Job summary
We are looking for people who are passionate about Quality. Do you want to be part of the award-winning Home Office Quality Assurance and Testing Team (QAT) within Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)
Quality is at the heart of everything we do. We provide a large-scale shared service, delivered through 900+ QA professionals. It supports services that are essential for the UK!
We won the Testing Team of the Year at the 2024 European Software Testing Awards and were also re-certified at TMMi level 5, receiving the best score globally.
This role will provide technical QA leadership within our Automation and Innovation Portfolio. The Home Office Automation and Innovation portfolio delivers the government's commitment to "set the standard for excellence in the AI age" - harnessing cutting-edge technology to revolutionise public service delivery. As outlined in the Government's Generative AI Framework, we're in "a period of rapid and exciting technological changes, which offers huge potential", and we're turning that potential into reality.
Our work spans Home Office mission-critical operations, such as transforming Border Security and immigration processes, to revolutionising asylum case management and enhancing Counter-Terrorism capabilities. Imagine developing technology that helps reunite families, creates safer communities, protects vulnerable people, and ensures smoother journeys for the millions travelling to and from the UK.
Key features of the role include opportunities to:
Transform Government with AI
Help deliver the UK government's AI vision while transforming the Home Office. Our Automation and Innovation portfolio is implementing the Government's Generative AI Framework, turning technological potential into reality.
National Scale Impact
Our work spans Border Security, Immigration, Asylum case management and Counter-Terrorism operations. Develop technology that reunites families, creates safer communities, protects vulnerable people, and improves UK travel experiences.
Public Sector Innovation at Pace
We've delivered millions in efficiency savings by automating routine tasks, allowing colleagues to focus on complex human-centred work. Our solutions create meaningful improvements in public service delivery.
Join Our Team
Work with our Automation Centre, Data Science and Evaluation team, or Innovation Lab to:
Build solutions improving lives nationwide.
Work with diverse AI and automation technologies.
Collaborate with technical experts.
Develop skills at the forefront of public sector innovation.
Help build a future-ready Home Office where innovation delivers daily impact. Ready to use cutting-edge technology to transform millions of lives across the UK?
Job description
As the Principal Test Engineer for the Automation and Innovation Portfolio, you’ll be critical to delivering testing, quality engineering, assurance and maturing the quality of our engineering practice. This will particularly excite you if you are a quality engineering expert with a keen interest and experience in low-code/no-code engineering (e.g. PowerApps) and have a keen interest in how AI systems are developed, evaluated and assured.
You will be part of the leadership team in the business area. You will provide leadership and guidance to a team of QAT engineers, further developing your own, Test engineering delivery management and leadership skills.
You will work with engineering, architecture, product, delivery and business stakeholders, understanding their needs and translating them into a QAT approach, driven by engineering at its core. You will also work with development teams to embed test engineering within the overall development approach and with industry partners to leverage the best of new and emerging tools and AI testing & assurance approaches. Within the DDaT community, you will take a lead in sharing, collaborating and promoting the value of QAT.
We have a wide portfolio of projects, and our vast estate covers a whole range of tools. The below is sample snapshot of some tools we use:
- Cloud: AWS and Azure.
- Backend: Java, Node.js, C#, Python, PHP, Scala, Power Platform
- Test Frameworks: PowerApps test studio & test engine, Playwright, Python based frameworks like Pytest, and several bespoke frameworks.
- DevOps: Azure, AWS, Kubernetes, Azure DevOps, Jenkins, Docker, Ansible, Terraform
- AI: Azure ML Studio, Python, Github Copilot, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google
- Other tools: Inspect , Axe, Checkov, ZAP, SonarQube.
Person specification
UK residency and security requirements - You need to have lived in the UK for the past 5 years.
Your main day to day responsibilities will be:
- You will be setting the overall direction for QAT engineering, AI Testing and assurance practices within the Portfolio, and promote DevSecOps best practices.
- Partnering with engineering and senior delivery partners to make sure frameworks are embedded by default in the QA engineering approach, implementing all levels of a modern test pyramid that map to a modern CI/CD pipeline.
- Building, mentoring and leading quality engineering teams by providing support and guidance to more junior members and providing technical advice on improving the way we do things.
- Building and delivering quality engineering solutions that are scalable, efficient, and cost effective.
- Quantifying, measuring, and reporting on code quality and using risk-based approaches to decision making.
- Making the QAT practice thrive by exploiting new and emerging tools and approaches and using these to help the organisation deliver better services.
