Automation Test Engineer

Automation Test Engineer | Outside IR35 | Remote

SR2 is looking for an automation-focused Test Engineers to support a public sector digital programme. You'll help ensure that connected applications work reliably across complete user journeys, combining strong automation skills with a thorough approach to functional testing.

The Role

Working within an Agile delivery team, you'll test changes across front-end applications, APIs and downstream services. You'll influence requirements early, develop reusable automated tests and provide the evidence needed to make informed release decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automated UI, API and integration tests, embedding them into CI/CD pipelines.
• Validate complete business journeys through functional, regression, exploratory and end-to-end testing.
• Work with developers and Product Owners to clarify acceptance criteria, identify risks and agree appropriate test coverage.
• Maintain clear links between requirements, test cases, execution results and defects using Jira and Xray.
• Investigate failures, document reproducible defects and verify fixes through retesting.
• Communicate test outcomes, coverage gaps and unresolved risks to support release readiness.

Essential

• Strong hands-on test automation experience, ideally with Playwright, Cypress and/or Python.
• Experience testing REST APIs, checking JSON/XML payloads and automating integration and contract tests.
• Practical experience with tools such as Postman, Bruno or REST Assured.
• Ability to interpret Swagger/OpenAPI specifications and translate them into effective API tests.
• Experience using Jira and Xray for test management, traceability and defect tracking.
• A collaborative Agile testing approach, with strong analytical skills and the confidence to challenge unclear requirements constructively.

Desirable

• Experience testing applications hosted on AWS.
• Ability to investigate application behaviour through CloudWatch logs.
• SQL skills for validating backend data and checking the impact of application changes.

The Details

• Contract role
• Duration: Until the 10th of December initially and then until the end of March + extensions
• IR35 status: Outside IR35
• Day rate: circa £400p/d
• Location: Remote

If you're an automation-focused tester who enjoys working across complex, connected services, apply with your latest CV to find out more.