Software Development Engineer in Test (E2 Engineer)

Nationwide; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Nationwide is seeking an Automation Engineer within its Mortgages CIO function. The successful candidate will lead the design and development of automated testing frameworks, ensuring high-quality software delivery in alignment with continuous delivery principles. The role emphasizes collaboration with various teams and the promotion of best practices. With flexible and hybrid working options available, this opportunity is ideal for proactive individuals aiming to influence software quality in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Personal pension matching scheme

Up to 2 days of paid volunteering per year

Life assurance worth 8x your salary

Annual performance-related bonus

Access to health and wellness options

25 days holiday, pro rata

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with query optimization and continuous improvement.
• Experience in Selenium, API testing, and Load Runner.
• Good understanding of software architecture.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain automated testing frameworks in an Agile environment.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on testing strategies.
• Support CI/CD integration pipelines and automation standards.

Skills

Automation Strategy

Scripting in Python

Scripting in C#

Scripting in JavaScript

Performance Engineering

Analytical Skills

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Job description

This role sits within the Mortgages CIO function under Customer Technology (CT), part of the wider COO organisation, which is responsible for delivering IT solutions with customers and colleagues at the centre.

As an Automation Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring high-quality software delivery through the design, development, and execution of automated testing frameworks and solutions. You will work closely with Software Engineers, Quality Leads, Principal Engineers, and Technology Leads to ensure automation is embedded into the development lifecycle, supporting our Integration and Migration Strategy.

You will be accountable for implementing robust test automation practices and Performance testing that align with our architectural and delivery principles. Your work will help ensure to meet the highest quality standards, while supporting continuous delivery pipelines.

Mortgages are primarily delivered via brokers, through online and API channels. As we expand our propositions in both the Home and Landlord markets, quality and automation will be key to enabling seamless integration and scalability.

This role will contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, focusing on building technical testing capabilities and promoting best practices across teams. Within CT, we are on a strategic journey to strengthen our market position and evolve with customer expectations, driven by our core pillars: More Rewarding Relationships, Simply Brilliant Service, and Focused, Fit and Fast delivery.

We are happy to consider flexible working approaches to help you perform at your best.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon, Northampton, Bournemouth or London office. Whilst these locations are where we are primarily looking to fill the role, if you’re an internal applicant based in a different location we would welcome your application and if successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this could work for this specific role. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

• Day-to-day, you’ll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust test automation frameworks and scripts, contributing to high-quality software delivery in an Agile environment while adopting DevOps practices
• You’ll work closely with the Lead Engineer and Test Analysts to ensure the automation solutions are resilient, scalable, and support continuous testing across multiple platforms and integration points.
• You'll collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement functional and non-functional automation (e.g. performance, security), and help shape the testing strategy across the delivery lifecycle.
• We value proactive and detail-oriented individuals who continuously look for ways to improve the efficiency, reliability, and coverage of testing practices.
• You’ll be encouraged to explore new tools and technologies and will be supported in learning and applying them as needed.
• You’ll participate in technical discussions, peer reviews, and contribute to improving our automation standards and CI/CD integration pipelines.
• You'll support the implementation and validation of new initiatives, including activities related to the integration of Virgin Money
• You’ll work closely with Test Lead Engineer in defining Test Strategy, Approach and Report
• Assist current automation solution to ensure traceability, maintainability, and reusability of test scripts.
• Provide hands-on expertise throughout the test delivery lifecycle, from planning and scripting to execution, defect management, and reporting.

About you

We need somebody with:

• Hands on experience on performance improvement activities like query optimization, continuous improvement and full stack solution.
• Good experience in scripting using multiple opensource tools – Python, C# and Javascript
• Experience in capacity modelling and performance engineering
• Experience in Selenium – Java, API Testing, Load Runner tool capabilities
• Experience with large-scale, complex systems and integrations.
• Good expertise in developing automation strategy and testing.
• Strong understanding of software architecture and design principles.
• Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Strong organisational and multi-tasking abilities.

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand
• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development
• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• A personal pension – if you put in 7% of your salary, we’ll top up by a further 16%
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
• Life assurance worth 8x your salary
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellhub – Access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness
• Access to an annual performance related bonus
• Access to training to help you develop and progress your career
• 25 days holiday, pro rata

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are Purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly Customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.

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