Senior Test Engineer

About The Job Job summary Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC. Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential. HMRC is made up of Customer Groups which are working independently towards one common goal. Our role sits within HMRC's Chief Digital & Information Office (CDIO) Group that deliver in-house solutions for a broad range of technical and operational issues. Our digital delivery centres are hi-tech, state-of-the-art facilities that allow our teams to maximise their capabilities. CDIO values and empowers the growth of its people and offers the "CDIO University". This is a one stop shop for all things learning and development. The comprehensive offer encompassing academic, personal and career related opportunity and learning, ensuring all receive a consistent approach to technical learning. This includes access to subject matter experts, technical learning, professional communities, academies, apprenticeships, talent schemes as well as providing, delivering, encouraging and supporting activities for personal growth and wellbeing. Job Description As a member of the Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) Profession, you will be part of a large community of testing professionals working collaboratively with Product Owners, Developers, Architects, Business Analysts and Operations teams to deliver high-quality, resilient and scalable digital services for HMRC customers. We have an inclusive environment and have clear pathways in place to support and build on the roles within the Profession through the use of learning journeys, learning platforms, career journeys and skills assessments. These all work together to allow you to take ownership of your own development and career progression with HMRC as well as supporting you in your daily challenges. Along with this we also have an Academy in place to allow you to find everything to support your needs in an easily accessible format. As a Senior Test Engineer within CDIO, Borders & Trade, You will be responsible for building and enhancing Performance and Non-Functional Testing capability across cloud-based applications, platforms and infrastructure. You will primarily lead the delivery of Performance and Volume Testing (PVT), whilst contributing to Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT), Infrastructure Assurance, Resilience and Operational Readiness activities, ensuring solutions are reliable, scalable and fit for live service operation. Responsibilities A Senior Test engineer has similar responsibilities to a test engineer but at a more complex level and on a greater scale. At this role level, you will: Lead the planning, design, execution and reporting of Performance & Volume Testing (PVT), including workload modelling, capacity planning and performance analysis, whilst supporting OAT, infrastructure, resilience and operational readiness testing activities where required.Define non-functional requirements, workload models, acceptance criteria, test strategies and environment validation approaches to identify and mitigate risks early in the delivery lifecycle.Analyse test results, infrastructure behaviour and operational metrics to identify bottlenecks, defects, root causes and service risks, providing evidence-based recommendations for improvement.Develop and maintain automated performance testing and validation solutions using tools, scripting languages and CI/CD pipelines to support shift-left quality engineering practices.Provide technical leadership, mentoring and knowledge sharing across the QAT Profession, supporting continuous improvement of PVT, OAT and infrastructure testing capability within Borders & Trade. Person specification As a Senior Test Engineer within CDIO Borders and Trade, you will primarily lead and deliver Performance and Volume Testing activities across applications, platforms and cloud infrastructure, whilst providing support and assurance for Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT), Infrastructure and Operational Readiness activities. Develop and maintain Performance and Volume Test artefacts, including strategies, workload models, plans, scenarios, test data requirements, evidence packs and reports, whilst supporting OAT and Infrastructure testing artefacts where required. Review requirements, architecture designs, infrastructure specifications and operational designs to define appropriate non-functional test coverage and acceptance criteria. Provide estimates, plans, risk assessments and technical advice for projects requiring PVT, OAT, infrastructure assurance or platform validation services. Deliver and support performance, volume, resilience, failover, disaster recovery, infrastructure and operational readiness testing across complex enterprise environments.Investigate defects, incidents and live-service issues through root cause analysis, working with engineering, operations and supplier teams to support resolution. Promote automation, quality engineering, knowledge sharing and mentoring to grow the Non-Functional Testing capability. Essential Criteria The successful candidate will need to demonstrate practical knowledge and experience in the following: Proven experience leading and delivering Performance and Volume Testing across complex enterprise environments, with awareness and practical exposure to Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT), Infrastructure, Resilience, Availability and Disaster Recovery testing.Experience defining non-functional test strategies, scope, objectives, workload models, acceptance criteria, test plans and test data requirements, ensuring solutions meet performance, scalability, resilience, availability and operational support requirements.Experience planning, executing, analysing and reporting Performance and Volume Testing activities, including load, stress, endurance, scalability, resilience, failover and recovery testing, with the ability to identify bottlenecks, root causes and service risks.Experience developing and implementing automated testing and validation solutions using tools such as JMeter, Jenkins and GitLab, supported by scripting or programming languages such as Python, PowerShell, Bash, Java or C#, and integrated into CI/CD pipelines.Experience using and validating observability and monitoring platforms such as AppDynamics, ELK, Grafana, Dynatrace, Prometheus, Kafka or equivalent tools, alongside operating system, infrastructure and database monitoring capabilities.Knowledge of Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT), including operational readiness, monitoring, alerting, logging, support procedures, operational runbooks, failover, backup and recovery, and live service support.Knowledge of cloud and infrastructure technologies, including AWS/Azure, Linux/RHEL, networking, DNS, load balancing, IAM, security controls, distributed architectures and containerised platforms.Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical findings and risks effectively, influence delivery decisions, and support Agile, DevOps and continuous improvement practices. Desirable Criteria Ideally, the successful candidate will also demonstrate knowledge and experience in the following: ISTQB Foundation (or equivalent) and/or relevant Performance Testing, Cloud, Infrastructure, DevOps or Automation certifications.Experience testing cloud-native and containerised solutions using technologies such as AWS, Azure and Kubernetes.Experience implementing shift-left quality engineering practices, including automated non-functional testing within CI/CD pipelines.Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), configuration management and modern DevOps practices.Experience supporting resilience, failover, high availability and disaster recovery testing activities across cloud and enterprise platforms. Further Location Information Please ensure that you only apply for a location that you are willing and able to work from, as we will only make one offer of employment. Any additional notes included in a 'Further Location Preferences (optional)' field within the application form, will not be considered. Please be aware that you cannot change your location preference after submitting your application. Office Closures If your location preference is for the following site, it's important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window) This Site Is Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage. Leeds Location Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC's Moves Adjustment Payment guidance. Benefits 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 (opens in a new window). 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. To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details How To Apply As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide the following: A name-blind CV including your job history and relevant experience. Please provide a brief overview of your responsibilities, contributions, and any key achievements in each role. As a guide, we would expect this section to be around 500 words in total.A 750-word Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills and experiences meet the essential criteria. Please evidence any Desirable Criteria where applicable (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. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Sift In the event of a large number of applications being received, an initial sift may be held on your CV. At full sift your CV and Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview. We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications. Interview During the panel interview, your experience will be assessed, to determine your suitability for the role. Interviews will take place via video link. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. Please note that circumstances may arise that require the planned interview format to change. We will endeavour to provide you with as much notice of any change as possible. Eligibility Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'. To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application . 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. Sponsorship We have assessed this role against both Home Office and HMRC criteria and we are unable to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa. This means the vacancy is not open to applicants who require visa sponsorship. The HMRC app can help you with your application The HMRC app can provide you with your past 5 years' employment history, making the process of filling in your application quicker and easier. If successful in your application, you will need your National Insurance number for the onboarding process. Download the HMRC app now and save your National Insurance number to your digital phone wallet. How to download the HMRC app and sign up for an account Download the free HMRC app from the App Store or Google Play store. 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 in line with the set number of roles in each location. 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. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact the UBS Recruitment team via unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the "Assistance required" 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. Technical Support If you are experiencing problems that cannot be resolved by our ' help ' section, then technical support is available. You will receive a reply in 2 working days. Additional Security Information Please note in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post. From 1 April 2026, applicants will be required to meet updated nationality and residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. If this affects you, we will give you more information at the appropriate time. Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need. Please consider the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the 'location preferences' section that you can travel to. Terms and Conditions 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. 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 (opens in a new window) . 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. Security Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality Requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish 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) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact Name : Gaynor Wood Email : gaynor.wood@hmrc.gov.uk Telephone : 03000 593786 Recruitment team Email : unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk Further information 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.