Details:
- Salary: £20 - 22.50 - Hour
- Job Type: Contract
- Job Status: Full-Time
- Salary Per: Hour
- Location: Cardiff
- Date: 5 days ago
Description:
Test & Validation Engineer
Cardiff (site-based)
6 months initially (with strong likelihood of extension beyond 12 months)
Role Overview
An opportunity has arisen for a practical, hands-on Test & Validation Engineer
to contribute to the verification and validation of a newly developed combined hardware and software solution.
You will operate as part of a small, dedicated team tasked with building and delivering comprehensive quality assurance activities across the full product lifecycle.
The role focuses on a top-down, user-centric testing approach, blending exploratory testing, full-system validation, and some level of automation to uncover issues that may occur in real-world usage before release.
Core Responsibilities
Carry out full system-level testing covering hardware components, software, and user interaction points
Detect, document, and monitor defects and usability concerns from an end-user perspective
Create, maintain, and execute test documentation, including plans, scenarios, and cases
Undertake hands-on testing, including exploratory and black-box techniques
Assist with automation efforts, such as scripting or simple hardware-assisted testing setups
Configure and manage test labs and environments across different platforms
Diagnose faults and collaborate with engineering teams to resolve issues
Assemble and modify test setups, including basic hardware adjustments where needed
Conduct regression testing to ensure stability ahead of releases
Essential Experience
Academic or practical background in electronics, electrical engineering, or similar discipline
Proven exposure to system or product-level testing/validation
A genuine interest in fault-finding and pushing products to failure points
Confidence working across both physical devices and software interfaces
Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g. Python) or entry-level automation tools
Understanding of typical test environments, including operating systems and web-based interfaces
Ability to manage workload independently with minimal direction
Additional / Beneficial Skills
Knowledge of automation frameworks or microcontroller-based testing
Basic understanding of networked systems (IP connectivity)
Experience working within Agile or Lean delivery models
Practical lab skills such as soldering or basic hardware modification
Key Attributes
Naturally curious with a problem-solving mindset
Detail-oriented, with a strong focus on end-user experience and quality
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, self-managed team environment
Clear and confident communicator, able to explain technical issues effectively