Senior Test Analyst

You will join the organisation as an experienced, cross-functional professional, operating within a transforming delivery environment that spans both Waterfall and Agile methodologies.

In this role, you will lead, coordinate, plan, and execute testing activities across key insurance-based projects, taking ownership of the QA function within your assigned product workstream. You will lead the QA effort by example, working closely with established onshore resources and providing oversight across all aspects of software quality in line with the transformation programme defined by the Head of QA.

The role requires substantial experience in IT programme testing, ideally including insurance applications. You will be expected to manage complex test planning, identify dependencies, and ensure these are effectively controlled within the testing remit. Strong facilitation skills, including diplomacy and mediation, are essential, alongside the confidence to challenge constructively and uphold the integrity of the testing process, regardless of who undertakes the testing.

Success in this role depends on effective collaboration with a broad range of internal stakeholders, including Heads of Motor and Non-Motor Insurance, underwriting leadership, and wider underwriting and development teams.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and manage testing activities across multiple projects within an Agile delivery environment, ensuring milestones and deadlines are met.
• Coordinate and perform manual and automation testing for product releases, remaining hands-on while overseeing wider QA activity.
• Own end-to-end test planning and delivery, including estimation, scheduling, execution, monitoring, and reporting on test progress and product quality.
• Act as the testing lead for insurance pricing solutions, including work with pricing engines (e.g. Polaris, Earnix, Radar, or bespoke platforms) and structured data (XML, SQL, relational databases).
• Manage and collaborate with a testing team and wider delivery stakeholders, working across the full SDLC from requirements through to post-live validation.
• Ensure appropriate test environments, configuration management, governance artefacts, and traceability are in place using tools such as Azure Boards, GitHub, SharePoint, and Archer.
• Diagnose, track, and resolve defects and live incidents, working closely with development, release management, and product teams to support controlled releases to production.
• Drive continuous improvement and consistency across testing methods, tools, and processes in line with the Testing Centre of Excellence (CoE), while supporting multiple product streams within a programme., At Hastings Direct, we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, we encourage you to be open with us. Our recruitment team is here to provide the support you need to ensure a fair and accessible experience for all.

• Strong ability to analyse and understand business requirements, translating them into effective test plans, test scripts, and execution strategies.
• Proven experience in test planning, resource planning, estimation, and execution, including peer review of test artefacts to ensure quality and consistency.
• Hands-on experience with test execution, defect analysis, and root-cause identification, including reviewing unit test outcomes and validating fixes.
• Solid working knowledge of SQL and Snowflake databases, with practical exposure to Python beneficial for data analysis, scripting, or automation support.
• Experienced in test management and delivery tooling, including day-to-day use of Azure Boards and the ability to navigate, review, and manage GitHub tickets and repositories.
• Ability to maintain and enhance regression and automation test packs, while acting as a technical SME for QA, collaborating with testers, business analysts, developers, and acting as the QA face-off to product teams.

Benefits: In addition to a competitive salary you will also receive…

Flexible working - we champion a flexible hybrid working approach - please speak to your recruiter to discuss in more detail

Competitive bonus scheme - all colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus

Financial wellbeing - as well as providing you with 4x your salary with our life assurance cover, income protection at no extra cost, and matched pension contributions up to 10%, we are proud to provide you with an award winning package which includes - discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice and free access to financial wellbeing support

Mental wellbeing programme - we have the thrive mental health app, our colleague assistance programme available 24/7, our own in-house mental health first aiders, support groups and a dedicated team to make sure we are covering your needs

There's more! - 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your weeks, access to our health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to work and tech schemes, discounted and free onsite facilities, social events throughout the year and much more ….

Join us and you'll find a different way of doing things. We call it the 4Cs. We focus on getting it right for our colleagues, customers, company and community. As one of our colleagues, you'll be helping to drive our growth, so in return, we'll give you all the support, training and development you need. Our 4Cs principles are simple: we believe by creating the right culture for our colleagues and giving them the right tools to do their job, we'll deliver good outcomes for every customer, helping us to grow the company profitably and sustainably and allowing us to invest in the communities we serve.

Welcome to Hastings Direct - From our Group HR Director Pam Angel. We're a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become The Best and Biggest in the UK market. We've made huge investments in our data and tech capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture. We're proud of the journey we're on as a company and know that our continued success will rely on the contribution of our talented colleagues. We provide insurance for over three million customers, but we know there's even bigger opportunity out there. The fact you're now reading this job advert means we've tempted you to find out more about #lifeatHD - we really hope you like what you see, and you'll join us to share in the success of the exciting chapter that lies ahead.