Software Development Engineer in Test

Job Description

About Scrumconnect Consulting

Scrumconnect Consulting is a multi-award-winning digital consultancy whose work has positively influenced the lives of over 40 million UK citizens. We deliver impactful technology solutions across UK government departments, working at the forefront of user-centred design, agile delivery, and scalable digital services that genuinely make a difference.

About The Role

We are looking for a highly skilled Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) who combines strong software engineering fundamentals with expertise in test automation. The ideal candidate is a software engineer who writes high-quality test code to validate that product acceptance criteria are fully met while ensuring quality, security, accessibility, and maintainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test frameworks using Ruby and Gherkin (BDD) following established coding standards and guidelines.
• Create readable, maintainable, and reusable test automation scripts using Ruby-based frameworks. ("Looks like Ruby, feels like Ruby.")
• Develop automated acceptance tests that verify business requirements and demonstrate that acceptance criteria are satisfied.
• Collaborate with developers, product owners, and QA teams to define and automate test scenarios using Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
• Ensure applications meet Accessibility and Security testing standards as part of the automated testing strategy.
• Maintain and enhance the local, unofficial Performance Test Pack to support engineering teams. (Note: This complements, but does not replace, the organization's formal performance testing plan.)
• Support automation for Use Case 6 and other functional test scenarios as required.
• Continuously improve test automation frameworks, coding standards, and engineering best practices.
• Participate in code reviews and contribute to improving overall software quality.

Required Skills

• Strong programming skills in Ruby.
• Hands-on experience with Gherkin and BDD frameworks (e.g., Cucumber).
• Good understanding of scripting languages and automation best practices.
• Knowledge of software engineering principles, design patterns, and clean code practices.
• Experience in Accessibility and Security testing.
• Familiarity with performance testing concepts and maintaining performance test suites.
• Ability to write scalable, maintainable, and reusable automation code.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments.
• Exposure to CI/CD pipelines and test automation integration.
• Understanding of performance testing methodologies and tools.
• Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a Software Development Engineer who happens to write test code—someone who approaches test automation with the same engineering rigor applied to production software and ensures that every automated test provides confidence that the product meets its defined acceptance criteria.

Our interview process

We keep things straightforward. Following an initial CV review, successful candidates will be invited to a short screening call with our recruitment team, followed by a two-stage process comprising a technical assessment and a values-based interview with the hiring team. We aim to move quickly and will keep you informed at every stage.

Equal Opportunities

Scrumconnect Consulting is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.