Test Engineer (Telecoms) - UK (Multi-Locations) - Outside IR35

Senior Test Engineer - Telecoms/Network Infrastructure Testing

Duration: 6-12 months FTC

IR35: Outside IR35

Start: Immediate

Working Pattern: Hybrid, with customer site visits

Locations: London/Newbury/Birmingham/Manchester/Glasgow

Clearance: Current SC clearance or eligibility to obtain SC clearance

We are looking for an experienced Senior Test Engineer to support complex testing services across a broad telecoms, network infrastructure, cloud and connectivity estate.

This is a hands-on senior testing role requiring strong experience across telecoms and network infrastructure, with responsibility for test design, execution, defect management, technical assurance and stakeholder engagement. You will work across complex infrastructure environments and multiple test phases, while also providing technical guidance to other Test Engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Own test design and execution for assigned workstreams.
• Review requirements, HLDs, LLDs and project documentation to identify test scenarios, dependencies and coverage gaps.
• Produce and peer-review test scripts, test cases and execution evidence to sign-off standard.
• Lead defect triage, root-cause analysis and retest coordination across delivery, design, engineering and operations teams.
• Validate System Integration, Functional, Non-Functional, Disaster Recovery and Operational Acceptance Testing coverage before execution windows open.
• Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Test Engineers, improving the quality of test scripts, evidence and defect records.
• Maintain strong ALM discipline, including test case structure, requirements traceability, defect life cycle management and reporting accuracy.
• Execute and lead complex testing across Routers, Switches, Firewalls, hosting, data centres, LAN/WiFi, SD-WAN, UC & Unity, telephony, mobility, MPN & cloud, IoT, fixed connectivity, cloud & security and service transition.
• Set up and validate complex test environments, including network test equipment and RFC 2544 performance testing where required.
• Support Test Managers with status reporting, risk identification, defect trend analysis and milestone readiness assessments.
• Represent testing in technical design discussions and ensure testability is considered during HLD/LLD reviews.
• Participate confidently in customer-facing test working groups and defect triage calls.
• Escalate risks and blockers promptly, with proposed mitigations.
• Contribute to reusable test assets, automation candidates and AI-assisted test design patterns.
• Support onboarding, knowledge transfer and continuity across project teams.
• Work in line with security, data-handling and audit requirements.

Technical Environment

Testing services cover:

Hosting | LAN & WiFi | Data Centre | Service Transition | SD-WAN | Telephony | UC & Unity | MPN & Cloud | IoT | Fixed Connectivity | Mobility | Cloud & Security

Test phases include:

Unit Testing | System Integration Testing (SIT) | Functional Testing | Non-Functional Testing | Disaster Recovery Testing | Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT)

You should have strong hands-on experience with:

• Telecoms and network infrastructure testing.
• Routers, Switches and Firewalls, including Cisco console competence.
• Infrastructure environments covering areas such as hosting, data centre, SD-WAN, LAN/WiFi, UC, mobility, cloud, security and service transition.
• Interpreting complex infrastructure designs and translating them into structured, traceable test scenarios.
• Advanced ALM, including coverage modelling, requirements traceability, defect analytics and management reporting.
• Performance and conformance testing, including RFC 2544 and network test equipment.
• Service management toolsets such as StableNet.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience, with strong hands-on telecom/network testing expertise.
• Strong QA and testing industry knowledge, including relevant standards and methodologies.
• Proven ownership of test design within complex infrastructure or service transition programmes.
• Strong defect management, root-cause analysis and test evidence discipline.
• Excellent organisational, coordination and stakeholder management skills.
• Confidence working in customer-facing environments.
• Proficient Excel skills and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Teams and SharePoint.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within customer-facing or Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) environments.
• Test automation experience.
• Exposure to AI-assisted test design.
• Experience mentoring or technically leading small test teams.
• ITIL working experience.
• Breadth of experience across three or more of the technical domains listed above.

Certifications

• ISTQB Foundation - expected.
• ITIL - desirable.
• Relevant network or cloud certifications, such as CCNA, CCNP or cloud-provider certifications - desirable.

Location, Travel & Clearance

This is a hybrid role, requiring attendance at the relevant office/hub alongside occasional customer site visits depending on project requirements. Some assignments may also require travel to a customer lab in Spain.

The role specification lists London, Newbury, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow as locations. The specific proximity requirement within the specification states that candidates must be based near London, Newbury, Manchester or Glasgow.

Candidates must either hold current SC clearance or be eligible to obtain SC clearance.