia; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 10%

Share options 10%

Benefits package

Hybrid work

Job summary

Appvia is seeking a Senior Software Developer in Test to join a growing Solutions Engineering team in London on a hybrid basis. You will lead testing and quality engineering for modern systems, focusing on scalable UI and contract testing strategies.

You will drive automation using Java and React, adopt Playwright, and embed quality early in delivery with a hands-on, client-facing approach. The role supports AI-assisted testing and strong collaboration with developers.

Qualifications

• Senior test engineer with hands-on experience in Java and React applications.
• Deep knowledge of automated UI testing and modern frameworks.
• Experience designing test architecture and strategy, not just writing tests.
• Strong understanding of BDD and collaboration with development teams.
• Hands-on experience with contract testing (e.g. Pact).
• Experience modernising legacy testing approaches and tooling.
• Interest or experience in AI-assisted testing to improve coverage and efficiency.
• Confidence working in client-facing, consultative environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement modern automated testing strategies for Java and React applications.
• Migrate legacy test suites to modern frameworks such as Playwright.
• Reduce reliance on slow end-to-end tests by introducing integration, functional, and contract testing.
• Implement and promote contract testing practices to improve system reliability.
• Embed quality earlier in the delivery lifecycle by working closely with developers.
• Introduce AI-assisted testing techniques to improve speed, coverage, and quality.
• Act as a quality advocate and testing authority within delivery teams.
• Drive improvements in developer feedback loops and testing standards.

Skills

Java

React

Playwright

Cucumber

Selenium

JUnit / Mockito

REST-assured

Jest

Pact

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

Senior Software Developer in Test - Appvia - UK Security Clearance eligibility required

Location: London, UK (Hybrid - ~1 day per week in office)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
Package: £70,000 - 80,000 + 10% Bonus + 10% Shares + Benefits (see more below)

About Appvia

Appvia is a specialist cloud, platform, and solutions engineering consultancy, helping organisations modernise software systems, improve developer productivity, and adopt cloud-native practices that enable long-term, sustainable delivery.

Our software engineering capability focuses on modern application development, domain-driven design, and improving delivery outcomes through better architecture, testing, and developer experience.

We work across complex, high-impact environments where quality, reliability, and scalability are critical. Helping organisations deliver better software, faster.

About the Role

We are hiring for Senior Software Developers in Test (React/Java) to join a growing Solutions Engineering team, supporting a large-scale modernisation and AI-enabled transformation programme.

This is a hands-on, client-facing role focused on transforming how testing and quality engineering is approached within complex systems. You will help move teams away from slow, brittle end-to-end testing towards modern, scalable approaches across integration, functional, and contract testing.

Working within a greenfield approach inside a brownfield environment, you will introduce modern tooling, improve developer feedback loops, and embed quality earlier in the software delivery lifecycle.

You will report into a Principal Software Engineer and act as a senior quality engineering voice within delivery teams.

Interview Process - 3 Stage

• Discovery conversation with Talent Acquisition
• Technical Interview with Engineering Team
• Final Interview with Leadership

Important

You must be eligible for UK Government Security Clearance (SC):

• British Passport or ILR
• Resided in the UK for the last 5 years
• No criminal record or financial irregularities

About You

You are a senior test engineer who thinks like a developer and understands how quality should be engineered into modern systems, not tested at the end.

You will bring:

• Strong experience testing Java and React applications
• Deep knowledge of automated UI testing and modern frameworks
• Experience designing test architecture and strategy, not just writing tests
• Strong understanding of BDD and collaboration with development teams
• Hands-on experience with contract testing (e.g. Pact)
• Experience modernising legacy testing approaches and tooling
• Interest or experience in AI-assisted testing to improve coverage and efficiency
• Confidence working in client-facing, consultative environments
  

Responsibilities

• Design and implement modern automated testing strategies for Java and React applications.
• Migrate legacy test suites to modern frameworks such as Playwright
• Reduce reliance on slow end-to-end tests by introducing integration, functional, and contract testing
• Implement and promote contract testing practices to improve system reliability
• Embed quality earlier in the delivery lifecycle by working closely with developers
• Introduce AI-assisted testing techniques to improve speed, coverage, and quality
• Act as a quality advocate and testing authority within delivery teams
• Drive improvements in developer feedback loops and testing standards

Technical Skills

Core technologies:

• Java
• React
• Playwright
• Cucumber
• Selenium
• JUnit / Mockito
• REST-assured
• Jest
• Pact

Nice to have:

• Experience with modern CI/CD pipelines
• Exposure to containerised environments (Docker / Kubernetes)
• Experience working in regulated or large-scale environments

Why join Appvia?

We are a self-funded, London-based consultancy, growing rapidly while staying true to what got us here: a human, engineering-led culture built on trust, ownership, and getting things done.

As we scale, we're maturing as a business and expanding into new areas across platform engineering, software, data, and AI. We're intentional about keeping our culture at the heart of it. We operate with a flat structure, agile ways of working, and a strong focus on collaboration, where good ideas come from anywhere and people are trusted to make an impact.

We work alongside our customers to solve complex, real-world problems: modernising systems, improving delivery, and building scalable platforms that enable long-term success.

If you want to be part of a team that values people as much as technology and gives you the space to grow while working on meaningful challenges, Appvia is the place to do it.

What's on offer?

Work-life balance

• Flexible working with core hours of 10-4pm because we know life happens outside of work
• Hybrid working - only one compulsory office day per month
• 25 days' holiday a year, plus bank holidays
• An additional day off for your birthday
• Enhanced maternity and paternity to full pay
• Workplace Nursery Benefit to help working parents

For your well-being

• Full Private Healthcare cover for you with partners and children covered 50%
• Death in Service
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Pension plus a salary sacrifice option for even greater savings
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free hygiene products available in the London office

Mental health support

• Free therapy through AXA
• Access to the Headspace App
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders

Other fun perks

• Learning budget of £1,000 a year
• Your own MacBook Pro while you work at Appvia
• Dog friendly office
• Wear what makes you comfortable
• Free snacks in the office
• Pool table & ping pong table
• Regular team socials, board game nights, industry meetups and more!

But don’t just take our word for it, you can check out what our Appvians say about us on Glassdoor and by following us on LinkedIn, Twitter and TikTok.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and actively encourage, respect, and recognise diversity of thought and background throughout the business. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity, and disability status.

Note:While all roles are active and approved at the time of posting, the dynamic nature of our start-up means some applications may be processed to pipeline talent for future opportunities rather than current openings. We will strive to keep you informed of any changes to the status of your application.