Test Analyst

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Test Analyst

Manchester

Salary: £39,855 - £44,542

Hybrid – 2x days per week in the office

Permanent

Love problem solving and overcoming challenges?

Want to embrace new technologies and a cloud first approach?

Over 50% of our recruitment is offered internally only so this could be your next job and the one after.

You have good knowledge of component level testing. Perhaps you’ve worked in an Agile environment. What we need from you is familiarity with analysing requirements, scripting and reviewing test cases and running test execution with test tools. In addition to this, you will have demonstrable understanding of test reporting to clearly depict progress, blockages and risks.

Articulate and collaborative, you have the ability to communicate bugs and issues to wider audiences (technical and non-technical). And being a team player at heart, you’ll have an open style with your key stakeholders – sharing your knowledge and developing new skills in return.

It’s an exciting time at AQA, we’re on an ambitious journey. As a Test Analyst you’ll be a key part of an organisation continuing to deliver its charitable purpose of enabling millions of students to reach their potential every year. 

What’s in it for you?

• A focus on personal and professional growth and development
• A company who focus on health and wellbeing by enabling access to Private Medical Insurance and a Health Care Cash Reward Plan, Life Assurance and an employee assistance program
• A company who invest in your future with a really strong pension offer (up to 11.5% employer contributions)
• 25 days annual leave with bank holidays and extra closure days at Christmas on top
• The opportunity to work on a Modernisation Programme for Integration The opportunity to work on the flagship AQA product in a fast paced environment
• Exposure to Automation knowledge is useful

What will I need to succeed?

• Knowledge of different methodologies, e.g. Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, and able to provide support on ways of working with other Test Team members
• The ability to review Functional and Non-Functional User Stories and requirements and be able to share queries and questions and able to show a basic understanding of BDD syntax
• To be able to produce Test Cases to a high standard with best practice as guided by the Test Manager and participate in peer reviews
• To be able to support the delivery of Functional Test Phases, e.g. System Testing, System Integration (SIT), User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and End to End Testing (E2E)
• Good experience and knowledge of the use of Functional Test Tools, e.g. Azure DevOps (ADO), JIRA, HP Quality Centre
• Experience to support the delivery of Non-Functional Test Phases, e.g. Performance Testing, Pen Testing and Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT)
• Good Defect Management skills - identifying and raising defects, demoing with Development resource, retesting and closure of Defects within the Test Phase
• Good experience of fulfilling clear Test Reporting illustrating progress and metrics to a wide delivery team of Stakeholders
• Clear and concise communication skills
• Good experience of escalating risks, issues and challenges to the Programme Test Manager and support their resolution and closure to reduce compromise to the success of any delivery

How do I apply?

Read the full job description then upload your most recent CV and a cover letter explaining how your skills and experience match what we are looking for.

Closing date for applications will be 5th January 2025. Interviews will be face to face in Manchester during January 2025

Applications will be reviewed as we receive them and if a suitable candidate is identified, we reserve the right to close our advert.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

