Test Automation Engineer

Northern Ireland Water Limited; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Automation Engineer for a 6-month contract to enhance automated test coverage. This role involves designing automated UI and API tests, improving automation frameworks, and reducing manual tests through automation. Candidates should have strong automation experience, particularly with TypeScript frameworks like Cypress and API testing tools such as Postman. The position is hybrid, based in Belfast, working 2-3 days in the office, offering a rate of circa £400 per day.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on experience with modern test automation approaches is essential.
• Familiarity with TypeScript-based automation frameworks like Cypress or Playwright is beneficial.
• Experience in API testing using tools like Postman is needed.

Responsibilities

• Designing, writing, and maintaining automated UI and API tests.
• Enhancing and contributing to existing automation frameworks.
• Reducing manual regression effort through automation.
• Executing and debugging automated tests locally and in CI/CD pipelines.
• Identifying and documenting defects with evidence.
• Supporting sprint planning with estimates and input.
• Collaborating with engineers to ensure quality from the outset.

Skills

Hands-on experience with modern test automation approaches

TypeScript-based automation frameworks (Cypress, Playwright)

API testing tools (Postman)

CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps)

SQL and data validation

Git version control workflows

Jira or similar issue tracking tools

Job description

Overview

MCS Group is looking for a Senior Automation Engineer to join our client's engineering team on a 6-month contract basis, supporting the acceleration of automated test coverage across their platform. This Automation Engineer will take on a highly hands-on, delivery-focused role, contributing directly to the design, implementation and maintenance of automated tests across critical user journeys, while helping to strengthen overall automation capability.

As a Senior Automation Engineer, your primary focus will be on building high-quality automated tests that provide fast, meaningful feedback to engineering teams.

The Role

• Designing, writing and maintaining automated UI and API tests aligned to critical user journeys
• Enhancing and contributing to existing automation frameworks and patterns
• Reducing manual regression effort through reliable, maintainable automation
• Executing and debugging automated tests locally and within CI/CD pipelines
• Identifying, investigating and clearly documenting defects with appropriate supporting evidence
• Supporting sprint planning by providing estimates and input into test approaches
• Working closely with engineers to ensure quality is built in from the outset

The Person

• You will have strong hands-on experience with modern test automation approaches. Experience with any of the following would be beneficial:

• TypeScript-based automation frameworks (such as Cypress, Playwright or equivalent)
• API testing using tools such as Postman or similar frameworks
• CI/CD pipelines (e.g. GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI)
• SQL and data validation for backend and integration testing
• Git and pull request-based version control workflows
• Jira or similar issue tracking tools

IR35: Outside

Rate: Circa £400 per day

Duration: 6 months

Location: Belfast - hybrid (2 - 3 days per week in office)

Application process: To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity please send an up to date CV via the link provided or contact Jill Johnston, Head of IT Contracts, at MCS Group 02896 935 509

Even if this position is not right for you, we may have others that are. Please visit MCS Group to view a wide selection of our current jobs www.mcsgroup.jobs

MCS Group is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all, being the first recruitment agency in NI to achieve Bronze Diversity Mark accreditation. If you have a disability which means you require a reasonable adjustment to be considered at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us and we will endeavour to facilitate the request.

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