Software Quality Engineering Specialist
European Medicines Agency
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) relies on a growing portfolio of digital products and information systems to support the regulation of medicines and protect public and animal health. The Agency is looking for a Quality Engineering Specialist to lead and coordinate quality assurance activities across the software development lifecycle.
The successful candidate will contribute to the establishment and continuous improvement of testing methodologies, quality standards and validation practices,
Qualifications
- At least 3 years in software quality assurance or engineering in complex IT environments.
- Experience delivering enterprise software implementations in roles such as Test Manager or QA lead.
- Certified training in quality engineering practices (e.g., ISTQB, Agile Testing, Quality Management, Automation, Performance and Security testing).
Responsibilities
- Define and promote software quality assurance strategies, methodologies, standards and best practices.
- Design, develop and oversee test plans, test cases and test execution activities.
- Coordinate functional, integration, system, regression, performance and user acceptance testing.
- Establish and maintain automated testing frameworks and quality metrics.
- Ensure traceability between requirements, test scenarios and outcomes.
- Identify, analyse and manage software defects and quality risks.
- Oversee QA activities delivered by external suppliers.
- Support validation and compliance activities for regulated systems where applicable.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives including DevOps and quality engineering practices.
- Provide advice on software quality, testing approaches and release readiness.
- Support audits, inspections and quality reviews related to information systems.
Skills
Education
Job description
Type of position: Temporary agent
Job Type: 27 October 2026 at 23.59 CET
Job grade: AD 6
Internal job grade: AD06 and above
Selection procedure reference: EMA/AD/11579
Job title: Software Quality Engineering Specialist
Talent Pool: AD06 Enterprise Capabilities Management
Deadline for applications: 27 October 2026 at 23.59 CET
Monthly net salary: 5979.41 Euro (including local weighting) plus benefits (see calculators on the right) (based on a fulltime contract (40hrs/week))
Location: Amsterdam; The Netherlands (relocation to take up duties is mandatory)
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) relies on a growing portfolio of digital products and information systems to support the regulation of medicines and protect public and animal health. Ensuring the quality, reliability, security and compliance of these systems is essential to delivering trusted services to stakeholders across the European Medicines Regulatory Network. The Agency is looking for a Quality Engineering Specialist to lead and coordinate quality assurance activities across the software development lifecycle. The successful candidate will contribute to the establishment and continuous improvement of testing methodologies, quality standards and validation practices, ensuring that software solutions meet business requirements, regulatory expectations and user needs. Working closely with business stakeholders, architects, business analysts, developers, suppliers and operations teams, the Quality Engineering Specialist will help ensure the successful delivery of high‑quality digital solutions and services.
- Define and promote software quality assurance strategies, methodologies, standards and best practices.
- Design, develop and oversee test plans, test cases and test execution activities.
- Coordinate functional, integration, system, regression, performance and user acceptance testing.
- Establish and maintain automated testing frameworks and quality metrics.
- Ensure traceability between business requirements, test scenarios and testing outcomes.
- Identify, analyse and manage software defects and quality risks.
- Oversee quality assurance activities delivered by external suppliers and service providers.
- Support validation and compliance activities for regulated systems where applicable.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including DevOps and quality engineering practices.
- Provide advice on software quality, testing approaches and release readiness.
- Support audits, inspections and quality reviews related to information systems.
Link the full role description of the Platform Lead outlining generic duties and responsibilities.
- Enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
- Have a thorough knowledge of English (minimum C1 level) and a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the European Union (minimum B2 level).
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service.
- A University degree of at least three years in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Engineering or another relevant scientific, technical, or quantitative discipline, obtained by the closing date of the vacancy notice; and
- At least three years of professional experience acquired after obtaining the required qualification and by the closing date of the vacancy notice.
For general condition 1 and for specific conditions 1 and 2 you will be required to provide evidence in the application form and a proof at the interview stage. Failing to present these documents may result in the disqualification from the selection procedure.
Only eligible candidates will be assessed by the selection committee.
- At least 3 years in the field of software quality assurance or engineering in complex IT environments.
- Professional experience in delivering enterprise software implementations in roles such as Test Manager, Quality assurance lead and similar.
- Experience in and certified training in quality engineering practices, such as ISTQB, Agile Testing, Quality Management, Automation, Performance and Security testing)
- Prior experience of leading supplier teams and building successful working relationships with external delivery partners
- Working within Agile, DevOps or hybrid software development environments.
- Competency in Quality management, including:
- Designing and executing functional and non-functional testing activities.
- Test automation tools and frameworks.
- Defect management and quality reporting.
- Testing of web-based, cloud-based and integrated enterprise systems.
- Risk-based testing methodologies and quality management practices.
- Knowledge of quality assurance frameworks and continuous improvement principles.
- Sound knowledge of software testing methodologies, tools and industry standards.
- Understanding of software development lifecycle management.
- Ability to communicate complex technical issues to non-technical audiences.
