Test Engineer

Job summary

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. For further information, please see 'Selection process details'.

You must have resided continuously in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of applying for this job.

We’re looking for outstanding Test Engineers to design, build and maintain our flagship service, Universal Credit and our Working Age Benefits.

As a Test Engineer you will be part of a multi-functional agile delivery team and be an integral part of shaping and delivering automated test solutions that enable Universal Credit Working Age Benefits to deliver quality services consistently that meet the needs of our agents and claimants. The successful candidate will be expected to collaborate with others, actively seek input from colleagues and value a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.

This role represents a unique opportunity to join the Universal Credit and Working Age team at DWP Digital, to be part of a team delivering real value to people that need help during the difficult times of their lives.

Job description

As a Test Engineer, you will:

• Work alongside other engineers both within your team and the wider community to solve problems and enable consistent solutions and strategies.
• Build automation test solutions that help to assure the quality of our products, contribute towards their design, and look for ways to improve the value automation adds.
• Ensure that usability, accessibility, security, stability and capacity are embedded in the development of services.
• Take a risk based, context driven approach to agile testing assessing and understanding the risks to drive decisions.
• Be supporting Continuous Integration/Delivery pipelines to run a full range of tests against our products and assure our builds.
• Maintain traceability of testing, risks, defects, and report progress to appropriate stakeholders.
• Be willing to challenge assumptions and current processes to help us improve our quality and our products.

Person specification

When giving details in your CV you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Demonstrable skills in Java and/or TypeScript and the application of modern engineering practices, together with evidence of learning and applying new technologies in a software engineering environment.
• Experience building and maintaining comprehensive, robust and reliable automated tests against UI’s and API’s including contributing to improving frameworks and automation suites.
• Experience of the testing lifecycle from understanding business needs from delivery to production. Including test generation, reporting and defect management.
• Adaptable team player who understands agile ways of working and shift left principles e.g. CI/CD.
• Knowledge of non-functional testing e.g. Performance, Security and Accessibility – including test types, test tools and standards.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact [email removed].

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,876 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Hybrid Working

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Salary Information

Pay for this role is from £44,447 to £53,813.

The maximum salary for the grade is £46,547, however a Digital Allowance of up to £7,266 per annum is available for exceptional candidates. Digital Allowance is non-salary, and non-pensionable, and is classed as a temporary allowance. It is reviewed annually where it could be retained, amended, or removed.

Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer will maintain their current substantive salary.

Civil Servants who gain promotion will move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or receive a 10% increase applied to their current substantive salary, whichever is greater.

Any temporary allowances that you are currently in receipt of will not form part of the calculation to determine your pay. Any allowances that are in payment will cease when you move into your new role.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application

Applications must include:

1.