Rowden

Edge computing for defence and security

Senior Software Test Engineer

Test Automation EngineeringUpdated on Nov 13

Full-timeBristol, UK£55k - £75k /yr

About the Job

Requirements

Experience delivering software testing within agile environments, including complex software or system-level environments.
Comprehensive understanding and practical application of fundamental software testing principles and structured test design techniques, such as decision tables.
Ability to produce clear, structured, and traceable test artefacts, including test design documentation, test cases, execution records, and release documentation.
Ability to quickly close knowledge gaps and provide authoritative advice on all aspects of the software test lifecycle.
Experience testing systems with connected hardware and diagnosing and troubleshooting integration and interoperability issues.
Background developing and maintaining scalable and resilient automated test solutions using modern tools and frameworks such as Playwright, PyTest, or UI Automator.
Hands-on experience scripting for test automation and tooling using Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar.

Responsibilities

Own test design, execution, and reporting, ensuring traceability, providing clear visibility, and communicating quality and risk to stakeholders.
Design and deliver structured, risk-based test approaches, producing clear, traceable test artefacts and outcomes.
Support release and acceptance activities by providing evidence-based recommendations on product readiness.
Embed within delivery teams, contribute to agile ceremonies, and ensure requirements are unambiguous, testable, and aligned to quality goals.
Drive the adoption and development of automated testing, ensuring scalable, maintainable solutions are embedded in delivery.
Influence test strategy across complex, multidisciplinary systems, including hardware-integrated, distributed, and embedded platforms.
Strengthen test governance across teams by promoting consistent standards, sound judgement, and effective risk management.
Champion and evolve test best practices, raising quality and consistency across products.
Mentor and develop test engineers, building capability, confidence, and technical depth across the function.
Operate with a high degree of autonomy, take ownership of quality, and make sound, evidence-based decisions in complex, fast-moving environments.
Collaborate daily with engineers, product stakeholders, and operational stakeholders across multidisciplinary teams.
Balance rigour and assurance with delivery pace using a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.
Influence standards and ways of working, driving consistency and continuous improvement.
Support and develop others by sharing knowledge and building capability across the wider test function.
Work in customer-facing environments, support integration and test activities, and facilitate discussions around quality.

Desired Qualifications

ISTQB or equivalent certification.
Experience testing Android-based systems.
Experience mentoring and developing early-career test engineers.
Understanding of Git, GitHub Actions, and build pipelines and processes.
Understanding of how AI can be used across the software test lifecycle.
Experience in assurance-driven, safety-critical, or highly regulated environments requiring clear traceability and auditability.
Experience with device management, mobile platforms, or system-level debugging tools.
Knowledge of security and non-functional testing.

We’re building the UK's next generation engineering powerhouse, providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.

We specialise in turning advances in sensing, AI, and communications into operational capability for the edge, where connectivity may be degraded or denied. Our work focuses on accelerating the deployment of technology, improving decision-making for frontline teams, and protecting people and critical assets in demanding environments.

Headquartered in Bristol, Rowden employs around 200 people and operates over 20,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing facilities. We have a growing international footprint and are one of Europe’s fastest-growing engineering businesses.

About the role

We’re growing our team and looking for a Senior Software Test Engineer to play a key role in delivering assured software across complex, mission‑critical systems.

You’ll take ownership of software quality across your projects, ensuring Rowden’s software is robust, reliable, and meets the standards expected by our mission-focused customers.

You’ll work across a diverse set of projects, including bespoke mobile applications, geospatial tooling, cloud platforms, sensing and provisioning systems. Many of these integrate closely with hardware, so experience working across software and hardware ecosystems is essential.

As a senior member of the team, you’ll operate confidently across multidisciplinary environments, contributing to complex deliveries and helping shape how we approach quality in challenging, real-world conditions. You will play a pivotal role in delivering our next generation of critical technologies that bridge the gap between frontline operators and the commercial advancements they need to succeed.

