Job Description
Senior Test Automation Engineer
Job Summary
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is a unique organisation that works to save and improve lives every day.
Join NHSBT and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare technology. As a Senior Test Automation Engineer, you will help deliver and enhance critical clinical systems that support lifesaving services across the UK. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced testing professional to lead the development of automation capabilities, drive quality improvements, and ensure that digital solutions are robust, reliable, and fit for purpose in a highly regulated environment.
Working within the Clinical Services Product Centre, you will collaborate with technical specialists, delivery teams, and stakeholders to champion best practice in software testing and continuous improvement. This role offers the chance to combine strategic influence, technical expertise, and people leadership, helping to build a modern testing culture while mentoring others and delivering meaningful change. If you are passionate about automation, quality engineering, and making a tangible difference through innovation, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Test Automation Engineer will lead and manage the automated and manual technical testing plans and implementation for Clinical Services IT systems.
This post holder will play a key role in the modernisation of Clinical Services technology, which includes the conversion to an automated testing base. The post holder will lead embedding a test automation capability into the organisation which will improve the testing effectiveness and the speed at which the Clinical Services Product Centre will be able to deliver change. Your duties will include:
- Ensure that testing processes with Systems Development and Integration department adhere to recognised good practice standards (including GMP, GAMP and GDP) and provide assurance that the quality of testing is appropriate to meet the needs of NHSBT. This includes cascading information about procedures and challenging poor practice when observed.
- Represent the Clinical Services Product Centre team at workshops and engagements with senior stakeholders, explaining to them the benefits and requirements of effective systems testing and gaining their agreement to participate.
- Define and maintain the test automation framework.
- Write and maintain software test scripts, test cases and test logs/reports to a high degree of accuracy. These could be manual/automated or performance test scripts as required.
- Carry out automated software testing and produce test results/coverage reports. Log and manage any defects found in testing and communicate outcomes to systems developers, users and other stakeholders.
- Analyse test scripts and determine the testing data required for them to be used effectively. Prepare this testing data based on knowledge of the system being testing and the underlying business process that it supports.
- Develop and maintain an understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle, relevant external guidelines and standards and identify where these can be improved or better used in NHSBT.
You may the required to work irregular hours, travel extensively, including overnight stays and spend time away from base to meet the requirements of the post (with appropriate prior notice).
About You
Experience and Knowledge
Significant direct experience in the role of system test automation engineer or equivalent.
Significant direct experience in the role of system test engineer or equivalent.
Expert knowledge in “black box” and “white box” testing.
Good knowledge of test management, estimation, monitoring, and control.
Knowledge of software automation/tools and performance testing/tools.
Significant experience of using Microsoft Office.
Knowledge of software testing in an Agile/Lean software development environment.
Qualifications and Training
Degree level qualification in a related subject or equivalent experience.
Postgraduate diploma in relevant subject e.g. software testing or can evidence equivalent knowledge/experience to post-graduate level
Good knowledge of software testing standards e.g. BS7925-1 & BS7925-2
About Us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you’ll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do. By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work – and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
What we offer:
- Hybrid working arrangements – because NHSBT works nationally, we’re able to offer hybrid working options that give you more flexibility to balance work with life.
- Flexible working options – we promote flexible working where the role allows. We’re happy to discuss what flexibility might look like for you.
- Generous annual leave - 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- Inclusive pension scheme - the NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns). Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/information-about-nhs-pensions
- Supportive learning culture - we’ve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. It’s open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
- Health and wellbeing support – we offer confidential services including occupational health, employee assistance programme, and wellbeing resources. Our support is available to all colleagues and we endeavour to provide tailored workplace adjustments where possible.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applications from disabled candidates. We will talk with you to explore any adjustments that may help you during the recruitment process.
You can find more information about accessibility, our culture, and how we support applicants on the NHSBT Careers website:
To learn more, please see the job description and person specification. These can be accessed via the link below, or by clicking ‘Apply’ if you are viewing this advert on another site.
Next steps
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 29th July 2026, however this vacancy may close sooner than the advertised deadline if we receive a high volume of application.
The assessment process for this role will include: a single interview. Interviews are anticipated to be held on 12th & 13th August 2026 – subject to confirmation.
For informal enquiries please contact –
Name: Helen Cerullo,
Job Title: Senior Delivery Lead
Contact Details: helen.cerullo@nhsbt.nhs.uk
