Our Client is a successful global player in a highly competitive and fast-moving industry. And, with multiple award-winning brands, e-commerce and the internet are integral to maintaining our leading position.

Reporting directly to the Quality Assurance Manager  the primary responsibility of the Test Automation Specialist will be to implement Test Automation Frameworks for functional testing across all projects, enabling QA team to undertake automated testing of repeatable manual testing tasks. Test Automation Specialist will not only have experience of working with open-source tools such as Selenium Web-driver or RC, JMETER and Jenkins but also have extensive experience in testing both web and web-services technologies based applications. The responsibilities will include automating tests for all system changes, including configuration changes and regression testing. Test Automation Specialist will also mentor and guide QA Analysts in the team to become self-sufficient in extending and maintaining the Test Automation Framework, accommodating future application changes. Test Automation Specialist will have sound understanding and preferably, practical experience of planning and executing non-functional tests.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute towards defining Test Automation Strategy to implement automation of manual testing tasks across all projects in TMS.
• Ensure that all agreed SLA’s are adhered to, taking full responsibility for implementing test automation frameworks within agreed time duration.
• Apply a sound technical understanding of relevant automated test tools and related technologies (e.g. Selenium Web-driver and automation framework) in development of automated test suites.
• Identify and automate manual test cases where necessary.
• Mentor and guide QA Analysts to develop automation testing competency.
• Plan and execute non-functional tests as per the SLA and within agreed time scale.
• Implement and manage continuous automated testing integration using Jenkins/Hudson tools.
• Attend daily stand-up sessions and represent QA in release planning, to ensure balanced, low-risk distribution of testing tasks throughout the iteration.
• Identify failures to meet quality standards through testing; assessing issue severity and escalating as appropriate, maintaining ownership through to resolution.
• Develop a sound business understanding ensuring tests are defined and developed, with close alignment to the business use of the system.
• Keep Agile Team members and line manager regularly informed of progress on testing, and of any risk to meeting release timelines or quality standards.
• Quickly become an expert in the System functionality and that of peripheral systems, external systems and interface to related systems.
• Work within a multi-disciplined team, using own experience to contribute towards requirements analysis, development and support processes.
• Assist with system configuration and application support as required.
• Maintain flexible working hours and be prepared to work outside of normal working hours as necessary and without request in order to achieve deadlines.
• Extend and enhance the System documentation repository, covering new or changed system functionality.
• May be required to perform duties outside the parameters of this job description and the duties may change at any time.

Employment experience:

• Minimum 5 years experience undertaking Quality Assurance for a large system – required

Education:

• ISEB Software Testing qualification – required
• University Degree in a related discipline – preferred

Technical skills:

• Experience of implementing and maintaining test automation frameworks such as Data-driven or Keyword-driven or Hybrid framework – required
• Experience with automated testing tools such as Selenium Web-driver – required
• Sound understanding of complex multi-tier system architecture – required
• Competent in JAVA scripting – required
• Experience in the use of Page Object Design Patterns – required
• Previous experience of a test management system – required
• Previous experience of bug/issue tracking systems – required
• Proven understanding of the SDLC – required
• Understanding and application of Agile QA practices – required
• Understanding of relational databases – required
• Ability to write SQL – required

Other skills/requirements:

• Excellent communication skills are essential; fluent, articulate, good use of language to put ideas across in a clear and concise manner. -required
• Hands-on commercial experience of full project, software development life cycle. – required
• Experience of working in an Agile software development environment. – preferred
• Proactive and accountable, with perseverance and tenacity, able to see problems through to conclusion, irrespective of delay, opposition, diversion or lack of product knowledge.
• A well developed instinct of when people or business priorities have changed and ability to quickly modify behaviour to achieve effective outcomes. Be open to change adapting easily to new processes and procedures and coping with changing priorities and pressures.
• Show good judgment and common sense, with the ability to make considered decisions.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and positive attitude, contributing to a highly motivated environment and team.
• Maintain professional manner and approach at all times.
• Able to work without supervision demonstrating initiative and commitment.
• Be able to act fairly, tactfully and firmly at all times when dealing with colleagues, system users and suppliers/developers.
• Able to work to tight timescales and meet all schedules set by your manager.
• Be a committed team player with flexible approach to working methods.
• Be prepared to work extended hours to meet peak demands.
• Be willing to take on special I.T. assignments outside the mainstream project as required by the business.

Company benefits

• Private Medical
• Private Dental
•  Interest Free Season Ticket Loan
• Company Contribution Pension Fund
• 20 days holiday increasing 1 day per year after the first year to a maximum of 25 years.
• 2 Volunteer Days per year
• Travel discounts after a years’ service