Automation Tester

About the role

As a Tester at CDS Digital, you will be a versatile member of the QA team, contributing to an automation first approach and supporting manual testing when applicable. You'll work on a wide range of client projects across multiple industries, helping to deliver robust, accessible, and high performing digital experiences.

This role offers the opportunity to collaborate in an Agile environment, working closely with Developers, Product Owners, and fellow QA professionals to ensure exceptional user experiences.

Candidates must:

• Be an automation tester.
• Be eligible to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance.
• Be able to attend the office two days per week, as this is a hybrid role.
  

About CDS

CDS is an agency that enables strategic change in organisations. We help clients create, develop and deliver better services to meet the evolving needs of customers, employees and citizens.

Our experts specialise in technical enablement, operational transformation, experience transformation and business process outsourcing. We improve outcomes by resolving complex insight, digital, data, technology and print challenges.

Consequently, many of the largest, most complex organisations trust CDS to provide solutions that improve health, wealth and safety in the UK. For example:

• Digitally transforming the ability to report crime online for UK police forces.
• Building a new digital platform for the regulator Social Work England.
• Providing behavioural analysis and insight to drive EE's evolving digital and customer service offering and delivering marketing and operational print management services to the Ministry of Defence

Together with our parent company, Bailie Group, CDS is positioned as a leader in enabling change. We are a multi-award-winning agency recognised by the industries we serve and our peers for our innovations and contributions that truly make a positive difference.

Requirements

You will be expected to:

• Adopt an automation-first mindset when designing and executing tests, prioritising scalable and maintainable test automation.
• Actively participate in sprint ceremonies such as stand-ups, planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
• Analyse business and functional requirements to ensure clarity, completeness, testability and alignment with user and system needs.
• Develop, execute, and maintain automated and manual test cases and scripts across web, mobile, desktop, and bespoke software platforms.
• Design, implement, and review automated tests using tools such as Selenium, SpecFlow (Cucumber/Gherkin), and Playwright.
• Conduct exploratory, functional, regression, integration, performance, and accessibility testing.
• Conduct cross-browser and cross-device testing.
• Contribute to performance testing and analysis, utilising tools such as k6, loadninja, Neoload or Locust.
• Log, document, and track defects using Azure DevOps, and collaborate with developers to resolve them.
• Analyse server logs and perform root cause analysis to diagnose defects and performance issues.
• Confidently drive client-facing demos and communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders.
• Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT), working closely with business teams to validate that delivered features meet expectations.
• Actively contribute to the ongoing improvement of QA processes, tools, documentation, and test coverage through retrospectives, experimentation, and feedback cycles.
Bring Innovation and New Technologies into CDS: We welcome all ideas whether big or small to help us shape the future of CDS. From everyday improvements to bold innovations, every suggestion matters. Emerging technologies, including AI and digital transformation, are key to driving our progress, but innovation can come from anywhere.

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Key Technical Skills and Tools

• Solid understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) within Agile/Scrum methodologies.
  
• Solid understanding of software QA methodologies, tools, and processes.
  
• Confident in one or more programming/scripting languages, including JavaScript.
  
• Hands-on experience with:
  
  • Building and maintaining test frameworks using Selenium, Playwright or similar tools as part of a shift-left, automation first approach to quality.
    
  • Automated Performance Testing tools such as k6, LoadNinja, NeoLoad or Locust.
    
  • Automated Security Testing tools such as OWASP testing tools.
    
  • Version control (Git) and CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps).
    
• Experience with test case management tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, JIRA or similar).
  
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
  
• A proactive and collaborative team player who has earned the respect of colleagues through reliability and positive contributions.
  
• Demonstrates excellent problem-solving skills, applying logical reasoning and data analysis to support decision-making.
• Experience working with Content Management Systems (e.g., EPiServer).
  
• Working knowledge of BrowserStack for cross-browser testing.

Qualifications & Experience

• ISTQB Certified: Advanced Level Test Analyst and/or Test Automation Engineer.
• 25 years of experience in QA testing roles, including a minimum of 2 years hands-on automation experience.
• Understanding of accessibility standards and associated testing guidelines.

Desirable Experience

• Working with low code solutions such as Appian.

Hybrid & Homeworking

To ensure the health, safety & wellbeing of our employees we have minimum standards for homeworking environments which must be maintained. Further details available on request.

Vetting

Due to the nature of this role and the business, you will need to either currently hold UK Government clearance to a minimum of SC level or be able to undergo and maintain this level of clearance.

In return

• Attractive base salary
• 25 days holiday + public holidays
• Company pension and life assurance scheme
• Medicash health plan online GP access, support services & discounted gym membership
• Complimentary fruit, coffee, tea, and Friday drinks at the office
• Wellbeing events/services in Leeds office
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season pass loan for rail & bus travel
• A business focused on professional development and personal growth opportunities
Smart, engaged co-workers and a culture of inclusion, innovation, and opportunity

Recruitment Agency Disclaimer:

Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) operates with Preferred Suppliers list for recruitment agencies which are reviewed periodically. When we choose to work with a preferred supplier, this supplier will be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for specific roles (submitted via a secure online portal).

Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) only pay agency fees where an authorised member of the HR/Recruitment team has provided prior instructions to the recruitment agency to work on our behalf with reference to a particular role. We do not accept unsolicited speculative CVs from recruitment agencies. Receipt of unsolicited CVs via email or any other online platforms does not imply an introduction to Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop); therefore, no ownership of such candidates will be given. In the event that recruitment agencies submit unsolicited speculative CVs, we retain the right to contact, pursue and hire these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers. Should you wish to be considered as a preferred supplier in the future or feel you have a niche skill set you can help with, then please send some company information to [email protected]

Naturally, we receive a high level of interest from recruitment agencies, and as such, we will only contact you should we wish to discuss this further, please reframe from sending multiple emails. Submission of any unsolicited speculative CVs to Bailie Group (including all operational companies under our parent company CDS, CDS Defence & Security, Newspress & Loop) will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this statement.

Our inclusive culture

CDS positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. We foster an inclusive culture that enables everyone to achieve their full potential and enjoy a fulfilling career with us.