Innova Solutions
Quality Assurance Tester
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Quality Assurance Tester
QA Engineer Location: Bedford, UK Contract Type: 6 Months Umbrella Inside IR35 Rate: £350/day
About the Role
We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Software QA Engineer with 3+ years of experience in software quality assurance, preferably with experience in the retail industry. This role involves on-site work at our UK headquarters and collaboration with vendors, customers, project managers, and the QA engineering team.
The QA Engineer will design, develop, and execute test plans, perform manual and (where applicable) automated testing, and contribute to an Agile environment while ensuring high software quality standards. The role requires defect management, process improvement, and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and execute test plans and test cases based on software requirements.
- Perform functional, regression, system, and integration testing for software applications.
- Identify, document, and track software defects using industry-standard tools.
- Collaborate with development teams, product managers, vendors, and customers to resolve issues.
- Participate actively in sprint planning, Agile/Scrum ceremonies, and retrospectives.
- Assist in maintaining test environments, test data, and tools.
- (Optional, but preferred) Support test automation efforts (e.g., Selenium, Cypress).
- Perform API testing (REST/SOAP) and database validation, ensuring compliance with best practices.
- Communicate test progress, results, and risks to stakeholders.
Requirements
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in Software Quality Assurance.
- Experience with both manual testing and automation frameworks (ideal for automation).
- Proficiency in QA tools (HP Quality Center/QC, Jira, TestRail, or similar).
- Knowledge of XML, API (REST/SOAP), and databases (SQL/NoSQL).
- Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies (Kanban as a bonus).
- Strong defect management, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
- Microsoft Excel proficiency (for test reporting/data analysis).
- Basic understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus but not mandatory.
- Communication and stakeholder coordination skills required.
- Retail industry experience is preferred but not required.
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Preferred Qualifications
- Retail-specific software or industry experience.
- Test automation expertise (Selenium, Cypress, or similar).
- CI/CD and DevOps practices knowledge.
Senior QA Engineer Location: Bedford, UK Contract Type: 6 Months Umbrella Inside IR35 Rate: £350/day (discussable for senior role)
About the Role
We are looking for a skilled and experienced Senior Software QA Engineer with 5+ years in software quality assurance, ideally with experience in retail or enterprise-level software testing. This premier on-site role (based in Bedford, UK) focuses on leading QA initiatives, managing defect lifecycle, and driving Agile testing processes.
The Senior QA Engineer will oversee testing strategies, guide junior engineers, and ensure timely, high-quality releases by working closely with development, product, vendors, and customers. A mix of leadership skills, technical expertise, and stakeholder management is vital for success.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of comprehensive test strategies aligned with business and technical requirements.
- Manage and conduct functional, regression, system, and integration testing.
- Mentor junior QA team members and promote best testing practices.
- Oversee defect lifecycle management: prioritisation, tracking, and resolution.
- Collaborate with development, product, and vendors on quality-related issues.
- Actively contribute to Agile ceremonies (sprints, retrospectives, expectations setting).
- Ensure test environment maintenance, data integrity, and tool optimisation.
- Decide and support test automation efforts (where applicable).
- Perform API and database testing while ensuring compliance with standards.
- Report testing progress, risks, and mitigation strategies to senior management.
- Enforce QA processes, standards, and best practices.
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Requirements
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in Software Quality Assurance.
- Strong manual and automation testing capabilities (automation skills elevated to a career need).
- Proficient in QA tools such as Jira, HP QC, or TestRail.
- Expertise in API testing (REST/SOAP), XML, and database mechanics.
- Experience within Agile/Scrum frameworks.
- Proficient defect analysis, troubleshooting, and risk assessment skills.
- Skilled in Microsoft Excel (for reporting and analytics).
- Cloud experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) is preferred.
- Stakeholder coordination and basic project management skills required.
- Communication proficiency when collaborating in technical and non-technical contexts.
Preferred Qualifications
- Specific experience in retail or B2B/B2C software testing.
- Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium).
- Familiarity with CI/CD and DevOps pipelines.
- Ability to optimise QA workflows, marrying leadership with practical testing skills.
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