Software QA Technician

We have an exciting, permanent opportunity for a senior-level Software QA Technician to join our Amersham office (hybrid working), as we continue to grow and integrate with Howden.

Our software development teams are based in the Amersham, Bristol, Cheltenham, Leeds and London offices. The teams produce software for internal use by staff and for external use by clients and intermediaries through the web, and produce a wide variety of business systems that are used across all our practice areas.

The primary focus of this role is to support the development team in delivering high-quality software across both our existing platform and new product initiatives. Working closely with Business Analysts, Developers, and QA colleagues, you will help implement agreed testing approaches and contribute across all phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).

You will develop expertise within your domain, becoming a trusted authority on testing practices. This includes contributing to decisions around implementation, processes, tools, and methodologies, ultimately enabling the team to deliver reliable software on schedule.

This is a senior-level Software QA Technician position, responsible for designing, building, and maintaining testing solutions to ensure that software meets defined user requirements and plays a key part in continuous improvement of product quality and development processes.

• Provide mentorship and leadership to members of the QA team.
• Develop and share expertise in testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Lead the design and execution of test strategies to ensure comprehensive coverage across the SDLC.
• Contribute to the selection, implementation, and optimisation of testing tools and frameworks.
• Identify gaps in tools, skills, and processes; analyse root causes and drive improvements across teams.
• Participate in product design reviews, providing input on functional and non-functional testing requirements, timelines, and potential risks.
• Lead the development and maintenance of automated test suites to maximise efficiency and coverage.
• Monitor, analyse, and report on test execution and results to support decision-making.
• Continuously review and improve testing and development processes in collaboration with the wider team and contribute proactively to product discussions, highlighting risks, dependencies, and potential issues.

• Excellent understanding of the software development and testing lifecycle.
• Experience in exploratory testing across various platforms is essential.
• Experience in regression testing design, implementation and management is essential.
• Experience in issue logging, defect management, tracking and resolution tools and processes is essential.
• Experience in Agile methodology and how this applies to Testing processes and software development life cycles is essential.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with Visual Studio, Azure Dev Ops, GIT, OWASP and CI/CD highly desirable.
• Experience with API testing highly desirable.
• Experience with TDD, BDD and ACTD is highly desirable.
• Experience of Test Automation tools and techniques is highly desirable.
• ISTQB / ISEB testing qualification is highly desirable but not essential.

• Competitive discretionary annual bonus.
• Generous pension scheme where we contribute 8% of your salary from day one of your employment.
• Core benefits paid for by BW including life assurance, group income protection, private medical cover and 25 days holiday per year with holiday trading.
• Employee Assistance Programme to support you and your family through any concerns or challenges you may experience.
• A comprehensive range of voluntary benefits to suit you (and your family) including an electric car leasing scheme, tech scheme, cycle to work scheme, dental cover, healthcare cash plan, health assessments, critical illness cover, extension of private medical cover or life assurance to family members, Sports Allowance – we pay up to 50% of your gym/sports membership (up to £50 pm), travel insurance, paid volunteering, and a broad range of discounts at hundreds of retailers including supermarkets, fitness centres, travel and leisure companies.
• For a full list of benefits, please .