Software Tester

MCS Group; Donaghadee; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

8% pension

22 days holiday plus statutory days

Project bonuses

Funding for Microsoft certifications

Job summary

MCS Group is helping a Co. Down based software consultancy to hire a Software Tester for a full-time, on-site role in Holywood. The team operates across government, health, utilities and transport sectors with a strong focus on growing testing capabilities.

The position splits roughly 60% manual and 40% automation, with exposure to Playwright and other tools, and a clear path to expanding automation skills over time.

Qualifications

• Grounding in software testing principles or related degree.
• Ability to read requirements and translate to test cases.
• Excellent attention to detail and defect reporting.
• Genuine interest in automation and willingness to develop skills.
• Strong collaboration and quick learner.
• Open to feedback and proactive improvement.

Responsibilities

• Write and execute test cases from user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Identify, document, and reproduce defects clearly.
• Work in Agile sprints and contribute to QA processes.
• Utilize test management and defect tracking tools daily.
• Develop automation skills with tools like Playwright.
• Support multiple projects with responsibility and teamwork.

Skills

Software testing principles

Requirements to test cases

Attention to detail

Automation interest

Collaborative

Willingness to learn

Education

Testing-focused degree

Placement year in testing

Tools

Playwright

Test management tools

Defect tracking tools

Job description

Software Tester

Holywood, Co. Down (fully on-site)

Up to £30,000

Permanent

A well-established software consultancy based in Co. Down is looking for a Software Tester to join their QA team. The company has been delivering custom software solutions for public sector and complex organisations for almost two decades, with a strong project base across government, health, utilities, and transport. They have a genuine track record of developing people, and this role is built around giving the right person the time, support, and environment to grow properly.

The split is roughly 60% manual and 40% automation. You will work across multiple concurrent projects from early on, with experienced colleagues around you throughout. The team uses modern AI-assisted tooling as part of day-to-day delivery, and there is a clear path to building your automation skills over time.

What you will be doing

• Writing and executing test cases and test scenarios from user stories and acceptance criteria
• Identifying, documenting, and tracking defects with clear and accurate reproduction steps
• Working within Agile sprint cycles and contributing to QA processes across the SDLC
• Using test management and defect tracking tools as part of daily delivery
• Building your automation skills, with exposure to tools such as Playwright and others
• Working across multiple projects and taking ownership of your responsibilities, with support always available

What they are looking for

• A grounding in software testing principles and quality assurance, whether from a placement year, a degree with a testing focus, or up to three years of commercial experience
• The ability to read requirements and translate them into structured test cases
• Strong attention to detail and clear written communication for defect reporting
• A genuine interest in automation and a willingness to develop those skills over time
• Someone who is comfortable asking questions, working collaboratively, and picking things up quickly
• An eagerness to learn and the ability to take feedback and act on it

This is a full-time on-site role in Co. Down. The whole team works together in the office five days a week and candidates should be comfortable with that before applying.

Benefits include healthcare, an 8% pension, 22 days holiday plus statutory days, project completion bonuses, and full funding for Microsoft and relevant technical certifications.