About the job

Job summary

The Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) profession enable the Home Office to keep the UK safe and secure. They do this by designing, building, and running the services that help people apply for visas or passports, support policing and counter-terrorism operations, and protect the UK’s borders.​​

Team members have specialised knowledge and a calling to build on it. We want the best people to come to the Home Office and work in the diverse roles and communities they’re passionate about. This is how we produce exceptional outcomes.​​

The Home Office has created a government-led bespoke career framework that enables career planning, while ensuring our people can be the best they can be. The framework includes Heads of Role, who are industry specialists. They build communities, set standards for what ‘good’ looks like, and ensure we have the right people in the right jobs at the right time.​​

We also have a profession management unit, which aims to provide the best professional experience to all our technical staff with a real passion for – and focus on – continuous professional development. We invest heavily in our people as part of growing our collective capability.

Job description

Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) is an important part of the Home Office mission. Everyone is responsible for quality, and we have a team of skilled people who make sure quality is delivered in the most effective way. This means getting fast feedback, understanding how a service performs, and helping the development team to make more informed decisions. We value automating as much of the test effort as possible allowing our team of specialists and domain experts to undertake better evaluations.

You can see more here Quality, Assurance and Testing - Home Office Careers.

As a Senior Performance Tester, you will be primarily responsible for assisting the delivery of Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) solutions for projects. You will assist with performance testing practices, supporting the delivery of an overall QAT strategy.

You will work in collaboration with delivery partners to make sure QAT is embedded by default into the development approach. To help the QAT practice thrive, you will develop an understanding of new and emerging tools and approaches.  

Working within a project team, you will have an opportunity to promote quality outcomes and values. You will begin to develop your own analytical and delivery management with a focus on helping the project team deliver high quality outcomes at pace whilst expanding your stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement skills.

You will work with business stakeholders, developing an understanding of their needs and translating them into a QAT approach. Within the DDaT community, you will share and collaborate with others to promote the value of QAT.

There is a link to how it feels to work in QAT on our GOV.UK site here: Day in the life of a QAT'er

Person specification

Your main day to day responsibilities will be (but not limited to): 

• assisting in performance testing activities across the full development lifecycle; from requirements gathering though to test execution, as part of the wider approach to QA and performance engineering
• working in collaboration with different delivery partners to reduce the need to rework and refactor the application in later development cycles, optimising the value of design, development and testing
• working in complex and highly integrated technical environments within agile and DevOps product teams
• using analytical techniques, including risk-based testing, and applying formal test analysis and design techniques where appropriate to the implementation of performance testing
• assisting in the development of performance testing capabilities within the QAT organisation, including continuous professional development and understanding of new and emerging industry leading technologies
• providing advice and guidance to QAT team members and project stakeholders on all aspects of Quality Assurance and Testing 

You will also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:

• applying knowledge and experience of different technical and product domains 

Essential skills

You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Performance Testing, with the following skills or some experience in:

• using object-orientating programming, such as Java, to develop performance tests. Implementing tools like NeoLoad, LoadRunner, JMeter, and other industry leading technologies. Using tools like App Dynamics, Dynatrace, Solarwinds and Zabix for application monitoring
• setting up performance tests from requirements gathering through to test execution, using performance test to anticipate issues that might arise during different load conditions
• ensuring integration of performance testing with the automation test approach and analysing NFRs, technical designs and business requirements
• establishing and maintaining relationships with multiple delivery partners and actively engaging stakeholders
• developing yourself and the wider team through a range of activities that achieve current business goals, help to meet future challenges and build a capacity for change

The skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role: 

• Strategy and Architecture
• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 3
• Test Analysis, Design and Execution – Level 3
• Automation and Tooling – Level 3
• Performance Testing – Level 4
• Integration and Assurance – Level 2
• Domain Experience – Level 3 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,600, Home Office contributes £11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills and statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum:1250 words)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please note your Statement of Suitability should concisely explain your motivation for applying to this role, and evidencing how you meet the Essential criteria listed on the job advertisement.

The sift will be based on the statement of suitability (personal statement).

The CV is for information purposes only and will not be marked.

Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will entail behaviour-based questions listed in the advert and experience-based questions.

Sift and Interview dates

Sift is expected to take place week commencing Monday 15th January 2024.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing Monday 29th January 2024. 

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change. 

Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

Further information 

Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement. 

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. 

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (SC). Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard check.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can discuss any specific questions with the Vacancy Holder.

Visa Sponsorship Statement 

Please take note that the Home Office DDaT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visa.

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

We often have similar roles available at different grade. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or at a lower grade then they applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential criteria.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.