Test Engineer

Job summary

Please note, we reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Closing date: 26 April 2026

Interview dates: 06 May 2026 (in person)

Make a difference and help shape our digital future.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is a modern, vibrant organisation full of passionate, committed people. We make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government departments and the NHS in England. Our work supports individuals, strengthens accountability and helps improve public services for the future.

We are at an exciting point in our digital journey and investing in modern, usercentred digital services that improve how people interact with us and how our teams work behind the scenes. For digital professionals, this is a chance to work on meaningful services, influence how things are built and tested, and be part of shaping longterm improvements.

We have a diverse and inclusive culture, alongside a flexible approach built on trust and autonomy. You will work in a hybrid way, balancing home working with 40% of your time in our Manchester City centre office, where collaboration, connection and shared problemsolving are a core part of how we work.

Job description

The role:

As a Test Engineer in our Digital team, you will help to ensure our digital services are reliable, accessible and meet the needs of users. The role is focused on embedding quality throughout delivery, identifying risks early and supporting teams to make well-informed decisions about what we release and when.

You will plan and carry out a range of testing activities, from exploratory and functional testing through to automation, performance and accessibility testing. By translating user needs and acceptance criteria into clear, testable scenarios, you will help teams deliver changes in a controlled, proportionate way while maintaining pace and quality.

Collaboration is central to the role.

You will work closely with engineers, product managers, designers and business analysts to build shared ownership of quality and continuous improvement. Through clear communication and a pragmatic, risk-based approach, you will help ensure our digital services are secure, inclusive and fit for purpose as we continue our digital journey.

The successful applicant will have:

• demonstrable experience working as a Test Engineer, QA Engineer or similar role within digital delivery teams

• attention to detail combined with a pragmatic, risk-based approach

• experience creating and maintaining automated tests using modern tooling (e.g. Selenium, Playwright, BrowserStack or equivalent)

• experience working in Agile or iterative delivery environments.

Person specification

We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply.

We know the value of having diverse, representative teams across our organisation. Which is why we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented within the team. These include people who are:

• Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity or another ethnic background

• disabled

• LGBTQ.

Benefits

Our benefits:

• Civil Service Pension scheme

• 32.5 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top)

• hybrid working, 40 percent office based

• flexible working

• access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors

• comprehensive learning and development programme

• employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers

• bicycle loan scheme

• season ticket loan

• gym membership subsidy

• paid for professional memberships

• eye test reimbursement.

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

Inclusion & Wellbeing

Equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing are vital to the way we work and our culture. We want our colleagues feel included, valued, and supported at work. It is essential that we are representative and accessible for the people who work here and those who use our service.

Actions we take to embed this include:

• an anonymised shortlisting process to make sure it is fair and unbiased

• monitoring the demographic trends in our workforce and making measured, sustained efforts to improve our diversity at all levels

• providing wellbeing support and opportunities for personal and professional development for all colleagues

• creating spaces for connection and engagement through our employee network groups and social clubs

• part of the disability confident scheme

• providing reasonable adjustments

• engaging in regular inclusion learning to enhance the cultural competency of our organisation.

If you want to join a dedicated team that makes a real difference and helps raise standards in public services, then is the opportunity for you.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Zahid Tapas, Test Manager, Zahid.Tapas@ombudsman.org.uk

Interviews will be held onsite.

Please do not use AI as this may result in in your application being rejected.

Please note that we don’t offer feedback at application stage.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship as we do not have a licence.

We do not accept CVs. To apply for the role, please complete the application form by clicking on the ‘apply online’ button.

No agencies. Applications from individuals only.

Important notice: fraudulent job postings

We have been made aware that some websites are falsely advertising job vacancies for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). We only advertise job vacancies through these official channels:

- our website

- LinkedIn

- Civil Service Jobs

- GOV.uk

- Indeed

- Ombudsman association

- BMEjobs.co.uk

- Disabilityjob.co.uk

- Neurodiversityjobs.co.uk

- LGBTjobs.co.uk

Do not share personal details with any other websites claiming to represent PHSO. Contact our recruitment team to report any concerns at recruitment@ombudsman.org.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : Zahid Tapas, Test Manager
• Email : Zahid.Tapas@ombudsman.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ombudsman.org.uk

Attachments

How to apply Opens in new window (pdf, 149kB)Test Engineer role profile Opens in new window (pdf, 200kB)