Senior Test Engineer - Planning Inspectorate - SEO

We are looking for an experienced Senior Test Engineer to join our Digital Services team. You will be working in Agile test methodology and collaborating across multi-disciplinary teams to help deliver our internal digital and data services. 

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services. 

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please see the information pack attached. You can also view our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Job description

We are looking for an experienced test engineer with capable skills and technical knowledge in methods and tooling. If you are looking for a role that will help to deliver an excellent testing service, align our services to industry standard agile methodologies, and that champions testing and quality assurance, then this is a fantastic role for you. 

You will develop risk-based testing solutions which deliver against user needs, technical dependencies, organisational standards, and agreed timescales. You will be responsible for maximising efficient automation test coverage. 

For full information on the role and assessment process please refer to the candidate pack attached. 

Office Attendance 

This role is contractually based at Temple Quay House, Bristol which is currently out of use due to undergoing refurbishment work. In the interim, we have the use of alternative office space in very close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. We recognise and value the mutual benefits of hybrid working and have a flexible approach to in person attendance, which can vary dependent on the requirements of individual business units - the details of which can be discussed with candidates if invited to attend an interview.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience of software development lifecycles, live system support and continuous improvement. 
• Experience of technical leadership and applying structured, risk-based test methods and processes. 
• Experience of the design and execution of a wide range of testing techniques to ensure delivery against user needs and communicate test results to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 
• Experience of coding languages, working with automation frameworks and tools for functional and non-functional testing.  
• Experience of issue investigation, analysis, raising evidenced defects with the business, and help prioritise them based on defect severity. 
• Experience of working in an Agile environment with Agile/DevOps delivery and working across multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Relevant professional qualification at advanced level (e.g. ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level - Technical Test Analyst) or willingness to study for a qualification within a reasonable length of time. 

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of mentoring and providing guidance for colleagues on automation testing techniques and frameworks. 
• Experience of test tools including Katalon Studio, Cypress, Postman, Swagger, JIRA/Zephyr project and test management tools and Azure DevOps 

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Functional Testing
• Non-Functional Testing
• Technical Breadth
• Test Analysis