Software Development Engineer in Test

We're looking to add Software Development Engineer in Test professionals to our database for future contract opportunities in Manchester. These are specialist technical roles focused on building robust test automation frameworks and ensuring software quality across modern distributed systems and cloud-native architectures.
Please note the content of this advert does not represent a live vacancy.
About the opportunity
This is an opportunity to register your interest in future Software Development Engineer in Test contract roles based in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England. Roles of this type sit at the intersection of quality assurance and software engineering, where you would use development expertise to design, build and maintain automated test solutions that keep complex systems reliable and performant.
The work could involve collaborating across development and QA teams to architect test frameworks for microservices, APIs and distributed systems, potentially working with technologies such as .NET, ASP.NET, Java, Spring Boot, Azure, AWS, Kubernetes and Docker. You could contribute to CI/CD pipeline automation, data quality validation and test coverage across cloud-native and on-premise environments.
Typical role overview

• Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester, England - on-site
• Type: Contract • Full-time
• Rate: £450-550 per day
• Domain: Software quality engineering • test automation • QA engineering

What you would do
Typical responsibilities could include:

• Designing and building scalable test automation frameworks using languages such as Java, Python or C#/.NET
• Developing automated test suites for microservices, APIs and distributed system architectures
• Working with CI/CD pipelines (Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions or similar) to integrate and run tests automatically
• Collaborating with development and QA teams to define test strategies and acceptance criteria
• Contributing to data quality validation and test coverage across cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
• Supporting the team with containerised testing environments using Docker and Kubernetes
• Troubleshooting test failures and providing insights on system behaviour and quality risks

What you could bring
Most roles of this type require the following:
Must-have

• Proficiency in at least one object-oriented programming language, such as Java, C#, Python or similar
• Hands-on experience building and maintaining test automation frameworks
• Working knowledge of APIs, microservices and distributed system testing
• Familiarity with SQL and relational databases
• Experience with version control systems (Git) and CI/CD tooling
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience
• Authorization to work in the United Kingdom

Nice-to-have

• Experience with .NET, ASP.NET, Java, Spring Boot or Node.js
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS or GCP
• Knowledge of containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience with test data management and data pipelines
• Scripting in Bash or PowerShell
• Familiarity with Agile and test-driven development practices

What roles of this type could offer
Most roles of this type offer the following, dependent on the industry and seniority of the role:

• Exposure to modern technology stacks and distributed system architectures
• Opportunity to shape quality standards and testing best practices across development teams
• Potential to work on high-impact projects across technology, engineering and financial services
• Contract flexibility and day rate compensation of £450-550 per day
• Access to professional development and exposure to emerging QA technologies
• Collaboration with specialist teams across our UK offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds

About SThree
SThree is the global STEM workforce consultancy.
We advise businesses, build expert teams and deliver project solutions to outpace tomorrow, together.
Across the UK, we connect talented specialists with cutting-edge opportunities across technology, engineering, life sciences and financial services supported by our offices in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Leeds
How to register interest
If you are interested in being added to our database to be considered for future opportunities, registering is quick and easy. No cover letter required. We will be in touch when we are instructed on these roles to discuss the next step in your career.