Tester

The Student Record System Programme is replacing Cardiff Metropolitan University's current system with a modern, cloud-based platform that will transform how we manage the full student lifecycle. Before that platform goes live, every process, user journey and integration needs to be proven to work as intended, and that is precisely what this role is about.

In this role, you will be responsible for the design and execution of test cases across the SRS Programme, working within the programme's testing team under the direction of the Test Manager to ensure the new system is thoroughly tested and verified before go-live.

You will test across multiple phases, including System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), helping to make sure that new student-facing and staff-facing systems are reliable, accurate and fit for purpose from day one.

You will work closely with SRS Configuration Analysts, the Defect Co-ordinator, technical teams and business users across the University, logging and investigating defects and contributing to the overall quality of the programme's deliverables.

Key Responsibilities:

- Designing and executing test cases across assigned test phases, including SIT, regression, integration and UAT, ensuring good coverage of business processes, user journeys, data scenarios and integration points.
- Analysing business requirements, process designs and configuration documentation to produce clear, well-structured test scripts that reflect expected system behaviour.
- Executing test scripts methodically, recording results in the agreed test management tool and maintaining a clear and complete test execution log.
- Logging defects with steps to reproduce, expected versus actual results and supporting evidence, then retesting fixes to confirm they work and that no regression has been introduced.
- Contributing to test planning, including estimating test effort, identifying test data requirements and flagging dependencies or risks, and taking part in daily stand-ups, defect triage and phase reviews.
- Supporting the co-ordination of UAT, including briefing business users, monitoring execution and collating feedback, and contributing to lessons learned at the end of each test phase.

Essential Requirements:

- Demonstrable experience of designing and executing test cases and test scripts across functional test phases such as System Integration Testing (SIT) and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
- Experience of analysing business requirements, process documentation and configuration specifications to produce accurate test cases with clear pass/fail criteria.
- Experience of logging, managing and retesting defects using a formal defect tracking or test management tool, such as Azure DevOps, Jira or similar.
- Ability to design and execute integration test cases, verifying data flows and system behaviour across multiple integrated platforms.
- Experience of supporting UAT activity, including briefing business users, monitoring test execution and collating feedback.
- Strong attention to detail and good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to report test progress clearly and work collaboratively with configuration analysts, defect co-ordinators and technical leads.
- A degree-level qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology or a related discipline (or equivalent professional experience).
- The ISTQB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing or a willingness to work towards it.

Desirable:

- Experience of testing large-scale enterprise IT systems or SaaS platforms, ideally within a digital transformation programme.
- Familiarity with student record systems or higher education processes.

Benefits:

- Annual leave of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus 12 bank holiday / concessionary days.
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with generous contributions.
- Excellent family friendly policies.
- Opportunities to learn and develop your skills with access to library and digital services facilities.
- Excellent sports and fitness facilities with subsidised membership.
- Free family access to independent specialist wellbeing support provider, Health Assured.