Senior Test Automation Engineer

New Zealand Government Joba; Wellington; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Insurance package

Flexible working arrangements

Career development

Job summary

Kāinga Ora is seeking a Senior Test Automation Engineer to join our Wellington-based Testing Team. You will design, develop, and maintain automated testing solutions, driving QA practices and guiding automation strategy across the organisation.

You will apply AI-assisted testing techniques to improve testing effectiveness, supervise automation pipelines, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to safeguard system integrity and enable efficient delivery of digital services.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in software testing and test automation in large enterprise environments.
• Strong knowledge of automation infrastructure, environment management, testing tools, programming languages, CI/CD pipelines.
• Deep expertise in automation frameworks and methodologies including BDD, Data-Driven Testing, and library architectures.
• Ability to translate business requirements into effective test scenarios and articulate defects clearly.
• Experience mentoring and uplifting testing capability across teams; ISTQB or equivalent certifications beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, create and execute reusable automated test scripts.
• Execute testing methodogies such as BDD and maintain test management strategy.
• Maintain and expand the automation framework, pipelines and source code.
• Analyze requirements to build product knowledge and test scenarios.
• Collaborate with Manual Testers to script tests.

Skills

Test automation

Automation frameworks

BDD

Data-driven testing

CI/CD

Mentoring

ISTQB

Job description

Permanent Wellington-based role, 5 weeks leave + insurance benefits

Te whiwhinga mahi - Our opportunity

Kāinga Ora is looking for a Senior Test Automation Engineer to join our Wellington-based specialist Testing Team. As a senior technical specialist, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining robust automated testing solutions that safeguard the integrity of our systems and enhance the delivery of digital services. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you'll drive quality assurance best practices, provide expert automation guidance, and help shape the future direction of automated testing across the organisation.

Core functions of this role include:

• Designing, creating and executing reusable and maintainable automated test scripts
• Executing agreed Testing methodology (such as Behaviour Driven Development (BDD)) and test management strategy
• Maintaining, extending, and monitoring the automation framework, pipelines and automation source code
• Analysing requirements to build on product knowledge, and feed into test automation development
• Collaborating with the Manual Testers in the scripting of the tests

The Senior Test Automation Engineer will also apply AI-assisted testing techniques to improve testing effectiveness, quality outcomes, and delivery efficiency. Further, they will validate AI-generated outputs and contribute to the responsible adoption of AI across the testing team, promoting continuous learning and improvement.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu - What you will bring

As one of our Senior Test Automation Specialists you will thrive in complex environments and be committed to delivering high-quality digital solutions through automation, innovation, and continuous improvement. To succeed in this role, you'll bring:

• Extensive experience in software testing and test automation within large, complex enterprise environments, with public sector experience highly regarded
• Strong knowledge of automation infrastructure, environment management, testing tools, programming languages, CI/CD pipelines, and software development processes
• Deep expertise in automation frameworks and methodologies, including BDD (Behaviour Driven Development), Data-Driven Testing, Library Architecture frameworks, and industry best practices
• Proven ability to analyse business requirements and translate them into effective test scenarios, while clearly articulating defects and technical issues to development teams
• Demonstrated experience mentoring, coaching, and sharing knowledge with colleagues, helping to uplift testing capability and foster continuous learning across teams
• Industry-recognised certifications such as ISTQB or equivalent test automation qualifications

Nōu te rourou - What's in it for you?

We offer competitive salaries, five weeks' annual leave and a benefits package including a range of insurances, flexible working arrangements and career development. These benefits are described in more detail here https://careers.kaingaora.govt.nz/a-great-place-to-work/benefits

As a Kāinga Ora - Homes and Communities employee, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and support you need. We want to ensure you are healthy and have work-life balance. We also want to support and grow your personal and career development through on-the-job learning, training courses, secondments and study opportunities.

Mō mātou - Our Organisation

At Kāinga Ora, ours is the important responsibility of transforming New Zealand’s housing choices, outcomes and the entire housing sector by creating homes and communities that allow New Zealanders to thrive.

What is exciting about working for Kāinga Ora is getting the chance to make a real and positive impact on New Zealanders’ lives. With skills, planning and purposeful action, our people are creating the homes and neighbourhoods that will build the future of Aotearoa.

We are passionate about transforming New Zealand for the better. That includes being a trusted partner for Māori and iwi, protecting and enabling their rights, interests and aspirations under the guidance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Ō tātou uara - Our values

• Manaakitanga – People at the Heart
• Mahi Tahi – Better Together
• Whanake – Be Bold

Tūhono mai - Join us

Applications close Monday 19th October at 5.00pm.

We value diversity and are committed to working with each other and our customers in an inclusive and respectful way. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and appreciate the richness of experience that your point of difference brings to the organisation.

If you don’t tick all the boxes in this listing but think that you could be a great fit based on your unique background and skillset, we would welcome an application from you.

Don’t hesitate, as we may review applications as they are received and reserve the right to close advertising early.