Lead Test Engineer - Cloud

Job summary

The Home Office Quality Assurance and Testing Team (QAT) is seeking individuals passionate about quality and engineering excellence to join their well-established, award-winning team. QAT delivers a large-scale shared service through 750 QA professionals, supporting essential UK services and fostering a strong culture of continuous improvement, particularly in DevOps and cloud environments.

Recently recognised as Testing Team of the Year at the 2024 European Software Testing Awards and re-certified at TMMi level 5 with a global best score, the team prides itself on industry-leading quality standards. The Core Cloud team, a key part of Test Engineering, is building a new strategic hosting platform using Amazon Web Services, focusing on a product-centric approach and enhancing the developer experience at the Home Office.

This Lead Test Engineer role is central to the Core Cloud platform, contributing to advancements in quality assurance and testing within a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative environment.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. Where this is the case, employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office. Applicants can raise any queries to the email address at the bottom of the advert.

Watch this short video to hear from members of Home Office Digital talking about the projects they work on and their experience of working here: Working for Home Office Digital.

Job description

This role will particularly excite you if you are a quality engineering expert with a keen interest and experience in platform engineering, or equally if you are an experienced platform engineer with a keen interest in quality approaches in the field. You will deliver modern, effective test engineering and assurance, whilst maturing the quality of our cloud platform engineering practice.

You will be responsible for solving interesting engineering challenges, including building, adopting, and improving automated test frameworks to deliver effective feedback at scale and pace for complex platform capabilities covering both functional and non-functional aspects. It is essential to ensure these are aligned to the overall platform-level test approaches and QAT principles.

Collaboration is key in this role. You will work with engineering and delivery teams to make sure QAT is embedded by default into the development approach. Building healthy relationships with your team, the wider team, other Home Office Digital professions, and communicating effectively with senior business stakeholders will be crucial. To help the QAT practice thrive, you will also keep up to date with emerging tools and innovative quality approaches, applying them to improve engineering practice within the QAT Test Engineering community and the wider organisation, promoting quality outcomes and value.

QAT/Engineering Tools and Technologies we use:

We have a wide portfolio of tools across the programme including:

• Cloud: AWS (primary) and Azure
• Test Frameworks: Terraform Test, Terratest, Pytest, Serenity BDD (Selenium + RestAssured), Playwright, and several bespoke frameworks.
• DevOps: AWS LZA, GitHub and GitHub Actions, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform
• Performance testing – Locust, JMeter
• Other tools – AWS FIS, Checkov, ZAP, SonarQube
• Observability and Monitoring – ELK, Grafana, Prometheus, Dynatrace.

Person specification

Main Responsibilities

As a Lead Test Engineer your main day to day responsibilities will be:

• Setting the direction for QAT Strategy and Test Engineering within the AWS-focused strategic cloud platform.
• Developing and implementing innovative tooling and DevSecOps best practices.
• Guiding, mentoring, and supporting engineers at all levels, including junior QAT engineers.
• Providing technical advice to improve engineering processes and practices.
• Embedding Infrastructure as Code test frameworks and implementing a modern test pyramid aligned with CI/CD pipelines.
• Building scalable, efficient, and cost-effective quality engineering solutions, while measuring code quality and using risk-based decision-making to help the QAT practice thrive through innovation.

Working Pattern

Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.

Essential Skills

As a Lead Test Engineer, you will have experience of:

• Collaborating with a wide variety of stakeholders to implement effective quality measures and mechanisms.
• Strong technical automation skills with the ability to write well-structured reusable maintainable tests and test utilities (Java, Python, TS/JS preferred).
• Leading a technical team of test engineers, this includes experience with DevSecOps, Cloud Platforms, Containers, Networking, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), SCM e.g. GitHub / Bitbucket.
• Design and deliver platform test approaches involving test automation environments, utilising virtualisation and containerisation.
• Experienced with DevSecOps environment including IaC testing, Unit testing, Contract testing, API testing, E2E testing, Resilience testing.
• Develop and enhance platform test engineering tools to support QA, Testing and Software Development in complex environments, with experience in AWS, Linux, AWS SDK, Pytest and TerraTest, CI/CD tools. eg. Jenkins/ GitHub Actions/ArgoCD.

