Automation Test Engineer

Automation Test Engineer

Version 1 is a trusted technology and transformation solutions provider with over 30 years of experience, partnering with global leaders like Microsoft, AWS, and Oracle. We are an award-winning employer, recognized as a Great Place to Work in the UK & Ireland for over 10 years, and celebrated for our commitment to wellbeing and diversity.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Automation Test Engineer or Software Engineer in Test to build and implement automation-first testing capabilities within cloud-native or containerized environments. You will work closely with platform engineers, developers, security specialists, and architects to embed testability, quality, and compliance into a Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) air-gapped environment. This role requires a deep understanding of how automated testing integrates into secure, regulated delivery pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement an automation-first test strategy for platform, infrastructure, and application layers, considering the constraints of air-gapped GDC environments.
• Design and build automated test suites across unit, component, integration, system, infrastructure, configuration, smoke, regression, and deployment verification levels.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines, enabling continuous testing with automated quality gates and clear failure feedback.
• Validate Infrastructure-as-Code using automated testing and policy-as-code, focusing on configuration correctness, resilience, and upgrade/rollback scenarios for Kubernetes-based platforms.
• Embed security testing, policy validation, and compliance evidence generation into delivery pipelines in collaboration with DevSecOps engineers.
• Build reusable test capabilities for application teams to self-serve quality assurance.
• Produce automated test reports and dashboards for visibility of quality and risk.
• Participate in design and architecture sessions to ensure testability is a primary consideration.
• Support defect triage, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Proven experience as an Automation Test Engineer or Software Engineer in Test, building automated testing capabilities in cloud-native/containerized environments.
• Practical experience integrating test automation into CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins, etc.) and setting effective quality gates.
• Proficiency in at least one automation language (Python, Java, or Go) to engineer production-quality code.
• Experience with test frameworks for API testing (e.g., pytest, REST-assured) and UI testing (e.g., Playwright, Selenium).
• Solid understanding of the test pyramid, shift-left testing, and continuous testing principles in a DevSecOps context.
• Experience testing systems on GCP or equivalent cloud platforms, including Kubernetes.
• Understanding of Infrastructure-as-Code (e.g., Terraform) and its validation through automated testing and policy-as-code.
• Awareness of secure software delivery, configuration drift, misconfiguration risks, and generating audit/compliance evidence.
• Experience in secure, regulated, or government delivery environments.
• Clear communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Based within commuting distance of London, with availability to work on-site three days per week.
• Resident in the UK for 5+ years, with no more than 30 days per year outside the UK, to meet Security Clearance (SC) eligibility, or currently holding SC or above. Willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV) is required.
• Experience with policy-as-code tools, performance/resilience testing, or air-gapped/restricted network environments is a strong advantage.
• Google Cloud or testing-related certifications are welcome.

Benefits

• Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme.
• Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching (Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes, Pathways Career Development programme).
• Flexible/remote working options.
• Financial Wellbeing initiatives (Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice, Employee Discount scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing schemes (Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme).
• Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave, and special leave policies.
• Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations (AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, Red Hat).
• Reward schemes (Annual Excellence Awards & ‘Call-Out’ platform).
• Environment, Social and Community First initiatives.

Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for candidates requiring them during the recruitment process.