Test Automation Engineer

Business Area: Group Transformation

Place of Work: Liverpool

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size, you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.

Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Test Automation Engineer, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This position will provide a great opportunity to take a leading role in defining, planning, creating and executing high-quality automated test suites for both APIs and web front end portals on this large and complex USS programme.

In your capacity as Test Automation Engineer, you will develop key relationships with business and technical colleagues, and senior stakeholders across the organisation.

This role requires you develop knowledge of USS’ business, products and services and use industry best practice in developing the automated test suites. You will also take ownership of the key responsibilities listed below, whilst recognising that the role requires personal flexibility and adaptability to support the business in the delivery of change.

The successful candidate will also require knowledge transfer and mentoring of test automation skills to less experienced testers.

What you will be doing

As a trusted part of the Group Transformation you will be responsible for:

• Taking a leading role in the robust design, creation and execution of automated test suites aligned to the agreed testing strategy, including:
• Planning and designing the required tests, ensuring the correct test approach is selected including test objectives, levels of testing, number of cycles and defect management planning.
• Preparing and executing of designed tests including key deliverables to agreed standards (e.g. test scenarios and test scripts) and scheduling all testing activity.
• Developing and agreeing suitable metrics for measuring testing progress and evaluating the quality of the testing delivered and the product.
• Adapting the plan, based on test results and progress, and taking the necessary action to overcome any obstacles or delays.
• Producing test reports, using the agreed metrics, to keep project stakeholders informed of testing progress, including summary reports at project closure.
• Contributing to the production of high-quality test plans developed in collaboration with and approved by project stakeholders.
• Proactive collaboration with Solution & Business Architects, Business Analysts, third-party suppliers (e.g. web design agencies) and the wider programme and project teams to ensure that business requirements and solution designs are fully understood as part of the preparation of high-quality testing deliverables, including:
• Reviewing and assessing solution designs for testability and incorporating into test specification deliverables.
• Ensuring end-to-end traceability of business requirements through to test execution, proving test coverage and providing stakeholder assurance.
• Leading the design of tests and preparation of tests using appropriate testing tools, for automation and management, including:
• Using appropriate testing tools to design and execute tests that are automated where possible and provide repeatability across test cycles, particularly in respect of regression testing;
• Ensuring that the necessary test environments are suitable for automated test execution.
• Establishing collaborative working relationships across the organisation and with external partners to contribute the testing perspective to change initiatives and ensure its impacts and value are understood.
• Supporting the continuous improvement of USS’ testing capability by ensuring that industry best practice in testing is rigorously applied.
• Actively managing own workload, whilst also supporting the team’s workload management by providing estimates for deliverables that enable capacity and project planning.
• Providing support and mentoring in automated testing best practice, technical skills and product knowledge, to less experienced members of the team when required.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• A hands-on automated testing engineer who is proficient in C#, .Net; Test Complete;
• Exceptional test design and analysis skills;
• Able to demonstrate experience of the full testing life-cycle from business requirements to test execution through various test phases including risk-based testing approaches, including use of test management via Azure DevOps;
• Digital deliveries including end-to-end integration testing through a full stack from web front-end applications through to back end platforms;
• Testing API components for Digital delivery including e2e integration and interface protocol testing;
• Automated test design and execution using industry best practice and testing tools e.g. Selenium and FitNesse for repeatability and regression;
• Test design patterns knowledge;
• Continuous integration experience e.g. Jenkins;
• Day to day source control management skills;
• Excellent communication skills: able to present complex scenarios with clarity to key stakeholders at all levels;

Why join us?

How we will reward you​

Great starting salary

Generous annual leave package

Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme

Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)

Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing

Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership

Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Excellence

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for more than 528,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £75.5bn (at 31 March 2023). To find out more, please visit our website.

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent.