About this job

Job Description
Our team is involved in establishing the assurance and test programmes for satellite communications networks for both civil and military customers. These networks can involve GEO, MEO and LEO satellite constellations.
We are expanding our team and are seeking a Junior Software Test Engineer (Test Systems) to support the ongoing test programmes that are necessary to ensure mission success. This role will typically require software design and development tasks on advanced satellite communications networks and supported communications services.  Working closely with our clients through the test campaigns that will precede communications service launch, the successful candidate will be responsible for undertaking a variety of software-focused test-related activities and related communications systems engineering tasks.
You will have a  good understanding of a typical satellite project at both system and subsystem levels, incorporating both space and ground segments in additional to systems engineering knowledge and experience.  The successful candidate is ideally expected to demonstrate experience of many – but not necessarily all – of the following skills, experience, and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test and maintain VV&T (Validation, Verification and Testing) software test procedures for complex mobile and fixed satcom networks (GEO and non-GEO/LEO/cubesats constellations) and their associated test environments.

• Work with team leads, Scrum Master and Product owners in delivering user stories on time; provision of task estimates and progress information to team leaders/project manager.

• Creation and development of automated test suites.
• Development and execution of test procedures / cases which may include the incorporation of satellite payload (communications, optical), ground systems, satellite radio networks, IP and service networks.
• Testing network devices’ communication paths and capacity performance, conducting post-test data analysis and reporting.
• Ground segment engineering/terminal design, development and test.
• Identifying and troubleshooting system communication paths and capacity performance, as well as conducting post-test data analysis and reporting.
• Create test reports to document issues and assist development with the investigation and resolution of issues.
• Review and comment on ‘testability’ issues (e.g.: obvious design flaws, perceiving where there may be missing test procedures).

Profile

Skills, Character and Experience

• Experience of working as an integral part of a highly focused team; self-motivated and enthusiastic even when under pressure.
• Demonstrable experience in a relevant technical domain.
• Experience of designing, building, testing, integrating and maintaining modern software applications.
• Experience of testing user interfaces (UI/UX).
• Experience using test management tools (Jira, X-ray).
• Previous experience in testing and/or fault analysis and faulting tools (e.g.: Wireshark, Spirent, or similar).
• Experience in using Linux-based systems (e.g.: Redhat, Debian).

• Strong analytical skills, the ability to identify key issues and to solve day-to-day challenges and issues and to report upon and present KPI (Key Performance Indicator) and SLA (Service Level Agreement) information.
• Good customer-facing and communication skills with ability to produce and present clear, concise and unambiguous presentations to customers and other clients.
• Proven ability to develop innovative solutions to defined problems; adaptable to new requirements and changing priorities
• Willing to travel nationally and internationally, for example to support test execution campaigns (project dependent).

Essential

• Graduate with a good Honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject (e.g.: Space Systems Engineering, Software Engineering / Computing, Networks, Electronics, Communications); equivalent qualifications and/or experience can be considered as an alternative

• Experience in testing within satellite communication technologies / networks with an appreciation of satellite subsystems, systems engineering processes and operational environments.

• At least two years’ experience in the development of communications system test strategy, plans and procedures, VV&T documentation and test execution in either ground and/or space segment environments, ideally gained via a global satcom network provider; alternative experience may be considered.

• An understanding of OOP (Object-orientated Principles) ideally via the use of Java, C++ and Scripting Languages (e.g.: Python, Javascript, BASH, cshell); ability to work with abstract concepts, and to express and communicate them through documentation; experience of using a variety of coding languages in different environments.
• Experience of software-focussed development methodologies (i.e.: Agile, DevOps).
• Knowledge of test automation software (e.g.: Selenium, Cucumber, Gherkin).
• Experience in API testing (e.g.: unit, functional, load / performance testing, etc.).
• Knowledge of networking concepts (e.g.: TCP-IP/DNS/DHCP/Network Routing/ICMP).
• Experience using relational databases.
• Experience of version / source control systems.

• Knowledge of systems engineering practices from requirements engineering through design/development and on to VV&T.
• Demonstrable testing experience (test automation environments and languages, stand-alone/integrated testing, factory acceptance testing, operational networks, end-user terminal testing).
• Solid and relevant experience of conducting tests, collecting and analysing data from tests, communicating results and anomalies to test management and the customer through both presentations and formal test reports.
• Experience and knowledge of IP network design, protocols and security of data; experience of troubleshooting of network, RF signal connection and protocol problems, including identifying and solving problems and issues.