About the job

Job summary

The Opportunity

We are currently hiring a Lead Test Engineer to join the Product Directorate at the Parliamentary Digital Service. This is an exciting time to join the Test team, as it looks to expand its remit beyond the directorate to the wider Digital landscape, in order to deliver more value to Parliament. 

As a Lead Test Engineer, you will be responsible for high-quality testing throughout our delivery lifecycle. You will need to have experience with a range of manual testing techniques and the ability to contribute to the automated suite of tests. Our testing starts with manual testing of the application and APIs, and ensures that we meet accessibility guidelines.

What You Need

• you can take ownership of the testing approach within a team and champion best practices. You can work closely with all disciplines within your squad to ensure everyone is focused on successful delivery of quality products.
• you understand the benefit of presenting work to stakeholders to elicit feedback and working with them to ensure stories adequately cover their requirements. You understand the needs of the end user and can advocate for user focussed design and usability.
• you can coach and mentor other testers. You can work successfully within a team, whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• ability to take user stories and generate valid test cases to ensure good test coverage. Experience with cross browser and API testing and knowledge of when to apply appropriate testing techniques. Able to design and execute appropriate regression and non-functional testing
• able to prioritise own work to ensure timescales are met, without negatively impacting on the standard of work. Experience of working across several different projects in a short period, being able to report progress clearly on all projects and supporting the release of applications.
• the ability to pass security clearance, backed by the right to work in the UK

Job description

• Responsible for high quality testing throughout delivery lifecycle.
• Take ownership of the testing tasks within a sprint to ensure progression of testing, including highlighting any potential risks to delivery within planning sessions.
• Be an active member of the Test team, responsible for coaching and mentoring others in the team on test procedures and tasks.
• Ensure that regression/automation suites are kept up to date as new features are introduced.
• Take responsibility for developing and delivering test processes assigned.
• Actively look for, suggest, and implement continuous process improvements for the Product Directorate.
• Work closely with and manage stakeholders throughout the development cycle – enabling constructive conversations between departments to ensure successful delivery of applications.
• Provide support where needed to stakeholders/business users in UAT sessions prior to release.
• There may be opportunities to provide line management to other testers within Software Engineering.

The above list of key responsibilities is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and banding of the post.

Person specification

Criterion 1 – Test Ownership
You can take ownership of the testing approach within a team and champion best practices. You can work closely with all disciplines within your squad to ensure everyone is focused on successful delivery of quality products.
    
Criterion 2 – User Focus
You understand the benefit of presenting work to stakeholders to elicit feedback and working with them to ensure stories adequately cover their requirements. You understand the needs of the end user and can advocate for user focussed design and usability.

Criterion 3 – Team Working
You can coach and mentor other testers. You can work successfully within a team, whilst upholding the values of equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Criterion 4 – Test Strategy
Ability to take user stories and generate valid test cases to ensure good test coverage.  Experience with cross browser and API testing and knowledge of when to apply appropriate testing techniques. Able to design and execute appropriate regression and non-functional testing.

Criterion 5 – Time Management
Able to prioritise own work to ensure timescales are met, without negatively impacting on the standard of work. Experience of working across several different projects in a short period, being able to report progress clearly on all projects and supporting the release of applications.

Benefits

Please refer to our Candidate Information Pack for a full list of our benefits which include:

• up to 35 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays
• generous maternity pay policy up to 6 months full pay
• great pension scheme options (contributory and non-contributory)
• on-site subsidised gym, nursery, catering, post office, travel office and GP
• flexible options including hybrid working and family friendly policies

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How To Apply

Please make sure you're clear on the requirements of the role. These can be found in the Job Description and Candidate Information Pack. You will need to upload a CV and show how you meet up to the first five criterion. Our application process is anonymous, so please remove any personal information from your CV.

Apply By: 4th February 2024 at 23:55

Interviews: 8th / 9th February

Format: Panel Interview (Remote)

Our Culture

For our people, we provide an amazing opportunity to bring their talents to an institution that sits right at the heart of society in the UK. We are helping to change UK Parliament and strengthen democracy. What matters here is your potential for growth and your commitment to playing your part in our ongoing success.

We are passionate about providing an environment which promotes inclusion, diversity and equality. Regardless of your age, gender, ethnicity, beliefs or any of the other things that make you, you. We welcome applications from people who feel under-represented in the workforce. This includes those who may feel disadvantaged because of their socioeconomic circumstances.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.