SFIA capability framework

Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) is the technical framework that sets the standard capability and development of all Quality Assurance & Testing levels in the Home Office. This is a link to the capability framework: All skills A–Z — English (sfia-online.org).

We use set SFIA technical skills to form our interview questions and we will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process.

The essential skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Use the SFIA levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each technical skills listed below.

• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 4
• Domain Experience – Level 4
• Design and Execution – Level 3
• Automation and Tooling – Level 4
• Performance Testing – Level 4
• Integration and Assurance – Level 3

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 4
• Domain Experience – Level 4
• Design and Execution – Level 3
• Automation and Tooling – Level 4
• Performance Testing – Level 4
• Integration and Assurance – Level 3

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,109, Home Office contributes £17,992 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Why work for us...

Find out more information at: Benefits - Home Office Careers, but some of the primary ones are:

• A civil service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

• In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.

• 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.

• 8 days of public holidays, plus 1 additional privilege day.

• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.

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Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (up to 1000 words). Please note your CV and personal statement should include all relevant experience that relates to our essential skills criteria listed in the advert and role description. We recommend that you use the STAR format in your examples and ensure that both components are completed thoroughly.

Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you will be judged on merit alone and not your personal background, circumstances, race or gender. Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected.

Watch our three short videos on how to apply for our roles: Applying - Home Office Careers.

Sift Stage

The sift will be held on theCV and Personal Statement. Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirements.

In the event of a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be held on the Personal Statement.

Interview Stage

Candidates reaching the required standard will then be invited to attend an interview. The interview will assess your Technical Skills (SFIA Framework) and Behaviours using technical and behaviour-based questions.

At the beginning of the interview, you will be required to deliver a presentation. The presentation topic will be provided prior to your interview.

This will consist of two parts:

• A 30-minute technical discussion that will assess your proficiency in using and developing approaches for cloud quality engineering and associated tools.
• This will be followed by a 60-minute panel interview.

The technical discussion will be in two parts,

1) a constructive review of some test code (Python/Java options) and

2) a whiteboarding exercise during which you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your experience in cloud quality engineering. We will provide you up to two scenarios based on AWS concepts and you will be invited to strategise solutions for these.

Please note that in this role, a substantial part of it will be writing code, so proficiency is expected.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks. Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Sift and Interview dates

The sift will commence from 26/03/2026.

Interviews are expected to take place from 20/04/2026. (Subject to the Panel’s operational requirements/priorities).

Interviews will be conducted remotely via MS Teams.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Further information

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application, please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms directly. If you are doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Reserve List

A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Reserve lists may be held for each location. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location where this applies.

Similar Roles

Job offers to this post are made based on merit. We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.

UK residency and security requirements

For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers.

Please note that this role requires Security Check (SC) clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years.

However, in exceptional circumstances security clearance applications for candidates who have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page Demystifying Vetting - GOV.UK.

Visa Sponsorship

We are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas as we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License.

Capability allowance

The advertised role is part of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession. This role has access to a digital capability-based allowance. Applicants who are successful at interview will be invited to complete a Capability and Skills Assessment post-interview. Any allowance awarded will be based on the assessment of your capability against the six skills advertised for this role.​ Please see the Home Office Pay Framework Allowance Careers page for more information. ​

The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role. This allowance is non-contractual, subject to an annual review and could be withdrawn at any time.​

For both new entrants and existing civil servants, the total compensation offer is a combination of base salary and, if applicable, a capability-based allowance. The pay ranges for this role are National: £62,109 - £68,320 and £ 66,229 - £72,852. New entrants to the Civil Service will start on the pay range minimum. For existing civil servants, our policies on level transfer and promotion will apply.

Working at the Home Office

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people can bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : AC Recruitment
• Email : ACRecruitment@homeoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, then contact the Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

candidate_information_v16_January_2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 429kB)2025-11-01 Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V17) (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 642kB)HO Government Digital and Data Skills Library V1.1 Opens in new window (pdf, 466kB)