Length of employment: Job Summary: As a Test Engineer, you will be responsible for the testing of applications which make up citizen services, including defining appropriate depth and breadth of testing (using a risk-based approach) and ensuring the stability, robustness and reliability of test suites. You will build automated test solutions to assure the quality of products delivering new capabilities across various platforms, enhancing customer journeys and experiences. You are responsible for testing all areas of the products including (but not limited to) functional, business requirements, performance, and accessibility. You will work with other teams within the Software Development Lifecycle to ensure that technical solutions are aligned, and work alongside other engineers within your team and the wider community to deliver consistent solutions and strategies. You will be expected to critically evaluate existing processes and contribute to the refinement of methodologies, while also identifying and recommending tools that promote innovation and support the continuous enhancement of both testing practices and product quality. Job Description: The roles and responsibilities for this role include but are not restricted to the following: Build and deliver comprehensive, robust and reliable automated test frameworks to provide sufficient coverage of business requirements. Own the design, development, and maintenance of test infrastructure, including the investigation and resolution of defects. Ensure comprehensive traceability across defects, tests, and requirements. Develop and maintain knowledge of the latest technical test tools and where it would be beneficial to apply them. Regularly communicate with other teams and share technical resources, knowledge and lessons learned. Work in a multi-disciplinary Agile Team understanding Agile delivery principles, methodologies and tools. Embed shift-left testing practices through adopting continuous integration (CI), continuous delivery and continuous deployment (CD) practices. 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. This job 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. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. Salary Information Pay for this role is from £42,614 to £45,081. The maximum salary for the grade is £45,081, 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 should maintain their current salary. Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater. When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below: Lead Criterion : Demonstrable skills in Java or JavaScript, specifically applied to software testing and test engineering practices. Experience building and maintaining comprehensive, robust, and reliable automated tests and frameworks against UI's or API's and understand the other. 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 caicy.sandford1@dwp.gov.uk. Stage 1: Application Your application will consist of three parts: 1. A Personal Details application form. 2. Employment history - this should contain your work experience and any skills, qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the jobs you have completed, aligning to the essential criteria. 3. Personal statement - up to 1250 words. This statement should be used to provide specific examples of how you meet each essential criteria listed in the Person specification. You should use the Personal Statement to provide evidence that you meet the essential criteria. The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and personal statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential criteria. You will be provided with one combined overall assessment score for both your CV and Personal Statement. An initial sift will be conducted using the lead criterion stated above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift. For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital. Important Information You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form. Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered. If your employment history/personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn. We recognise that AI may be helpful when applying for this role, but it is important to use it in the right way. Read the DWP AI Candidate Guide to understand how you can make the best use of GenAI while ensuring your application remains authentic and effective. Stage 2: Interview If you're successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the E ssential Criteria listed in the Person Specification. Interviews will take place from Mid-August onwards. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. Other information: If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards. All successful candidates and those placed on reserve will be posted in merit list order by location. Further Information: Find out more about Working for DWP A reserve list may be held for a period of 6months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action. Reasonable Adjustment At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the "Reasonable Adjustments" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional. For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How We Recruit page. For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website. Feedback