To design, plan, execute tests in-line with AQA testing practices under the direction of the Test Manager and aligned with AQA development methodologies.
To provide testing outcome data and assist Project Stakeholders in making a qualitative assessment of the components under test and the extent to which they have met their requirements, design and specification.
To represent the Test Team in the day-to-day development activities, identifying areas of risk and applying appropriate testing techniques to mitigate them.
To help complete AQA’s ongoing transition to a single, consistent set of cloud-based technologies (technology re-platform) and move to an agile delivery model in line with current software development best practices (Scrum/Kanban; continuous delivery) – and to continually improve and enhance that technology for new and changing business needs, once that transition is complete.Key Accountabilities
Reporting to Test Manager and representing the Test Team, operate day-to-day within the Development Team as Test Analyst in both existing (Java/ORACLE) and evolving (Microsoft-based Continuous Integration (CI)) environments.
As part of the Development Team, personally undertake day-to-day hands-on functional and non-functional testing.
Apply state of the art testing best-practices, eg Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) and Continuous Integration (CI).
Actively participate in review of deliverables (static testing) to identify errors, omissions and areas of ambiguity.
Analyse deliverables to derive testing scenarios, scripts, data and expected results.
Facilitate and participate in collaborative review of testing deliverables to ensure acceptable quality.
Undertake Test Execution (dynamic testing) tasks, preparing test environments, executing test scripts, comparing actual with expected results and documenting and reporting outcomes.
Raise defects when encountered and ensure initial process steps undertaken in accordance with defect management process.
Provide data to colleagues to enable derivation of testing progress reports and quality metrics.
Assist colleagues in identifying testing requirements and derivation of Testing Strategies and Plans.
Assist with the continual improvement of ways of working in both Testing and wider departmental processes. Identify opportunities for testing process improvement and act as advocate for their consideration for implementation.
Facilitate product backlog management and iteration planning by providing estimates and advising on Testing approaches and options in the context of delivery cost and risk.
Keep abreast of state-of-the-art testing practices by reading and attending external events, share learnings within the Software Solutions group to ensure practices remain appropriate and up to date.
Assist in planning and coordination of Non-Functional Testing in collaboration with Technical Teams.
Assist in planning and coordination of Penetration Testing in collaboration with Security team.
General Accountabilities
To model professional behaviours with confidence, especially the specific AQA and Assessment Technology behavioural cornerstones.
To comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.
Where business needs change, to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile.
Person Profile
Knowledge
A broad understanding of testing and its role, relevance and application in either a commercial or an educational environment - A/I
In-depth understanding of the testing life-cycle in context of the ALM (Agile and at least one other). - A/I
Detailed knowledge and understanding of testing techniques and management tools and their application in Agile and at least one other methodology - A/I
Knowledge of Agile testing techniques in a SCRUM context - A/I/P
Understanding of the purpose and processes of non-functional testing, including Penetration Testing - I/P
Qualification
Degree level qualification in Software Engineering or equivalent discipline, or equivalent professional experience - A
Skills
Proven oral and written communication skills and ability to explain issues to technical and non-technical staff - A/I
Ability to undertake both functional and non-functional testing - A/I
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills in a variety of situations - I
Excellent analytical skills - A/I
A questioning and investigative mind - I/P
A pragmatic approach with requisite attention to detail - I/P
Ability and willingness to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team - I/P
Ability to apply a risk-based testing approach and awareness of commonplace system malfunctions and defects - I/P
Ability to quickly glean knowledge of systems and components under test - I/P
Ability to adapt to new approaches, technologies, tools and procedures - I/P
Ability to positively influence colleagues with regard to Testing matters - I/P
Demonstrable ability to produce and maintain high quality detailed testing documentation - I/P
Demonstrates resilience and calmness under pressure to meet tight deadlines in complex contexts - I/P
Receive feedback and learn from mistakes for continuous self-development - I/P
Demonstrates proactive collaborative working across functional areas to deliver shared goals - I/P
Leadership Skills
Collaborative and flexible in approach and a thought-leader especially in role-specific areas of expertise. - A/I/P
Maintain constructive links with other teams and work collaboratively to deliver targets. - I/P
Experience
Demonstrable experience of successfully undertaking tasks in line with Key Accountabilities - A/I
Demonstrable experience of operating in Agile environments - A/I
Experience in using one or more testing tools in a day-to-day hands-on testing role - A/I
Demonstrable experience and knowledge of recognised testing techniques (eg black box, white box, risk-based, scenario-based) - A/I
Experience of different Test Activities (eg Unit, System, Integration, User Acceptance) including both functional and non-functional testing - A/I/P
AQA’s Behaviour Framework which is assessed through the selection/probation process
Assessment key (criteria to be assessed at the selection stage)
A – application (it is essential to provide evidence on application for shortlisting purposes)
I - interview
T – test (or work sample)
P – probation