Senior Test Engineer - £44,825 p.a. + benefits

at  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

JOB SUMMARY

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Test Engineer in our Digital and Technology Group.
This is a full-time, permanent role focused primarily on Automation Testing alongside Functional Testing for our web and server-side microservice cloud-based solutions, as well as low-code environments like D365 and Appian.
Our office locations are Canary Wharf, London, and South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please note that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.
We are currently implementing a flexible, hybrid way of working, with a minimum of 8 days per month working on site to enable the collaboration and contact with partners and stakeholders needed to deliver MHRA business. Attendance on site is driven by business needs so depending on the nature of the role, this can flex up to 12 days a month, with the remainder of time worked either remotely or in the office. Some roles will need to be on site more regularly.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer with significant expertise in Automation of both UI and API testing. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven experience in scripting, maintaining, and executing automated test scripts using tools such as Cypress, playwright, Selenium or similar.
• Hands-on experience with integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.
• Strong knowledge of scripting languages (e.g. JavaScript, Typescript) and working with cloud platforms such as Azure or AWS.
• Ability to identify and resolve defects efficiently while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to staying updated on the latest testing technologies and best practices, with a focus on improving testing processes and outcomes.
• Experience with functional testing techniques (e.g., regression, UAT) and tools like JIRA, Zephyr, or similar for defect and test management.
• A natural problem solver who adapts to evolving requirements and handles complex challenges with confidence and creativity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and stakeholders.
• Experience in Performance and Accessibility testing (Desirable).

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk
Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,825, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £12,985 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP’s Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

Closing Date: 27th January 2025
Shortlisting Date: 3rd February 2025
Interview Date: 12th February 2025
Application – please complete the online application on the Agency’s recruitment portal, ensuring that you provide full answers to all the application questions, with reference to the Behaviours, Experience and Technical Criteria set out in the Persons Specification section of the Job Description.
Please note, our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application. Please complete the ‘Work Experience’ section of the application fully, providing details of your previous roles, clearly describing your achievements and key responsibilities.
Interview – aligned to the Person Specification criteria marked “I” (Interview) in the Job Description.
Test – aligned to the Technical Criteria in the Person Specification. More information will be given if you reach interview stage.
In the instance that we receive a high number of applications, we will hold an initial sift based on the lead criteria of ‘Proven experience in scripting and maintaining automated test scripts for API and UI using tools such as Cypress, Selenium or Playwright’.
Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the answers provided - ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the criteria for this role in the job description.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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) (opens in a new window)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

As a Senior Test Engineer, the post holder will focus primarily on the Automation testing. The role involves scripting and maintaining automation in Cypress/Playwright for both UI and API automation. The successful candidate will mentor junior team members, promote best practices in automation, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to integrate automated tests into CI/CD pipelines, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the software delivery process. The role may also involve other functional testing and non- functional testing based on the business requirements.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Scripting and maintaining automation frameworks for functional, API and regression testing to improve efficiency, coverage, generating detailed automation test reports.
• Collaborate with DevOps and development teams to embed automated testing in CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions, or Azure DevOps to ensure seamless software delivery.
• Identify test cases for automation, focusing on optimising test coverage and improving the accuracy and reliability of results across multiple applications.
• Use monitoring tools to track and evaluate test performance metrics, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
• Stay updated on the latest testing tools and practices, proactively integrating new technologies to optimise test processes and improve overall quality.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation for test plans, automated test scripts, and results, ensuring transparency and knowledge sharing.
• Work closely with functional testers, developers, DevOps engineers, and product owners to ensure alignment of testing activities with project goals and timelines.
• Identify and address automation-related issues, ensuring the continuous and reliable execution of automated test suites.

This role provides a unique opportunity to contribute to critical, high-impact projects while ensuring MHRA’s digital services are robust, secure, performant, and accessible to all users.