Associate test engineer

Band 4 · Test engineer · 275 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Associate test engineer

Most often performed at Civil Service grade EO.

An associate test engineer works closely with other test professionals to learn test engineering activities and techniques.
At this role level, you will:
contribute to and maintain technical test suites under supervision
follow engineering practices and standards to apply test approaches, plans and strategies under supervision
analyse artefacts such as user stories, prototypes, processes and designs with support
support the development of reports, recording of outcomes and resolution of defects
understand the technical tooling and engineering approach to design and execute tests

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Write and maintain simple automated tests under supervision, following the team's engineering standards.
Run automated and manual tests and record outcomes accurately.
Help investigate and report defects, including in integrations with clinical systems.
Use synthetic test data and follow information governance rules in test environments.
Learn the team's test tools, code practices, and clinical safety process.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Communicating between the technical and non-technicalUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain why it's important to communicate technical concepts in non-technical language explain the types of communication that can be used with internal and external stakeholders, and their impact
Designing and executing testsUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: contribute to deciding the most appropriate test types and techniques to use follow guidance to design, build and maintain simple tests that align to user needs and requirements execute simple tests with support explain the value of automation within testing
Managing, reporting and resolving defectsUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain how to report and track defects follow a defect management process to report, communicate and maintain defects with appropriate information retest and escalate defects when needed
Test analysisUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: describe quality characteristics and explain why they are important analyse information, such as user stories, prototypes, processes and designs, with support explain what might be a risk in achieving quality goals
Test and quality planningUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain the value of quality testing approaches, plans and strategies explain how different delivery methodologies affect quality testing approaches, plans and strategies follow quality testing approaches, plans and strategies, with support explain how to measure the effectiveness of quality testing approaches, plans and strategies, and why it’s important
Test engineeringUK GDaD PCF	Awareness (1)	You can: explain why testing processes, environments and tools are important follow test engineering practices and standards, with support support the maintenance of automated tests and tools required for testing
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: describe the main parts of the health and care system and the services the organisation supports explain why patient safety and confidentiality matter in your work
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: explain how health IT systems can harm patients, for example through wrong, missing, or delayed information report a possible clinical safety issue through the right route
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: follow the organisation's rules for handling personal and health information recognise and report a data breach or near miss

Typical qualifications and experience

Some experience of coding or testing, or enrolment on a relevant apprenticeship, or equivalent.

Band 4 outline

Knowledge: Detailed knowledge of the work area, typically from a foundation degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works within guidelines; resolves most day-to-day problems; manager available for advice.
Scope: Own work and a defined service or process.
Leadership: May supervise a small team or coordinate others' work.
Accountability: Delivery of a defined service or process.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	3	Gives routine information needing tact or persuasion, or complex or sensitive information, or straightforward training to groups.	21
Knowledge, training, and experience	4	A range of procedures, mostly non-routine, needing intermediate theory (for example a foundation degree or equivalent experience).	88
Analytical and judgemental skills	3	Judgements on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organisational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	2	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes to its practices.	12
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	1	Takes personal care of equipment and resources used in own work.	5
Responsibility for people	1	Shows own work routines to new or less experienced colleagues.	5
Responsibility for information resources	3	Takes formal minutes, regularly writes reports or queries, or maintains information systems as a significant duty.	16
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	2	Follows standard procedures and precedent; someone is usually available to ask; work may be checked.	12
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 4: 271 to 325)			275