Senior Test Engineer

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We are looking for a Senior Test Engineer to join teams delivering services within Enterprise Integration Services (EIS). This role focuses on engineering-led testing approaches that assure the quality of API platforms, integration services and service-based architectures that underpin HMRC’s digital estate.

You will work as part of multidisciplinary delivery teams, designing and building automated testing solutions while also applying test analysis and assurance practices to ensure APIs and integrations are reliable, secure and performant. This includes validating data flows, interfaces and end-to-end service behaviour across complex integration landscapes.

This role sits within HMRC’s Chief Digital & Information Office (CDIO), supporting services at national scale., As a Senior Test Engineer you will embed testing and quality practices across the delivery lifecycle for API and integration-based services.

You will design, implement and maintain automated tests for APIs, services and platforms, working closely with developers and other engineers. You’ll contribute to CI/CD pipelines, identify quality risks early, and support teams in delivering secure and resilient integration services.

You will also contribute to understanding requirements and defining effective test coverage for API and integration services, ensuring quality risks are identified early and addressed throughout delivery.

You will work with a good degree of autonomy, taking ownership of test engineering tasks within your team, while being supported by lead engineers and quality specialists.

Key Responsibilities will include:

• Design, develop and maintain automated tests for APIs, integration services and platforms.
• Work closely with developers to embed testing early and continuously.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and continuous testing approaches.
• Support non-functional testing such as performance, security and accessibility, particularly for APIs and integrations.
• Analyse test results, raise defects and support investigation and resolution.
• Contribute to improving test frameworks, tooling and engineering practices.
• Support knowledge sharing and mentoring of less experienced colleagues.
• Review and analyse business and technical requirements, identifying risks, gaps and test conditions for APIs and integrations.
• Validate data flows and interfaces using structured data formats such as JSON and XML.
• Produce clear test evidence and support assurance activities to inform release decisions
• Collaborate with product managers, architects, developers and delivery managers to ensure quality is embedded across the lifecycle., We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
• Test Engineering and Automation
• API and Integration Testing
• Agile Delivery, CI/CD and Quality Assurance, Exceptionally, candidates who are not successful at this grade may be considered for appointment to similar roles at a lower grade where the eligibility criteria are met. If this applies, we will contact you directly., If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate., HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations .

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

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.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

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

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment., * 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)
• 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

You will be a technically capable Test Engineer with experience of testing APIs and integration-based services in modern delivery environments.

At this level, you are expected to deliver independently, contribute to technical decision-making within your team, and support the development of good testing practices.

You will demonstrate the following skills at Working / Practitioner level, combining strong test engineering capability with effective test analysis and quality assurance practices:

• Designing and building automated tests for APIs and services.
• Applying testing techniques across the delivery lifecycle.
• Working effectively in agile, multidisciplinary teams.
• Identifying and communicating quality and integration risks.
• Analysing requirements and designing effective test coverage for APIs and integration services.

Essential Criteria

Test engineering and automation: Experience building and maintaining automated tests using modern frameworks and languages.

API and integration testing: Experience testing APIs, service-based or integration-led systems, including validation of data exchange, interfaces and service behaviour.

Agile and DevOps delivery: Experience working in agile teams and contributing to CI/CD pipelines.

Technical collaboration: Ability to work closely with engineers to identify and manage quality risks.

Test analysis and quality assurance: Ability to analyse requirements, design effective test coverage and provide evidence-based assurance of service quality.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with API platforms, gateways or event-driven architectures.
• Experience with performance or security testing for services.
• Knowledge of cloud or container-based environments.
• Experience working with structured data formats such as JSON and XML.
• ISTQB or equivalent testing qualification., * A name-blind CV including your job history and previous experience. Applicants will need to demonstrate relevant experience and effective delivery of the Essential Criteria.

Please evidence any Desirable Criteria, up to 250 words max. This is not essential for the role but may be considered by the vacancy holder where candidates have the same score at interview., Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process., Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Pulled from the full job description Company pension Work from home, Alongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk . Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.