Quality Assurance (QA) Test Engineer

We are looking for a detail‑oriented and proactive Quality Assurance (QA) Test Engineer to join our development team. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing and executing test plans, ensuring product quality, and contributing to continuous improvement across our software development lifecycle. This role involves close collaboration with developers, product owners, and stakeholders to deliver reliable, high‑quality software. Key Responsibilities Develop, maintain, and execute manual and automated test cases. Review requirements and technical specifications to create effective test plans. Identify, document, and track defects using our issue‑tracking system. Perform functional, regression, integration, and performance testing as required. Coordinate and ensure completion of UAT testing plans with stakeholders. Collaborate with developers to diagnose issues and verify fixes. Champion quality throughout the development process and advocate for best practices. Contribute to test automation frameworks and continuous testing improvements. Ensure our QA processes align with Agile / Scrum methodology. Competencies Required 2+ years in a QA/Test Engineering role (or equivalent experience). Strong understanding of software testing methodologies. Experience with test management and bug‑tracking tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, TestRail). Ability to write clear and concise test cases and defect reports. Familiarity with automation tools (e.g., Selenium, Playwright, Cypress) is a plus. Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps workflows. Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills. General To undertake any other duties that may fall into the job criteria To conform with all Company policies and procedures including Health and Safety To treat all employees, customer and suppliers with dignity and respect This job description is not intended as an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the post but simply reflects the key areas involved About Us As the UK’s largest independent travel agency, Hays Travel specialises in providing good value, quality holidays, alongside excellent customer service. We work with all leading suppliers and can package holidays that include hotels, flights, cruises, tours, attraction tickets, and more. We have over 470 Branches throughout the UK and our Head Office based in Sunderland, is home to tour operator teams, finance, marketing, people/HR and IT, plus many more. We have been operating for over 40 years, and continue to grow each year. Our values Our SMILE values are embedded in to our company and ensure our teams work strongly together. You and all of our colleagues will ensure that the Hays Travel values are demonstrated at all times. Supportive Motivational Innovative Loyal Excellent What it’s like to work for us? Whichever location or department you work in, our people are always at the heart of everything we do. We offer a range of training programmes to help you progress personally and professionally, as we know the benefits of promoting and rewarding our hardworking colleagues are extremely important. Of course, it's not all about work. We're very sociable and there are always lots of team nights-out and company parties. Plus, there are opportunities to travel abroad on educational trips, and you can also take advantage of our colleague discount when booking your own holidays. Hays Travel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all colleagues. As an accredited employer provider of apprenticeships, we undertake basic checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety of our apprentices for relevant roles.