Senior QA Engineer

Role Overview

The Senior Quality Assurance Engineer (SQA) is a key advocate for quality within an Agile team, driving BDD and TDD practices to ensure high‑quality, business‑aligned outcomes. Working closely with Product Owners and Developers, the SQA provides in‑sprint QA aligned to the Definition of Done, ensuring deployable software at the end of each sprint. The role leads on test strategy, balancing manual, automated, and performance testing approaches with a strong emphasis on shift‑left methodologies and API‑first automation. The SQA also contributes to the evolution of scalable, robust test frameworks while solving complex technical challenges alongside high‑performing engineering teams.

Role Responsibilities

• Collaborate with global BA, Development, and QA teams to design and coordinate effective test strategies.
• Design, develop, execute, and maintain automated and functional tests within CI/CD pipelines.
• Leverage AI tools (e.g., MCP, Copilot, ChatGPT) to optimise testing efficiency and workflows.
• Develop and maintain scalable, self‑healing automation frameworks (e.g., Playwright).
• Integrate AI‑driven tooling into automation workflows to improve script creation and maintenance.
• Identify performance bottlenecks and provide actionable recommendations.
• Champion quality across the Agile team, promoting best practices (unit testing, code reviews, etc.).
• Mentor and coach team members to elevate QA standards.
• Take ownership of deliverables, ensuring priorities are managed effectively and risks raised early.
• Drive clear communication on progress, risks, and impediments.

Experience / Competences

• Extensive experience in QA automation within Agile environments.
• Strong automation experience using tools such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, or TestComplete.
• Proficiency in Java, JavaScript, or similar programming/scripting languages.
• Proven ability to design and maintain scalable automation frameworks (Playwright/WebDriverIO preferred).
• Experience integrating automation within CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab, TeamCity).
• Hands‑on experience with BDD frameworks (e.g., Cucumber).
• Experience using AI tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, Amazon Q) to design and optimise test automation.
• Strong experience in API, functional, and end‑to‑end testing.
• Experience defining acceptance criteria and aligning testing to business requirements.
• Working knowledge of non‑functional testing (performance, load, stress; tools such as K6/JMeter).
• Understanding of SDLC and quality engineering principles.
• Experience working in Agile/SAFe environments with distributed teams.
• Ability to identify risks, challenge design decisions, and influence quality outcomes.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Highly organised, detail‑oriented, and proactive problem solver.
• Delivery‑focused, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Desired Experience

• Experience within financial services/trading platforms (including FIX/API).
• Knowledge of trade lifecycle, broker/trader platforms, and equity products.
• Experience with AWS, microservices, and serverless architectures.
• Formal testing qualifications (e.g., ISTQB, Agile Testing).
• Exposure to TDD/BDD design approaches.

Band & Level

Manager / 6

Location

UK - City Quays - Belfast