Senior Software Test Engineer

Senior Software Test Engineer

Department: Engineering

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Bristol, UK

Reporting To: Leigh Bazan

Compensation: £55,000 - £75,000 / year

We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.

We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.

Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 160 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.

About the role

We’re growing our team and looking for a Senior Software Test Engineer to play a key role in delivering assured software across complex, mission‑critical systems.

You’ll take ownership of software quality across your projects, ensuring Rowden’s software is robust, reliable, and meets the standards expected by our mission‑focused customers.

You’ll work across a diverse set of projects, including bespoke mobile applications, geospatial tooling, cloud platforms, sensing and provisioning systems. Many of these integrate closely with hardware, so experience working across software and hardware ecosystems is essential.

As a senior member of the team, you’ll operate confidently across multidisciplinary environments, contributing to complex deliveries and helping shape how we approach quality in challenging, real‑world conditions. You will play a pivotal role in delivering our next generation of critical technologies that bridge the gap between frontline operators and the commercial advancements they need to succeed.

While this role offers hybrid working options, it requires a minimum of 3 days per week on‑site at our Bristol HQ, with occasional travel to support integration and testing activities.

Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.

More information about security clearance is available here:

• Own test design, execution and reporting
  , ensuring traceability, providing clear visibility and communicating quality and risk to stakeholders.
• Design and deliver structured, risk‑based test approaches
  , producing clear, traceable test artefacts and outcomes.
• Support release and acceptance activities
  , providing confident, evidence‑based recommendations on product readiness.
• Embed seamlessly within delivery teams
  , contributing to agile ceremonies and ensuring requirements are unambiguous, testable, and aligned to quality goals.
• Drive the adoption and development of automated testing
  , ensuring scalable, maintainable solutions are embedded in delivery.
• Influence test strategy across complex, multi‑disciplinary systems, including hardware‑integrated, distributed and embedded platforms.
• Strengthen test governance across teams
  , promoting consistent standards, sound judgement and effective risk management.
• Champion and evolve test best practices
  , raising quality and consistency across products.
• Mentor and develop test engineers
  , building capability, confidence and technical depth across the function.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about technology and who actively invests in their technical skills and abilities. You will be constantly learning and developing in this role, but some key skills and experience you should have already include:

• Experience delivering software test within agile environments, with a track record in complex software or system‑level environments.
• Comprehensive understanding of fundamental software testing principles and structured test design techniques (e.g. decision tables), with proven experience applying them in practice.
• Ability to produce clear, structured and traceable test artefacts, including test design documentation, test cases, execution records and release documentation.
• Ability to quickly close…