Test Automaton Engineer

Description

Test Automation Engineer

Location: Farnborough, UK

Security Clearance Level: DV

UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL

Leidos is seeking a Test Automation Engineer to join its UK team in the Farnborough area. The role will support the delivery of secure, reliable technical solutions through a combination of manual testing, Python-based test automation, AWS and database expertise. The successful candidate will be a seasoned technical individual contributor who is fully proficient in applying testing principles, theories and concepts, and who can work independently on technically difficult or unclear problems.

Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people and our community. Our mission and our values guide the way we do business. The foundation of our Leidos culture is our Values, Beliefs and Expectations by which we select, recognise and reward employees. They create the environment that drives us toward our mission.

Inspired to make a difference, we are committed to solving the world’s toughest problems.

Are you ready for your next challenge?

Come join our team and further develop your skills as we deliver and support systems key to the defence of the UK and partner nations. Being part of the Leidos team is a commitment to push yourself and those around you to do better, constantly adapt and learn new technologies. We’re a passionate team and are committed to developing and growing our staff. Leidos is a global science and technology solutions leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in defence, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers.

Your Key Role and Responsibilities

• Define, develop, execute and maintain manual and automated test approaches across functional, integration, system and regression testing.

• Design and implement scalable Python test automation frameworks, reusable libraries and supporting utilities.

• Test AWS-hosted services and applications, including interfaces, data flows, permissions, logging and operational behaviour.

• Plan and perform security testing against applicable CIS Security Controls and Safeguards, confirming that required controls are implemented, configured correctly and supported by suitable evidence.

• Assess security controls across AWS, applications, databases and supporting infrastructure, including secure configuration, identity and access management, vulnerability management, audit logging, data protection, network monitoring and application security.

• Document security test plans, control-to-test traceability, findings, evidence, residual risks and remediation recommendations, and verify corrective actions through retesting.

• Validate relational and/or non-relational databases through data interrogation, reconciliation, integrity checks and backend testing.

• Analyse requirements, designs and acceptance criteria to determine test coverage, traceability and risk-based priorities.

• Investigate failures, identify root causes, record high-quality defects and collaborate with engineering teams through resolution and retest.

• Produce clear test plans, test cases, automation assets, evidence, results and completion reports.

• Support estimation, planning, technical reviews and continuous improvement of test practices, tooling and quality controls.

• Provide technical guidance, coaching and constructive review to less experienced technical staff.

• Communicate technical findings, risks and recommendations to internal stakeholders, project leaders and client team members.

Your skills and experience

• Strong practical experience of manual testing, including test analysis, design, execution, defect management and reporting.

• Proven experience creating and maintaining automated tests using Python.

• Hands-on experience testing applications or services hosted in AWS.

• Practical security testing experience focused on assessing CIS Security Controls and Safeguards, including the ability to translate control requirements into measurable test cases and evidence-based findings.

• Experience testing security controls within cloud and hybrid environments, with particular attention to secure configuration, access control, logging, vulnerability management, data protection and application security.

• Strong database testing skills, including the use of SQL for data validation and fault investigation.

• Ability to develop solutions to difficult or unclear technical testing problems through deep analysis and collaboration with internal experts.

• Deep understanding of software testing principles, test techniques, quality risks and the software development lifecycle.

• Broad awareness of related engineering disciplines, including software development, infrastructure, security and deployment practices.

• Experience working independently and taking ownership of complete testing projects or processes within a technical area.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence project and team leaders on test design, process and technical approach.

Desirable Skills

• Experience integrating automated tests into continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.

• Experience using Selenium for browser-based test automation.

• Proficiency with Git-based version control, branching, pull requests and peer review.

• Experience with API testing, test doubles, service virtualisation or performance testing.

• Familiarity with containerised environments and infrastructure-as-code delivery practices.

• Experience working within Agile delivery teams.

Career-Level Requirements

• Operate as a seasoned technical individual contributor, fully proficient in applying technical principles, theories and concepts within the testing discipline.

• Work independently to deliver objectives that have a significant impact on operational results or project deliverables.

• Take responsibility for entire projects or processes within the assigned technical testing area.

• Develop solutions to technical issues that are difficult, unclear and dependent on deep technical knowledge.

  Collaborate with internal experts and consider the impact of testing solutions on the end produc