Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer

About Us

At Polaris, we're on a mission to create a safer and fairer world. We provide software solutions that empower police forces and local authorities to enforce and track traffic and parking offences, manage permits and licenses, and control high-risk assets like firearms and tasers.

Since securing support from August Equity in May 2023, we've been on an exciting growth trajectory. We've expanded our reach both in the UK and internationally, acquired key companies like Farthest Gate and JML Software Solutions, and invested heavily in our operations.

Our goal is to build a data-driven, professionally managed organisation with robust systems and processes, poised for consistent growth and ready to seize new opportunities. We've united our legacy brands under the Polaris name, creating a dynamic new identity that reflects our vision for the future.

This is an exciting time to join Polaris. We're seeking ambitious, forward-thinking individuals who are eager to make a real impact and grow their careers in a rapidly evolving industry. If you're ready to be part of a team that's shaping the future of public safety and compliance technology, we want to hear from you.

We are seeking a highly skilled Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer to ensure the delivery of robust and reliable technical solutions for local government projects. The ideal candidate will have expertise in manual and automated testing, experience with Jira, and a strong technical background in web-based applications, SQL, user stories, and Gherkin syntax. Knowledge of payment systems, reporting solutions, and security testing is highly desirable. This role will involve working in an Agile environment to design and execute comprehensive testing strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

Test Planning & Execution:

o   Develop, document, and execute comprehensive manual test scripts and test cases based on user stories and acceptance criteria.

o   Perform manual testing across functional, regression, integration, and performance scenarios for web-based applications and APIs.

o   Conduct security testing to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with best practices.

o   Ensure thorough test coverage for critical components, including payment systems and reporting modules.

Automated Testing:

o   Design, implement, and maintain automated test scripts using tools like Selenium, Cypress, or equivalent frameworks.

o   Integrate automated test suites into CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing and faster feedback.

o   Collaborate with developers to optimise test automation strategies and resolve automation-related challenges.

Security Testing:

o   Identify and mitigate security risks by performing vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and other security-focused QA activities.

o   Validate adherence to security protocols for payment systems and sensitive data handling.

Requirement Validation:

o   Analyse user stories, requirements, and acceptance criteria to ensure clarity, completeness, and testability.

o   Collaborate with Product Owners and Business Analysts to refine and validate requirements.

Defect Management:

o   Log, track, and manage defects in Jira, ensuring accurate documentation and prioritisation.

o   Collaborate with development teams to troubleshoot and resolve issues efficiently.

Database Testing:

o   Write and execute SQL queries to validate backend data integrity and verify test results.

o   Perform data validation and reconciliation for reports generated by the system.

Agile Collaboration:

o   Actively participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives.

o   Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on quality objectives and deliverables.

Continuous Improvement:

o   Identify opportunities to improve testing processes, tools, and methodologies.

o   Stay updated with the latest trends in manual and automated testing, security testing, and QA best practices.

Technical Skills:

o   Expertise in manual testing, including the creation and execution of detailed test scripts.

o   Proficiency with automated testing tools such as Selenium, Cypress, or equivalent.

o   Strong knowledge of SQL for database validation and testing.

o   Familiarity with Gherkin syntax for writing test scenarios (e.g., Given-When-Then format).

o   Experience with Jira for defect tracking and test case management.

o   Strong understanding of security testing practices and tools.

o   Knowledge of payment systems, reporting tools, and associated workflows.

Soft Skills:

o   Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

o   Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical teams.

o   Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced Agile environment.

We are looking for someone who has;

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

• 3+ years of QA experience in testing web-based applications, technical solutions, and security testing.
• Hands-on experience in Agile development practices and testing in Scrum teams.
• Experience with Software development testing, RESTful API testing using tools like Postman or equivalent.
• Familiarity with performance testing tools and methodologies.
• Knowledge of local government systems and workflows is a strong plus.
• Certification in ISTQB or other QA-related qualifications.

• Market rate salary 
• 25 days annual leave 
• 2 Moment in Time Days
• 1 Community Day
• Life Assurance 4 x base salary 
• Private Pension with Scottish Widows
• Health Care Cash Plan
• Hybrid working model 
• Length of service additional time
• (Other perks in coming for 2025)

Our business is an equal opportunities employer. We make recruitment decisions based on qualifications, skill sets, and experiences. We consider all suitable candidates regardless of their age, sex, gender reassignment, race, religious beliefs (or lack thereof), marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristics.

Please note that we can currently only consider candidates with an existing right to work in the UK.