QA Engineer - Python (we have office locations in Cambridge Leeds & London)

Join to apply for the QA Engineer - Python (we have office locations in Cambridge Leeds & London) role at Genomics England

Company Description Genomics England partners with the NHS to provide whole genome sequencing diagnostics. We also equip researchers to find the causes of disease and develop new treatments – with patients and participants at the heart of it all. Our mission is to continue refining, scaling, and evolving our ability to enable others to deliver genomic healthcare and conduct genomic research. We are accelerating our impact and working with patients, doctors, scientists, government and industry to improve genomic testing, and help researchers access the health data and technology they need to make new medical discoveries and create more effective, targeted medicines for everybody.

Job Description

We’re seeking a confident and experienced QA Engineer, especially strong and well-proven in Python and test automation, to help ensure the delivery of high-quality, reliable systems that exceed user expectations. In this role, you’ll be hands-on in developing, executing, and automating tests across a range of platforms, playing a key part in maintaining and improving system quality and performance. At Genomics England, the work you do is unique and has real impact - helping deliver world-leading genomic research and transforming healthcare for patients and families across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Follow standard software testing processes to validate and verify Genomics England products.
• Design, build, and maintain Test Automation Frameworks in Python, and for APIs & WebUI, performance, and security testing.
• Manage and optimize CI/CD pipelines for seamless test automation.
• Produce clear, accurate documentation to support product and service maintenance.
• Apply Agile techniques to effectively deliver testing solutions.
• Interact with databases programmatically to retrieve and verify test data.

Skills and Experience for Success

• Must have strong Python programming skills, with extensive commercial experience (Python is absolutely essential!).
• A proven ability to build and maintain reliable, automated test scripts.
• Strong understanding of QA methodologies, tools, and processes.
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive test plans and test cases.
• Proven experience with AWS cloud platform required
• Hands-on experience across the full testing lifecycle, from unit testing to user acceptance testing.
• Proficiency with Selenium-Python, Pytest, and Pytest-BDD.
• Familiarity with BDD methodologies.
• A proactive problem-solving approach and a drive for continuous learning and innovation
• Experience with Gitlab CI/CD, Test Management (X-Ray), Monitoring (Datadog or similar) and Playwright beneficial.
• Strong Python experience is key and an absolute must have, but any experience with other programming languages is beneficial, namely Shell, JavaScript, Java.

Qualifications

QA or testing certifications are desirable but not essential.

Salary and Closing Date

Salary from: £53,500

Closing Date: Sunday 7th September at 23:00 (UK time)

Benefits and Working Model

We pride ourselves on investing in our people and supporting them to achieve their career goals, as well as offering a benefits package including:

• Generous Leave: 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, additional leave for long service, and the option to apply for up to 30 days of remote working abroad annually (approval required).
• Family-Friendly: Blended working arrangements, flexible working, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave benefits.
• Pension & Financial: Defined contribution pension (Genomics England double-matches up to 10%), Life Assurance (3x salary), and a Give As You Earn scheme.
• Learning & Development: Individual learning budgets, support for training and certifications, and reimbursement for one annual professional subscription (approval required).
• Recognition & Rewards: Employee recognition programme and referral scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing: Subsidised gym membership, a free Headspace account, and access to an Employee Assistance Programme, eye tests, flu jabs.

Equal Opportunities

Genomics England is actively committed to providing and supporting an inclusive environment that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion best practice. We are proud of our diverse community where everyone can come to work and feel welcomed and treated with respect regardless of any disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or social background. We do not discriminate and apply our policies fairly to all people.

Blended Working Model

Genomics England operates a blended working model with flexible hybrid working. Most people are expected to come into the office a minimum of 2 times each month, though this varies by role. Office locations: Canary Wharf, Cambridge and Leeds.

Onboarding and Background Checks

As part of our recruitment process, all successful candidates are subject to a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applicants should disclose any previous offences at point of application, as some unspent convictions may affect the application due to the nature of our healthcare work.