Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Bristol, Glasgow About the job Job summary Cabinet Office Digital is a cross-government business unit within the Cabinet Office responsible for driving efficiencies and modernising the Civil Service. COD brings together the core services that support civil servants: pensions, recruitment, back office transactional services and the platforms and services used by civil servants. Alongside this, COD has a real focus on value for money - firstly for the departments and organisations which use the services we deliver, and ultimately the taxpayer. The role available sits within COD Platforms and Services Operations, responsible for the operation and modernisation of Civil Service digital and data platforms. Our priorities include: Designing, building and operating the systems that underpin services that are essential to government, such as Civil Service Jobs (used by over 200 organisations) and Civil Service Learning (approx 560k users). Driving forward Civil Service interoperability, which will enable Civil Servants to work effectively across organisational boundaries, in a more efficient and seamless manner. Providing expert technology advice and guidance to support the creation of five shared services platforms as part of the Shared Services Strategy. Providing services which meet user needs and drive improved user experience so that the Civil Service operates more efficiently and effectively. As and when our priorities change, we may need to rely on colleagues' expertise to support the delivery of alternative projects and programmes. Job description The Civil Service Learning website and platform is a digital learning platform that is used across Government to build capability, grow careers and support the objectives of government departments and professional groups. It provides a single, fit-for-purpose learning service, providing access to the training and learning opportunities required by a Brilliant Civil Service. Every feature of the new service has been extensively researched with users to ensure the best possible experience for the learner. What will the successful candidate be doing? As a Senior Test Engineer, your primary responsibility will be to assure the quality of the product using various tools and techniques. You will be working alongside Developers, Business Analysts and other team members both within the team and the wider community to deliver consistent solutions and strategies. You will build automation test solutions to provide faster feedback, assure the quality of products that make up our digital services and contribute towards their design. You will be responsible for testing all areas of the product including but not limited to functional and non-functional business requirements, performance, security and accessibility. You will be willing to challenge current processes and help improve the ways of working. You will also identify tooling that will drive innovation and constant improvement of both testing and products. Main Responsibilities: Collaborate with Business Analysts, Developers, Product Managers, Delivery Managers and Release managers for effective delivery of the service through exploratory manual and automated testing. Build and deliver comprehensive, robust and reliable automated test frameworks and automation suites to provide full coverage of business requirements. Regularly communicate with other teams and share technical resources, knowledge and lessons learned. Ensure that usability, accessibility, security, stability and capacity are embedded in the development of services. Promote QA best practices, tools and techniques. Take responsibility for designing, building and maintaining an effective test infrastructure. Develop and maintain knowledge of the latest technical test tools and where it would be beneficial to apply them. Undertake reviews of the test suite and update the code base to reflect current best practices and reduce technical debt. Undertake the design, and build the technical setup and working methods for continuous integration, delivery and deployment practices. Make effective decisions in order to manage a well assured service. Support the Release Assurance process during regular release cycles. Person specification Essential Criteria Experience of working in a complex, multi-disciplinary environment, delivering test products and cycles within specific time-scales and engaging with multiple senior stakeholders. Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary Agile Team and understanding of Agile delivery principles, methodology and tools. Agile Methodologies - with experience of BDD (Behaviour Driven Development) and TDD (Test Driven Development) processes and an understanding of the key principles to develop a modern standards approach to testing. Experience in the development and maintenance of automated test suites and tools including Java, Selenium, Azure DevOps, Azure Load Testing, Cucumber, Gherkin, JMeter and MySQL and Postman. Experience of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery Methodology and tools (Jenkins, Git). An understanding of the test phases and standards associated with Performance Testing, Accessibility Testing, Security Testing and Compatibility Testing. Additional information: A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Making Effective Decisions Managing a Quality Service Benefits Alongside your salary of £55,403, Cabinet Office contributes £16,050 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role. An environment with flexible working options. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity. A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%. A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience. Application process As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Please use your CV to detail your relevant job history, in relation to the details listed throughout the vacancy. Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 750 words) to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on Wednesday 1st January 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. You will also be asked to complete 3x 250 word Behaviour statements as part of the application form. Selection process Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour - Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Candidates successful at sift will then be invited to an interview, where you will be assessed against Behaviours. Expected timeline (subject to change) Expected sift date w/c Monday 6th January 2025 Expected interview date/s w/c Monday 20th January 2025 Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview. Reasonable Adjustment If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via menurecruitment.grscabinetoffice.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 youre deaf, a Language Service Professional. Further Information A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Infodisclosurescotland.co.uk For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 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 applicants 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. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a 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 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) 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. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). 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 : Jamey Howard Email : jamey.howardcabinetoffice.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : menurecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at infocsc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk. Attachments Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External Opens in new window (pdf, 81kB) Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail