Test Engineer / Automation Tester
Back End Focus (Java / Cucumber)
Initially till September 2026 – project likely to run for 2 years
500 – 550 inside IR35 p/d

We are seeking a highly capable Test Engineer / Automation Tester with a strong back-end focus and expertise in Java, Cucumber, and BDD frameworks. The successful candidate will support the delivery of secure, scalable digital services for UK government clients, contributing to quality assurance from within a multidisciplinary agile team.

This role focuses on testing APIs, integrations, and back-end services using Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) principles, while also contributing to CI/CD and automation best practices in a GDS-aligned delivery environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Back-End Test Automation Development:
  Develop and maintain automated tests using Java, Cucumber, and BDD frameworks, focused on validating APIs, data flows, and service integrations.
• Test Planning & Strategy:
  Contribute to test strategy design and produce structured test plans for back-end testing scenarios, including edge cases and negative testing.
• Test Case Design & Execution:
  Write clear, traceable test scenarios derived from user stories and acceptance criteria. Execute tests within automated and manual pipelines.
• Defect Management:
  Identify, log, and track defects with accurate diagnostics. Collaborate closely with development teams to verify and retest fixes.
• CI/CD Integration:
  Integrate automation scripts into continuous integration environments (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps), supporting fast feedback and regression testing.
• Environment & Data Support:
  Assist in maintaining test environments and managing test data, including basic scripting and configuration in Linux-based systems.
• Database Testing:
  Conduct backend validation using SQL/XQL against relational databases, ensuring data accuracy and integrity.