While this role offers hybrid working options, it requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-site at our Bristol HQ, with occasional travel to support integration and testing activities.

Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance.

More information about security clearance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels

As a Senior Software Test Engineer, you will:

Own test design, execution and reporting, ensuring traceability, providing clear visibility and communicating quality and risk to stakeholders.
Design and deliver structured, risk-based test approaches, producing clear, traceable test artefacts and outcomes.
Support release and acceptance activities, providing confident, evidence-based recommendations on product readiness.
Embed seamlessly within delivery teams, contributing to agile ceremonies and ensuring requirements are unambiguous, testable, and aligned to quality goals.
Drive the adoption and development of automated testing, ensuring scalable, maintainable solutions are embedded in delivery.
Influence test strategy across complex, multi-disciplinary systems, including hardware-integrated, distributed and embedded platforms.
Strengthen test governance across teams, promoting consistent standards, sound judgement and effective risk management.
Champion and evolve test best practices, raising quality and consistency across products.
Mentor and develop test engineers, building capability, confidence and technical depth across the function.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about technology and who actively invests in their technical skills and abilities. You will be constantly learning and developing in this role, but some key skills and experience you should have already include:

Essential

Experience delivering software test within agile environments, with a track record in complex software or system-level environments.
Comprehensive understanding of fundamental software testing principles and structured test design techniques (e.g. decision tables), with proven experience applying them in practice.
Ability to produce clear, structured and traceable test artefacts, including test design documentation, test cases, execution records and release documentation.
Ability to quickly close knowledge gaps and provide authoritative advice on all aspects of the software test lifecycle.
Experience testing systems with connected hardware and diagnosing and troubleshooting integration and interoperability issues.
Background in developing and maintaining scalable and resilient automated test solutions, making use of modern tools and frameworks (e.g. Playwright, PyTest, UI Automator).
Hands-on experience scripting for test automation and tooling (Python, Bash, PowerShell etc.).

Desirable (not essential)

ISTQB or equivalent certifications.
Experience testing Android-based systems.
Experience mentoring and developing early-career test engineers.
Solid understanding of Git, GitHub Actions and build pipelines and processes.
Understanding of how AI can be best-utilised across the software test lifecycle.
Experience working within assurance-driven, safety-critical, or highly regulated environments requiring clear traceability and auditability.
Experience working with device management, mobile platforms or system-level debugging tools.
Knowledge of security and non-functional testing.

About you

The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of the software testing craft and be comfortable navigating their way through complex environments. You will:

Operate with a high degree of autonomy, taking ownership of quality and making sound, evidence-based decisions in complex, fast-moving environments.
Work effectively across multidisciplinary teams, collaborating daily with fellow engineers, product, and operational stakeholders.
Approach problems with a pragmatic delivery-focused mindset, balancing rigour and assurance with the need to move at pace.
Influence standards and ways of working, driving consistency and continuous improvement.
Support and develop others, sharing knowledge and building capability across the wider test function.
Operate confidently in customer-facing environments, supporting integration and test activities and facilitating discussions around quality.

About the Company

Rowden

Edge computing for defence and security

Rowden Technologies designs and delivers mission-critical edge computing and distributed sensor systems for environments with limited or unreliable connectivity. It handles end-to-end design, integration, sovereign manufacturing, and long-term managed services to support defence, national security, and emergency services. Its products include Trove for frontline generative AI, Magos for cost-effective signal processing and communications production, and Dovetail for modular edge-system integration, enabling rapid, secure decision-making even in denied environments. The company differentiates itself by prioritizing edge solutions with low connectivity, acting as a prime systems integrator for large programmes, offering sovereign manufacturing and lifecycle support, and pursuing projects like automated ML deployment to UAS for AUKUS Pillar II to reduce dependence on traditional defence contractors.

Company size: 51-200
Company stage: Grant
Total funding: $33.7M
Headquarters: Filton, United Kingdom
Founded: 2017

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