Automation QA Engineer

Location: East Sussex

We are looking for an experienced automation focused QA Engineer to join a growing quality engineering team. This role will cover the full software testing lifecycle, with a particular focus on expanding test automation while maintaining strong manual testing practices.
You will play an important role in improving quality processes, supporting a move towards CI/CD delivery, and ensuring software is robust, reliable, and thoroughly tested. The role will also provide opportunities to contribute to wider QA initiatives, define best practices, and support the development of less experienced team members.

Key Responsibilities

Design, develop and maintain automated tests using Playwright.
Build and enhance scalable test automation frameworks using a Page Object Model approach.
Perform manual, functional, regression and exploratory testing.
Develop automated API tests using REST APIs, Postman or similar tools.
Work closely with developers, QA colleagues and other stakeholders throughout the software development lifecycle.
Contribute to the definition and implementation of QA coding standards, processes and best practices.
Support the continued integration of automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
Identify opportunities to improve test coverage, efficiency and overall quality processes.
Investigate, document and communicate defects effectively.
Mentor and support less experienced QA team members.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the wider QA function.
Utilise modern AI coding and testing tools, such as Claude, to improve productivity and testing effectiveness.
Skills & Experience

4+ years' commercial experience with Playwright.
Strong experience developing automated tests within a large-scale or enterprise-level framework.
Strong understanding and practical application of the Page Object Model.
Strong manual testing experience, including functional and exploratory testing.
Strong proficiency in at least one programming language, ideally Type Script or JavaScript.
Good understanding of software testing methodologies, techniques, and best practices.
Experience testing REST APIs and related concepts.
Practical experience creating automated API tests using Postman or similar tools.
Experience working within structured software development and QA environments.
Ability to establish and follow robust automation coding standards and best practices.
Comfortable mentoring and supporting less experienced colleagues.
Desirable

Experience with non-functional testing, including performance or load testing.
Familiarity with relevant performance testing tools and industry best practices.
Experience working within or supporting CI/CD environments.
Experience using AI-assisted coding and testing tools.

Spectrum IT Recruitment (South) Limited is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy