Job Description:

Senior Test Automation Engineer - CREST Settlement Systems

Location: Hybrid (8 days onsite per month)
Contract: 12 Months
Engagement: Inside IR35
Industry: Financial Services / Capital Markets

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Test Automation Engineer with strong experience across CREST settlement systems, test automation, and financial markets to join a leading financial services organisation.

Working within Agile delivery teams, you will play a key role in defining the overall testing strategy, designing and executing automated and manual test cases, and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality software across business-critical settlement platforms.

This is an excellent opportunity to work on complex post-trade and securities settlement systems while collaborating with highly skilled engineering teams in a modern Agile environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and own Test Strategies and recommend the most effective testing approach.
• Present testing strategies and approaches to technical and business stakeholders.
• Review functional and technical specifications to produce comprehensive test scenarios and test cases.
• Execute both manual and automated testing across multiple applications.
• Perform peer reviews of test artefacts to ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Manage defects throughout the testing lifecycle, including investigation, analysis and defect triage.
• Work collaboratively across multiple Agile squads and distributed teams.
• Provide regular progress updates and manage stakeholder expectations throughout delivery.
• Ensure high-quality testing deliverables are produced in line with agreed standards.
• Contribute to sprint planning, stand-ups, retrospectives and other Agile ceremonies.
• Support continuous improvement of testing practices and automation capabilities.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience as a Senior Test Automation Engineer, Quality Engineer, or Senior QA Engineer.
• Proven experience working within Agile software delivery environments.
• Strong Financial Services or Capital Markets background.
• Experience creating and delivering comprehensive Test Strategies and Test Plans.
• Excellent SQL skills.
• Strong automation experience using:
• Selenium
• Java
• UFT
• Experience using:
• Azure DevOps
• ALM (Application Lifecycle Management)
• Experience with:
• CREST settlement systems
• CREST proprietary messaging
• SWIFT messaging
• ISO15022 / ISO20022 messaging
• Windows
• UNIX
• Excellent defect management and root cause analysis experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• ISTQB or ISEB Foundation Certification.

Desirable Skills

• Playwright
• BDD / TDD
• Kafka
• OpenShift
• CI/CD pipelines
• Jenkins
• API Testing
• Post-trade settlement platforms
• Securities processing
• Clearing and Custody systems

*Rates depend on experience and client requirements