Job summary
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) are moving towards a Product based service delivery model. This includes a fundament overhaul of our approach to software development, introducing Agile development and management processes, Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, including load testing, in a DevOps environment with a strong emphasis on automation to speed delivery of new functionality and services.
Adapting to this new development approach is making significant demands on our current testing team, and there is an urgent need to introduce automation processes to support the CI / CD pipeline, including the latest testing methodologies and principles. This will include leading on the re-skilling and transition of existing staff within the team, as well as helping to shape our future testing strategy.
Are you passionate about quality assurance and automation? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where innovation and continuous improvement are key? If so, this is an excellent opportunity to bring your skills to bear, helping to shape the delivery of key digital services across the whole of NHS Wales.
Main duties of the job
Working in a cross-functional team, you'll start by learning our applications and test framework, so you're comfortable executing tests and signing off test certificates. Your main duties will include:
- Manage a team of Lead Test Analysts and Test Analysts on simultaneous projects
- Review and Approveas well as write and execute Test Plans, Test Scripts, and Test Reports
- Sign off test phases that meet assurance processes
- Collaborate with multiple internal DHCW teams to ensure software is tested in accordance with the DHCW Test Framework
- Attend Key Stakeholder meetings to provide overviews of Test Approach
- Apply analytical and problem-solving skills, working from first principles to identify the key to problems and solutions
- Utilise strong programming and scripting skills in Java, C#, and/or Python to support automation and programmatic testing efforts
- Develop and maintain automated test frameworks (test harnesses/systems) for testing complex systems
- Perform programmatic testing of system back-ends, including databases, data flows, and messaging queues, especially in the system integration space
- Conduct both automated and manual testing, depending on project requirements
About us
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) is part of the NHS Wales family and has an important role in changing the way health and care services are delivered through technology and data. The organisation supports frontline staff with modern systems and access to important information about their patients, while empowering the people of Wales to manage their own health through digital NHS Wales services.
Working for DHCW offers lots of employee benefits, including flexible working, a competitive salary, 28 days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays and opportunities for career development. We are committed to recognising and celebrating our staff as the most valuable part of our organisation.
Join our game changing, life-saving team and start making a real difference to health and care services in Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder must demonstrate the following Key Skills:
Be able to line-manage a diverse team
Analytical skills to acquire a proper understanding of a problem
Demonstrable experience with the design and creation of automated test frameworks (test harnesses / systems to test other systems)
Programmatic testing in the system back-ends including databases, data flows and messaging queues
Observability and performance monitoring tools and frameworks
Proficient in software testing and its associated documentation
Experience in Automated testing tools
Manual testing
Knowledge of Agile methodology
Teamwork Skills
Act Independently using own initiative within established parameters
The postholder must be able to:
Develop and maintain effective written and verbal communication with stakeholders of all levels, as well as meeting attendance explaining highly complex IT processes and issues often focusing on testing requirements and defects and issues found as the senior testing contact
Liaise as necessary with NHS staff at all levels on testing related matters, dealing with conflicting requirements and priorities. Refocus discussions where necessary, to resolve conflict and establish acceptable conclusions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder must demonstrate the following Key Skills:
Be able to line-manage a diverse team
Analytical skills to acquire a proper understanding of a problem
Demonstrable experience with the design and creation of automated test frameworks (test harnesses / systems to test other systems)
Programmatic testing in the system back-ends including databases, data flows and messaging queues
Observability and performance monitoring tools and frameworks
Proficient in software testing and its associated documentation
Experience in Automated testing tools
Manual testing
Knowledge of Agile methodology
Teamwork Skills
Act Independently using own initiative within established parameters
The postholder must be able to:
Develop and maintain effective written and verbal communication with stakeholders of all levels, as well as meeting attendance explaining highly complex IT processes and issues often focusing on testing requirements and defects and issues found as the senior testing contact
Liaise as necessary with NHS staff at all levels on testing related matters, dealing with conflicting requirements and priorities. Refocus discussions where necessary, to resolve conflict and establish acceptable conclusions.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Master's degree in an associated professional field (or equivalent qualification / experience).
- Demonstratable experience with design and creation of automated test frameworks, such as test Harnesses / systems to test other systems
- Aware of principles, methods, techniques and tools for the effective management of the testing process and the execution of tests throughout the lifecycle of development or integration projects.
Desirable
- Relevant testing qualification, for example ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level.
- Familiar with concepts such as Servant-Leaders; ceremonies, Stand-Ups, Sprints and Retrospectives; and the deployment of tools and techniques such as Backlogs and A/B Testing
Experience
Essential
- Proficient in programmatic testing in the back end of systems, including databases, data flows and messaging queues.
- Experience of working in a similar role as a confident and competent Test Engineer or Senior Test Engineer, with a successful track record of writing, debugging and refactoring complex and/or large-scale test code.
- Proficient in software testing and its associated documentation such as test plans, test result reports and risk reports, as well as a detailed understanding of defect management and taking structured approaches to the resolution of issues (analysis, diagnosis and reporting of complex system errors).
- Familiar with understanding and application of different development approaches e.g. iterative/ incremental methodologies (Agile, XP, TDD, SCRUM) or traditional sequential methodologies (Waterfall or V-Model), where development and operational staff work collaboratively.
- Experience in supervising an IT Test team.
Desirable
- Aware of how DevOps emphasizes people (and culture) and seeks to improve collaboration between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams with the aim of shortening the systems development life cycle to provide continuous release of high-quality software.
- Experience of working in an NHS/Healthcare or Public Sector environment.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Stress handling skills to retain objectivity and a proper understanding of a problem or situation when placed under conditions of stress
- Attention to detail skills to apply specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete Ability to establish good working relationships with people at all levels.
Desirable
- Ability to Speak Welsh to Level 1
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Knowledge
Essential
- Master's degree in an associated professional field (or equivalent qualification / experience).
- Demonstratable experience with design and creation of automated test frameworks, such as test Harnesses / systems to test other systems
- Aware of principles, methods, techniques and tools for the effective management of the testing process and the execution of tests throughout the lifecycle of development or integration projects.
Desirable
- Relevant testing qualification, for example ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level.
- Familiar with concepts such as Servant-Leaders; ceremonies, Stand-Ups, Sprints and Retrospectives; and the deployment of tools and techniques such as Backlogs and A/B Testing
Experience
Essential
- Proficient in programmatic testing in the back end of systems, including databases, data flows and messaging queues.
- Experience of working in a similar role as a confident and competent Test Engineer or Senior Test Engineer, with a successful track record of writing, debugging and refactoring complex and/or large-scale test code.
- Proficient in software testing and its associated documentation such as test plans, test result reports and risk reports, as well as a detailed understanding of defect management and taking structured approaches to the resolution of issues (analysis, diagnosis and reporting of complex system errors).
- Familiar with understanding and application of different development approaches e.g. iterative/ incremental methodologies (Agile, XP, TDD, SCRUM) or traditional sequential methodologies (Waterfall or V-Model), where development and operational staff work collaboratively.
- Experience in supervising an IT Test team.
Desirable
- Aware of how DevOps emphasizes people (and culture) and seeks to improve collaboration between development (Dev) and operations (Ops) teams with the aim of shortening the systems development life cycle to provide continuous release of high-quality software.
- Experience of working in an NHS/Healthcare or Public Sector environment.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Stress handling skills to retain objectivity and a proper understanding of a problem or situation when placed under conditions of stress
- Attention to detail skills to apply specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete Ability to establish good working relationships with people at all levels.
Desirable
- Ability to Speak Welsh to Level 1
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
