Public Sector Resourcing
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)
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SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) - 6 Month Contract
On behalf of the Healthcare Research Authority (DHSC), we are looking for an SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test) (Inside IR35) for a 6-month contract. Remote working with occasional visits to London.
About the Role
As an SDET, you will be a hands-on Playwright/Cucumber coding expert with the primary responsibility for writing, debugging, and refactoring test code for end-to-end testing using HRA’s best practices and preferred automation toolset. You will operate in a time-constrained delivery model where release dates are fixed but scope may vary, taking accountability for ensuring that quality risk is actively managed, clearly communicated, and appropriately mitigated.
The role is responsible for the planning and coordination of their own test automation activities, and also for owning and evolving the automation-first quality strategy, enabling fast-paced, continuously changing delivery while maintaining confidence in national live services. You will ensure that all products delivered both internally and by suppliers, including significant update releases and routine fixes, are thoroughly tested and accepted before delivery into live service. You will be required to manage and coordinate the system and system integration testing in line with the HRA’s practices and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
- Define, own, and continuously evolve the automation-first testing strategy, ensuring frameworks, tools, and approaches remain fit for purpose in a fast-paced and frequently changing environment.
- Own the identification, interpretation, and communication of quality risks and automation results, ensuring they are meaningful, evidence-based, and used to directly influence defect resolution, requirement gaps, delivery, and release decisions.
- Work on both functional and non-functional areas of a complex system(s) built with multiple technologies.
- Be proficient in a range of coding languages and lead by example in the development, debugging, and refactoring of high-quality automated test code.
- Work closely with software developers to reach a shared understanding of system design, code quality, and test coverage, including influencing unit and integration testing practices.
- Collaborate with senior test analysts, product teams, and user-centred design colleagues to ensure complex business scenarios and user needs are effectively covered through automated and exploratory testing.
- Carry out system (ST), integration (SIT) using automated techniques.
- Manage and prioritize competing demands and workstreams to meet fixed delivery deadlines, escalating quality and delivery risks where appropriate.
- Lead on change impact assessment of all changes ensuring that test coverage mitigates any impact to external stakeholders.
- Act as peer reviewers for automation code created by other test engineers within the team, ensuring that all discrepancies are highlighted, and the appropriate action is taken using the fault management system.
- Work with the Product Owners and lead the sprint show/tell sessions where needed.
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Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
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- Comprehensive and detailed knowledge of test tools - Cucumber, Playwright, K6.
- Comprehensive knowledge of code version management tools like GitHub and Azure DevOps.
- Working knowledge of Software coding language in the Microsoft stack E.g.: C#, node.js, JavaScript, Typescript, etc.
- Working knowledge of any other SQL and relational database.
Experience
- Experience of working as an automated test engineer within the test team delivering successful outcomes.
- Practical experience of testing on.NET, SQL, and Microservices architecture - on prem and cloud.
Important Notice
Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.
In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following: "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".
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