- Project and programme management Advanced
- IT service management and service acceptance Advanced
- Quality management (please see specific expectations listed under “You will need section”) Advanced
- Emerging technology monitoring Intermediate
- Continuous improvement Intermediate
- Applied knowledge Intermediate
- Adaptability and agility Intermediate
- Analysing and problem solving Intermediate
- Prioritising and organising Intermediate
- Ethics and integrity Intermediate
- Team collaboration Intermediate
- Customer centricity Intermediate
- Results orientation Intermediate
- Communication Intermediate
- Cross-cultural sensitivity Intermediate
- Continuous learning and self-development Intermediate
- Testing in the context of an AI Software Development Lifecycle.
- Validation of regulated systems.
- Testing of data-intensive, analytical or AI-enabled solutions.
- Performance, security and accessibility testing.
- Public sector or international organisation environments.
Deadline for applications: 27 October 2026 at 23:59 CET
Preliminary Assessments: Third week of November 2026
Final assessments: Second week of December 2026
Decision expected: January 2027
Only eligible candidates (see eligibility criteria) will be assessed by the selection committee. Suitability and qualifications of eligible candidates will be assessed against the assessment criteria and competences in different steps of the selection procedure.
In order to allow the selection committee to carry out an objective assessment of all candidates in a structured way, as part of their application, all candidates must answer the pre‑defined set of questions based on Need to have criteria and sub‑family competences.
The Selection Committee will therefore assess eligible candidates using the information provided in the responses to those questions and in their application. When answering a question, you should include all relevant information, even if it is already mentioned in other sections of your application form.
To carry out this assessment, each of your responses will be awarded points (0 to 10). The points are added up to identify those candidates whose profiles best match the duties to be performed as advertised in the vacancy notice.
Only the candidates with the highest total marks at the shortlisting stage will progress to the next stage. The Selection Committee will decide to limit the number of candidates invited to the next stages. Please consult the Careers at EMA – Guidance on selection and recruitment (table on section 1.3.6 Preliminary and final assessments) for an overview of the thresholds.
Next steps of selection may include a preliminary assessment. Most assessments will be conducted remotely (i.e. Webex/Teams, remote test, etc.). All assessments are based on the assessment criteria listed in this vacancy notice.
Shortlisted candidates will participate in personality assessments (e.g. SHL occupational personality questionnaire OPQ32) to assess their Core Competencies (pass score is 26 out of 100 points and above). In addition, selected Core Competencies may be assessed throughout the process.
Additional assessments, such as cognitive (e.g. deductive reasoning) assessments might also be foreseen as part of the selection process. Furthermore, motivation and overall fit for the job and knowledge of EU relevant to role may be assessed.
Reserve list and/or job offers
The aim of this selection procedure is to create a reserve list of qualified and suitable candidates. Each candidate having reached the final step of the selection procedure will be notified via e‑mail whether she/he has been placed on the reserve list, and relevant Talent Pool. Candidates should note that the placement on a reserve list and/or Talent Pool does not guarantee an employment offer.
We strongly encourage that candidates do not apply for the vacancies that are at the same grade and the same subfamily as the Talent Pool they have been placed on, as this will not improve their chances of being considered for a vacant post within the Agency.
When a vacancy becomes available, candidates on the reserve list may be contacted for an additional interview.
More information about selection and recruitment (including administrative complaint procedure) at the EMA is available at our careers website.
If Temporary Agent posts are not available, if justified in the interest of the service, candidates on the reserve list may be approached to provide written consent to be considered for Contract Agent positions. These candidates will remain on the Temporary Agent reserve list and will be considered for a Temporary Agent post should a suitable post become available.
Contract Agent posts differ from Temporary Agent posts in terms of categories, function groups, grades and remuneration and career progression.
In principle, the Agency offers a five‑year renewable contract. Contracts of a shorter duration may be offered to the candidates.
The successful candidate will be required to relocate to the Netherlands to pick up duties.
[1] The local weighting adjusts salaries to the cost of living in the Netherlands compared to Brussels. The current weighting for the EMA's location in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is 114.6. Please consult the Eurostat and Commission websites for more information on weightings.
Serving a population of 500 million citizens, we promote and protect public animal health in EU Member States, as well as the countries of the European Economic Area, by ensuring that all medicines available on the EU market are safe, effective and of high quality.
- Meaningful work contributing to protecting the health of every individual and animal in Europe within multinational, multidisciplinary team
- Development opportunities (e.g. internal mobility, mentoring, peer coaching, career reflection programme, etc.)
- Work‑life balance (flexible working arrangements, teleworking, generous annual leave plus official holidays)
(applicable only to Temporary Agent and Contract Agent vacancies)
- In principle, initial 5 year renewable contract with competitive monthly national tax‑free salary and household & children’s allowances (where applicable).
- Privileges including expatriation (for expatriate staff) and education allowances (where appropriate) and additional home leave.
- Relocation assistance.
- Excellent health insurance scheme and social benefits.
- Retirement Pension Plan.
Join us to work for every patient in Europe!
- Careers at EMA – Guidance on Recruitment
- Estimate your salary (AST and AD jobs)
- Estimate your salary (FG jobs)
Testing, Quality Assurance, QA, Cloud, Compliance, Technology, Quality, Legal
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