Senior Test Automation Engineer

We have an opportunity for a Senior Test Automation Engineer to take technical ownership of test automation and quality within our Data Tribe, working across complex data platforms including ETL pipelines, data ingestions, cloud services and databases.

You will work within a multi‑disciplinary tribe of Software Engineers, Data Engineers, Cloud Engineers and Data Scientists, where you will be the go‑to authority for test automation and quality, helping to shape how quality is embedded across data‑driven systems used by a wide range of internal stakeholders.

About the role

This is a senior, hands‑on role with clear ownership expectations. As well as designing and building automation frameworks, you will be expected to set direction, challenge decisions where quality is at risk, and influence how testing and quality are approached across the team.

We are looking for someone who is confident operating in complex, evolving environments, who can lead quality conversations, not just participate in them.

You will apply shift‑left and test‑first principles, ensuring quality is considered early in design and delivery, and you will take accountability for how testing supports reliable, scalable and secure data platforms.

As we work within a Scaled Agile framework, you will be comfortable working autonomously, while also collaborating closely with engineers, product and stakeholders to deliver high‑quality outcomes at pace.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and define the test automation approach for data‑driven platforms, including ETL, ingestion and cloud‑based services.
• Design, build and maintain robust automation frameworks, ensuring they are scalable, maintainable and aligned to engineering best practice.
• Act as a senior quality authority within the Data Tribe, proactively identifying risks and influencing technical and delivery decisions.
• Challenge requirements, designs and implementation choices where quality, data integrity or non‑functional concerns are identified.
• Lead testing activities across functional and non‑functional areas including performance, security and data integrity.
• Work closely with engineers during backlog refinement and sprint planning to ensure testability and quality are built in from the outset.
• Mentor and coach other engineers, setting clear quality expectations and raising overall testing maturity.
• Take accountability for testing outcomes in complex or ambiguous environments, including live and production‑adjacent systems.
• Contribute to wider quality and automation improvements across the tribe and organisation.

Required Technical Skills & Experience

• 5+ years’ hands‑on experience designing and implementing test automation frameworks using Python, with BDD tools such as Behave or Cucumber.
• Strong Python fundamentals including data structures, file handling, error handling, logging and debugging.
• Experience using Pandas, APIs, databases and data validation techniques.
• 3+ years’ experience testing data ingestion / ETL pipelines, including reconciliation and transformation validation.
• Strong understanding of relational databases (e.g. SQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle) and GCP data services (e.g. BigQuery, Bigtable).
• Experience working with schema‑based ingestions and contract definitions (e.g. Swagger or similar).
• Hands‑on experience with cloud technologies, preferably GCP and/or Azure.
• Experience working with CI/CD pipelines (preferably Azure DevOps) and cloud‑based Git repositories.
• Experience in non‑functional testing (performance, security), using tools such as JMeter, SonarQube, JFrog or similar.
• Experience with API or data mocks/stubs (e.g. Wiremock or similar).
• Strong experience working in Agile delivery environments, actively contributing to ceremonies and backlog refinement.
• Experience using test management tools such as Jira and Zephyr.
• Experience in FinTech environments (Insurance, Finance or similar).

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Infrastructure as Code experience (e.g. Terraform).
• Unit testing experience.
• Automation testing using Selenium and Java.
• Exposure to cloud‑based test environments.
• Relevant test automation or cloud certifications.

Behavioural & Leadership Expectations

This role requires someone who is comfortable operating at senior level, including:

• Technical ownership and accountability.
• Confidence influencing engineers and stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking around quality and risk.
• Mentorship and coaching.
• Proactive problem solving and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication, adaptability and resilience.

Interview Process

An online test followed by two competency/technical-based interviews.

Admiral: Where You Can

We take pride in being a diverse and inclusive business. It's a place where you can Be You, and show up as you are. We’re committed to fostering a people-first culture where everyone is accepted, supported, and empowered to be brilliant. You can, Grow And Progress at a pace and direction that suits you, Make A Difference for our customers and each other, and Share in Our Future with all colleagues eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service.

Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) when they join us, increasing the longer you stay with us, up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave.

We’re proud of our people-first culture. In fact, we've been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, a Great Place to Work for Wellbeing, and an overall Great Place to Work for over 25 years! We’re fully committed to making sure your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality or any of the protected characteristics.

Our fantastic benefits make sure our colleagues have a great work-life balance; You can view some of our other key benefits here.

Disability Confident Leader

As a Disability Confident Leader, for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition, that opt into the Disability Confident scheme, we’ll invite a fair and proportionate number of applicants that meet the essential requirements of the role to the first stage of our selection process.

If you need any adjustments or support with your application or during the recruitment process, just let us know. Please do email us or contact us on 07386697107. This number is dedicated to supporting candidates that require reasonable adjustments or support during the application process.

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