Hastings Direct
Automation Engineer
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Automation Engineer
Chief Information Officer (CIO Team) – Technical Support and Quality Engineer Role
We’re a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become The Best and Biggest in the UK market. Over the past few years, we’ve made significant investments in our data and tech capabilities, particularly within our CIO function. Our CIO team is at the forefront of driving innovation, ensuring our technology infrastructure supports our ambitious goals.
We’ve nurtured our 4Cs culture, fostering collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement. We’re proud of the journey we’re on, knowing our continued success will rely on the contribution of our talented colleagues. The CIO team plays a crucial role in this journey, working on cutting-edge projects that enhance our digital presence and improve customer engagement.
We provide insurance to nearly four million customers, but there’s even bigger opportunity ahead. If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you—even if you’re not 100% sure whether you fit every box.
The Opportunity
Our CIO team is always looking for passionate individuals eager to make a difference. As an individual contributor on one of our sprint teams, you’ll work alongside colleagues from multiple disciplines and actively participate in:
- Sprint ceremonies, including:
- Daily standups (sharing updates and blockers).
- Sprint planning (estimating and committing).
- Sprint retrospectives (driving team improvement).
- Quality assurance for delivered features by:
- Ensuring user stories meet the team’s definition of ready.
- Ensuring work items are complete per the team’s definition of done.
- Collaborating on Acceptance Criteria for both functional and nonfunctional behaviors.
- Tracing test scenarios to business rules for quality assurance.
Key Responsibilities
Sprint Collaboration & Process
- Actively participate in Agile ceremonies (Scrum/Kanban/Safe).
- Communicate clearly in standups, planning, retrospectives, 3-Amigos, and backlog elaboration.
- Manage work items in tools like Jira or Octane, ensuring alignment between business and delivery.
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Test Case & Automation
- Manage test case execution in Octane or X-Ray, ensuring scenarios are traceable to work items.
- Write declarative Gherkin acceptance criteria for automated testing (e.g., via Cucumber).
- Develop automated tests in one or more of:
- Java
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- C#
- Implement user interface automation with:
- Selenium/Selenium Grid
- Playwright
- Cypress
- Support API testing (in code or with tools like SoapUI, Postman).
- Collaborate with others using GitHub for source control.
Quality & Accountability
- Advocate for high-quality standards in delivered features.
- Hold the team accountable to definitions of ready/done.
- Ensure testability of requirements before work begins.
Essential Skills & Experience
We’d love you to have expertise in:
- Agile Practices: Experience with Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe.
- Backlog Management: Ability to contribute to Jira/Octane task refinement.
- Testing: Familiarity with test case traceability and automation tools.
- Scripting & Automation:
- Coding knowledge in Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, or C#.
- Experience with Selenium, Playwright, Cypress.
- Skills for API testing (Postman/SoapUI preferred).
- Collaboration:
- Confidence in sprint ceremonies.
- Ability to write Acceptance Criteria in Gherkin format.
- Effective communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
What We Offer
Join us and you’ll find a different kind of workplace—focusing on collaboration, creativity, and continuous improvement. We call it the 4Cs:
Rewards & Development
- Attractive salary: Based on experience (with annual reviews).
- 4Cs Performance Bonus Scheme (annual payment, usually in March).
- Training and upskilling programmes, with pathways for growth.
- Recognition and rewards for contributions.
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Flexible & Inclusive Work Environment
- Hybrid/remote working policy (discussible with your recruiter).
- Mental Wellbeing:
- Free access to The Thrive mental health app.
- 24/7 confidential support through our colleague assistance programme.
- In-house mental health first aiders and support groups.
- Physical Wellbeing: Healthcare cash plan for everyday expenses.
- Financial Wellbeing:
- Life assurance (4x salary coverage).
- Income protection (no extra cost).
- 10% pension match.
- Award-winning perks:
- Discounts and cashback on products/retailers.
- Fee-free mortgage advice.
- Financial wellbeing support.
Essential Daily Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (+ bank holidays).
- Option to buy or sell weekly leave coverage.
- Private healthcare and dental plans.
- Cycle-to-work scheme and tech benefits.
- Onsite facilities, social events, and more.
Most benefits are available from day one, though some (like pension matching) require a 12-month commitment post-probation.
Our Culture
"By putting colleagues, customers, company, and community first, we deliver exceptional service."
As a growing, fast-paced organisation, we’re growing sustainably and profitably, investing in UK communities and fair, transparent service provision.
Why Hastings Direct Stands Out
- Dynamic, collaborative environment.
- Innovative tech-driven projects.
- Ambitious growth with a strong, shared vision: to be UK’s best digital insurer.
Equal Opportunities
We’re committed to fair, inclusive recruitment.
- Equal opportunities employer: Seeking applicants of all backgrounds, including under-represented minorities.
- We accommodate reasonable adjustments during the process.
- Offers subject to credit and criminal record checks.
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Jessica, London
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