Essential criteria
As a Principal Test Engineer, you will have experience of:
- Selecting and deploying a broad range of tools and test automation techniques including Open-Source technologies and object-orientated design, programming languages such as C# (or Java), Python and TypeScript, PowerApps platform tools, Azure (or AWS) tool stack, test tools like Playwright, using continuous integration, deployment and release tools (Lead essential criteria)
- Working at senior leadership level, establishing and maintaining organisational level networks and actively engaging other senior leaders
- Leading a technical team of test engineers
- Developing organisational level test approaches that implement all levels of a modern test pyramid in a cloud DevSecOps environment
- Setting strategic direction at organisational level for the design of AI and low-code/no-code test approaches involving test automation
- Designing, building, deploying and improving QAT test engineering capabilities.
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.
SFIA levels of responsibility – Use the SFIA Levels of responsibility to understand what would be expected for each Technical Skill listed below.
SFIA Technical skills
The essential technical skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office Government Digital and Data Profession Career Framework. Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Developing Self and Others
- Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Strategic Planning (ITSP) – Level 5
- Test Analysis, Design and Execution – Level 4
- Automation and Tooling – Level 5
- Performance Testing – Level 4
- Integration and Assurance – Level 4
- Domain Experience – Level 4
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £73,900, Home Office contributes £21,408 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...
- A highly competitive pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- 25 days annual leave on appointment rising 1 day per year up to 30 days, plus 8 days public holidays and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
- Flexible working options to enable you to achieve the work life balance that is right for you including; Full time, part-time, flexi time, compressed hours and job sharing.
- A hybrid working model of a minimum 60% of your contracted hours in the workplace and 40% remote.
- Training and development opportunities tailored to your role, including access to technical and professional accreditations.
- Access to funded qualifications (subject to approval)
- A capability allowance reviewed annually.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- Enhanced parental leave schemes.
- Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.
This link is to a short guide to employee benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers
Why join our QAT Community in the Home Office?
The QAT Testing Team won the best Team of the Year at the 2024 European Software Testing Awards! This prestigious win reflects our dedication to excellence and innovation in Quality Assurance and Testing.
This is a huge opportunity to be a part of our growth journey and build your capability and expertise, while shaping the QAT’s AI strategy. Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) is an important part of the Home Office mission. Everyone is responsible for quality, and we have a team of skilled people who make sure quality is delivered in the most effective way. This means getting fast feedback, understanding how a service performs, and helping the teams to make more informed decisions. We value automating as much of the test effort as possible allowing our team of specialists and domain experts to undertake better evaluations.
You can see more here Quality, Assurance and Testing - Home Office Careers
There is a link to how it feels to work in QAT on our GOV.UK site here: Day in the life of a QAT'er
Things you need to know
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 up to 1000 words personal statement. Both the CV and personal statement will be marked and should include all relevant experience that relates to the essential criteria listed in the advert and role description. Use STAR format in your examples and consider tips on how to write your personal statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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)
Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism, copying, and generating of examples/ answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If detected, the application may be withdrawn from the process.
Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all civil servants.
Application sift
The sift will be held on the CV 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, we will conduct a sift on the lead essential criteria – ‘Selecting and deploying a broad range of tools and test automation techniques including Open-Source technologies and object-orientated design, programming languages such as C# (or Java), Python and TypeScript, PowerApps platform tools, Azure (or AWS) tool stack, test tools like Playwright, using continuous integration, deployment and release tools’, during the selection process.
Interview
If you’re successful at sift, you will be invited to a 120-minute interview.
This will consist of two parts:
- A 50-minute technical discussion that will assess your proficiency in using and developing quality engineering approaches for low-code/no code solutions and test approaches for AI solutions.
- Followed by a 10-minute comfort break and then a 60-minute panel interview.
The technical discussion will be a whiteboarding exercise during which you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your experience in the technical skills required for this role.
You are not expected to make any code submissions.
The interview will explore your technical skills and behaviours from the Success Profiles.
Sift and interview dates
Sift will be conducted week commencing 14th July 2025.
Interviews will be held from 31st July 2025. (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
We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from the widest diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We particularly encourage applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
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.
Please read the Essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement.
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.
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.
UK residency and security requirements
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 last 5 years may be considered. Failure to meet this residency requirement will result in your security clearance application being rejected.
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 attached candidate pack for more information.
The allowance values are set by the Home Office, subject to remaining in a qualifying role, and are non-pensionable. 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. 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.
Job offers to this post are made on the basis of 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.
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 are able to 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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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 direct. If you will be 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.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
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.
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're 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 the Civil 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 Team
- 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 recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance 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_v13_March_2025
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(pdf, 311kB)Pre-employment Checking - Document Requirements (V16) 2025-04-03
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(pdf, 493kB)HO QAT Skills Library (Dec 2024)
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(pdf, 184kB)