Title: Principal Test Engineer
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Bradford, Chatham, Petersfield
Working Pattern: Hybrid (usually a couple of days a week in the office).
We welcome part-time and flexible arrangements and will aim to match your current flexibility where possible.
What We Offer
We care about your wellbeing, not just your work. Our benefits are designed to support your life, your health and your growth:
- Holidays: 25 days (rising to 30) + buy/sell up to 5 days + swap up to 4 bank holidays.
- Pension: Up to 10% employer contribution.
- Family Leave: Enhanced maternity and 4 weeks’ paternity from day-one, shared parental leave, paid neonatal care leave and support for adoption and surrogacy
- Fertility Support: Paid time off for fertility treatment and appointments, available to birth parents and partners, with confidential support and flexible adjustments where needed
- Workations: Work abroad for up to 20 days a year in approved countries.
- Birthday Leave: Your birthday off—paid.
- Volunteering: 2 paid volunteering days.
- Learning: Access to LinkedIn Learning for all colleagues.
- Financial Wellbeing: Free Snoop Premium subscription.
- Healthcare: Self-pay Denplan & optional Private Medical Insurance.
The Role
You and your Team
Reporting to the Test Lead, you'll play a key role in delivering high-quality testing services across a broad portfolio of technology change and business initiatives. As a Principal Test Engineer, you'll be responsible for designing, coordinating and executing both automated and manual testing activities, ensuring systems, applications and digital solutions meet business and customer requirements.
Working closely with Engineering teams, Product Owners, Project teams and wider Technology & Change colleagues, you'll define testing approaches, champion automation and quality assurance best practice, and support the continuous evolution of our testing capability. You'll also provide leadership and coaching to a team of Test Engineers and Associate Test Engineers.
As a Principal Test Engineer, you will:
- Lead the delivery of automated and manual testing solutions across web, mobile, API and cloud-based applications, ensuring high standards of quality and performance.
- Coordinate end-to-end testing activities, including System Testing, SIT, UAT and Performance Testing, across multiple change initiatives.
- Define and champion testing frameworks, automation strategies and quality assurance best practice within Agile and DevOps environments.
- Collaborate with Technology, Change and Business stakeholders to identify, manage and resolve defects, risks and quality issues.
- Lead, coach and develop Test Engineers while acting as a trusted technical expert and advocate for continuous improvement.
What We’re Looking For
- Extensive experience delivering automated and manual testing within Agile and DevOps environments.
- Strong knowledge of testing methodologies including System Testing, SIT, UAT and Performance Testing.
- Experience testing APIs, cloud infrastructure, web applications and digital platforms.
- Knowledge of SQL, test automation frameworks and tools such as Selenium, Jira, Azure DevOps and Postman.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and people leadership skills.
How We Hire
We use AI to help organise applications and surface early matches, but all decisions are made by humans. Please apply authentically — especially during interviews.
If you need assistive technology or reasonable adjustments (including the use of AI tools), please let the Talent Acquisition team know in advance and we’ll be happy to support you. Where we have reason to believe AI has been used inappropriately, we reserve the right to withdraw a candidate from the recruitment process.
Pre-Employment Checks;
Any offer made will be subject to standard background checks, including credit, fraud and employment references. Due to the regulated nature of our business, additional checks may apply.
Who we are
At Vanquis, our purpose is simple: to deliver caring banking that helps people make the most of life’s opportunities. Founded in 1880, we’re now a FTSE All Share specialist bank supporting over 1.7 million UK customers with responsible, tailored lending.
We’re proud to be certified by Great Place to Work, recognised as one of the Financial Times UK’s Best Employers in 2025 and 2026, and awarded bronze status under the Armed Forces Covenant. Taken together, these achievements reflect our genuine commitment to putting our people first and supporting those who serve.
Guided by our values — caring for people, pulling together, finding better ways and getting the right things done — we’re building a workplace where colleagues feel connected, valued and empowered. Alongside competitive pay, we offer meaningful benefits, salary reviews, a discretionary bonus scheme and continued recognition.
We’re invested in your development too. With the right support and hands-on learning, you’ll grow your skills, shape your career and realise your ambitions.
Equal Opportunities
Vanquis Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value everyone’s unique background, identity and experience, and we’re committed to a workplace where all colleagues can thrive. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.
