Job Description:

Are you a Principal Software Test Engineer with experience of leading the testing strategy and delivery across a complex, multi-layered embedded software platform? 
We're recruiting a Principal Software Test Engineer in Cambridge (3 days in the office) with a salary of up to £90,000 on offer.

We're working with an established international technology organisation developing advanced hardware/software platforms used in high-performance, data-driven environments. Their solutions support critical infrastructure where reliability, scalability, and precision are key.

They are looking for someone to lead the testing strategy and delivery across a complex, multi-layered embedded software platform.
The Role You will join a product engineering team responsible for delivering customer-facing software running on a specialised hardware platform. The system comprises multiple software layers operating across separate boards, combining higher-level application functionality with lower-level system control.

One layer focuses on networking and external interfaces, supporting standard communication protocols and user-facing APIs. Another layer operates closer to the hardware, handling real-time command execution and coordination of system components.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role, combining deep testing expertise with cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities 

• Define and implement comprehensive test strategies in collaboration with senior engineers and stakeholders
• Contribute to project scoping, planning, and estimation of testing activities
• Ensure test approaches align with system architecture and product requirements
• Lead test planning, execution, and reporting
• Develop and review verification and validation plans
• Perform integration testing across software and hardware boundaries
• Work with low-level interfaces and communication protocols (e.g. serial and peripheral interfaces)
• Use lab-based debugging and diagnostic tools where required
• Analyse results, identify defects, and drive improvements

Test Automation

• Design and develop scalable automated testing frameworks
• Write maintainable and efficient test scripts (primarily in Python)
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with software, hardware, and operations teams to resolve issues
• Support product release activities and field issue investigations
• Contribute to overall product quality and reliability

Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide technical leadership within the test function
• Mentor engineers on testing best practices and methodologies
• Participate in design and code reviews

Process & Compliance

• Produce and maintain test documentation (plans, cases, reports)
• Ensure alignment with internal quality standards and regulatory requirements

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements to testing processes and tools
• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies

Required Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in software testing, ideally within embedded or systems-level environments
• Experience validating complex systems involving both software and hardware
• Strong Python skills for test automation (e.g. PyTest or similar frameworks)
• Experience integrating automated tests into CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab CI)
• Comfortable working in Linux environments, including shell scripting
• Solid understanding of testing methodologies (unit, integration, system, end-to-end)
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills
• Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments

Desirable Skills

• Experience with containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Exposure to security testing practices and tools
• Performance and scalability testing experience
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Relevant certifications (e.g. ISTQB, Agile testing, Python)