Software QA Engineer

Job Title: Software QA Engineer

Location: Bradford BD3 7DL, United Kingdom

Employment Type: Contractor (with potential for permanent onboarding after 6 months)

Work Schedule: Full-time, 5 days in the office

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented **Software QA Engineer** with hands-on experience in software testing. The ideal candidate will have **3+ years of experience** in software quality assurance, with a preference for those who have worked in the **retail industry**. This role requires working **on-site** at our UK location, collaborating with **vendors, customers, project and program managers, and the QA manager

The QA Engineer will be responsible for **both manual testing** and supporting test automation (if applicable). The role involves working in an Agile environment, ensuring the highest software quality standards, managing defects, and improving testing processes. **Strong communication and basic management skills** are required to coordinate effectively with internal teams and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute test plans and test cases based on software requirements.
• Perform **functional, regression, system, and integration testing** for software applications.
• Identify, document, and track software defects using industry-standard tools.
• Collaborate closely with **development teams, product managers, vendors, and customers** to resolve issues and ensure product quality.
• Work in an **Agile/Scrum** environment, actively participating in sprint planning and reviews.
• Assist in maintaining test environments, test data, and testing tools.
• Support test automation efforts where applicable (automation experience is an advantage but not a must).
• Perform API testing, database validation, and ensure compliance with best testing practices.
• Communicate test progress, results, and risks to project stakeholders and management.
• Ensure adherence to QA processes, industry standards, and company best practices.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 3+ years of hands-on experience** in Software Quality Assurance.
• Experience in both **manual testing** and understanding of automation concepts.
• Proficiency in using **QA tools** such as HP Quality Center (QC), Jira, TestRail, or similar.
• Knowledge of **XML, API testing (REST, SOAP), and SQL/NoSQL databases**.
• Experience working in **Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban)**.
• Strong defect management, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis skills.
• Proficiency in **Microsoft Excel** for test reporting and data analysis.
• Cloud experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) is an advantage** but not mandatory.
• Basic management skills, including coordination with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills** to work effectively with vendors, customers, and internal teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the **retail industry** or testing retail-related applications.
• Hands-on experience with **test automation tools** such as Selenium, Cypress, or similar.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices in testing.