QA Automation Engineer - Financial Services - TWE45843

A leading Financial Services organisation is seeking a technically strong QA Automation Engineer with deep expertise in API automation testing, particularly using Playwright's API testing capabilities.

This role offers the opportunity to drive quality engineering practices across a complex technology landscape, helping to improve system reliability, increase automation coverage and support the delivery of high quality, compliant solutions within a regulated environment.

The Role

Working closely with developers, product owners, architects, and stakeholders, the successful candidate will champion an automation-first, shift-left approach to quality assurance, ensuring testing is embedded throughout the software development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable automated test frameworks and test suites.
• Lead API automation testing initiatives, with a strong focus on Playwright API/SPI testing.
• Develop automated regression, integration, contract, and end-to-end test coverage.
• Integrate automated testing into CI/CD pipelines to provide rapid feedback on code quality and release readiness.
• Collaborate with engineering and business teams early in the delivery lifecycle to identify risks and define quality standards.
• Perform technical testing across APIs, databases, and system integrations.
• Support performance, load, and resilience testing activities.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of defects and work with development teams to prevent recurrence.
• Drive continuous improvement in testing processes, tooling, frameworks, and automation strategy.
• Produce quality metrics, defect analysis, and release readiness reporting for stakeholders.
• Contribute to innovation initiatives, including AI-assisted test automation and automated script generation.
• Promote quality engineering best practices across development and QA teams.

Required Experience & Technology

• Proven experience as a QA Automation Engineer with a strong automation-first mindset.
• Advanced experience with Playwright, including API/SPI automation testing and framework development.
• Strong knowledge of API, contract, integration, UI, regression, and performance testing.
• Experience working with Postman, Swagger/OpenAPI, Jira, Xray, Bitbucket, AWS, Splunk, and MongoDB.
• Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of Agile/Scrum methodologies and shift-left quality practices.
• Previous experience within Financial Services or another regulated environment is highly desirable.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within Financial Services, Banking, Wealth Management, Insurance, or other regulated industries.
• Understanding of FCA regulatory requirements and risk/compliance frameworks.
• Exposure to AI-driven testing solutions, Generative AI, or automated test generation techniques.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to work on business-critical platforms within a highly regulated Financial Services environment.
• Significant influence over QA strategy, automation frameworks, and quality engineering practices.
• Modern technology stack with strong investment in automation and engineering excellence.
• Collaborative environment focused on innovation, continuous improvement, and delivery quality.
• Exposure to emerging technologies and AI-enabled testing approaches.