QA Tester

This role may be located in one of the following locations; Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield.Please find further information on the Corporate hub locations here.Please note that for candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, this role will be based at Benton Park View from September 2025, and then at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027.Job SummaryAre you an experienced QA Tester?Do you have experience working in a large-scale organisation using financial applications?If so, please apply for this role.We’re looking for an outstanding QA Tester, who wants to contribute to demanding and exciting digital services for the UK Government. Be part of changing the face of public services with the potential to dramatically transform the future of millions of people.This role represents a unique opportunity to join the Health and Disability team at DWP Digital. We’re looking for a driven and passionate QA Tester who would like to be part of a team delivering real value to people that need help during the difficult times of their lives.Job DescriptionAs a QA Tester, you will work as part of multi-disciplined digital team and be responsible for defining and executing tests on one of the largest benefit applications in DWP. You will collaborate with delivery teams to determine the testability of functional and non-functional requirements. You will identify and implement all test tooling, test environments and test data required for all phases of testing. You will also identify opportunities for test automation. You will ensure that the breadth and depth of testing is appropriate and proportionate and takes a risk-based approach.You will be responsible for defining test requirements, specifications and test conditions, be able to identify issues and risks associated with work whilst being able to analyse and report test activities and results to senior stakeholders.The application you will be responsible for is business critical to the DWP and administers the Personal Independence Payment benefit, which delivers real value to people that need help during the difficult times of their lives.Key Responsibilities Include: Produce and execute manual test scripts and expected results ensuring quality to agreed Acceptance Criteria.Provide detailed analysis of all faults identified, liaising with internal development teams to ensure reasons for failure are properly communicated and remedial action agreed. Attendance and contributing to PIP digital workshops where appropriate. Review requirements and specifications, asking questions to gain understanding and to ensure we build the right solution.As a QA Tester, you will work as part of multi-disciplined digital team and be responsible for defining and executing tests on one of the largest benefit applications in DWP. You will collaborate with delivery teams to determine the testability of functional and non-functional requirements. You will identify and implement all test tooling, test environments and test data required for all phases of testing. You will also identify opportunities for test automation. You will ensure that the breadth and depth of testing is appropriate and proportionate and takes a risk-based approach.You will be responsible for defining test requirements, specifications and test conditions, be able to identify issues and risks associated with work whilst being able to analyse and report test activities and results to senior stakeholders.The application you will be responsible for is business critical to the DWP and administers the Personal Independence Payment benefit, which delivers real value to people that need help during the difficult times of their lives.Key Responsibilities Include: Produce and execute manual test scripts and expected results ensuring quality to agreed Acceptance Criteria.Provide detailed analysis of all faults identified, liaising with internal development teams to ensure reasons for failure are properly communicated and remedial action agreed. Attendance and contributing to PIP digital workshops where appropriate. Review requirements and specifications, asking questions to gain understanding and to ensure we build the right solution.Person specificationSee selection process for further details.If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Richard.Hanley@dwp.gov.uk.Technical skillsWe'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:Technical BreadthWe also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.Salary InformationExisting Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer will maintain their current salary.Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion will either move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or get a 10% increase to their current salary whichever would be the greater. New entrants to the Civil Service will join on band minimum.Selection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.Stage 1: ApplicationYour Application Will Consist Of Four Parts: A Personal Details application form. Employment history - this should contain your work experience and any skills, qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the jobs you have completed. Personal statement - up to 1000 words. This statement should be used to provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria below:An ability to understand Change Requests or User Stories and test functional and non-functional requirements and to raise defects. An ability to work flexibly within a fast-paced remote agile team. An ability to demonstrate a systematic, disciplined, and analytical approach, particularly in problem solving and decision making. Experience collaborating and communicating with other team members to share knowledge and lessons learnt. Technical statement (up to 250 words). The following statement is aligned to the required technical skill of Technical Breadth. Experience of using and writing SQL to query databases.The sift panel will use the information in your employment history, personal statement, and technical statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge.An initial sift will be conducted using the technical statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.Important InformationYou will be asked to complete your employment history. Any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.If your employment history, personal statement or technical statement contain any personal details your application will be withdrawn.Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application; however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate, and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own), applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. A candidate’s guide to artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment.Stage 2: InterviewIf you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed above.Interviews will take place from the end of November. Interview dates to be confirmed.Other Information:If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.All successful candidates and those placed on reserve will be posted in merit list order by location.For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.Reasonable AdjustmentAt DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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 you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How we recruit page.Find out more about Working for DWPA reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.Nationality requirementsThis Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:UK nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)Working for the Civil ServiceThe 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.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 InclusionThe 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).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 applicantsJob Contact :Name : Richard HanleyEmail : Richard.Hanley@dwp.gov.ukRecruitment teamEmail : DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.ukFurther informationAppointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you wish to make a complaint, please find further details here: https://careers.dwp.gov.uk/how-we-recruit/.