Senior QA Automation Engineer

Posted Wednesday 7 January 2026 at 01:00

We are looking for a Senior QA Automation Engineer who is driving for excellence with a passion for their craft, who will have an amazing opportunity to manage the day-to-day squad's quality assurance activities for a customer facing motor insurance product, making sure to drive the automation strategy and implementation across web and mobile platforms,

You will have the chance to own the squad's test automation roadmap, champion mobile automation practices and mentor junior team members ensuring high quality, timely delivery of quote-to-buy journeys, mobile applications and customer portal functionality.

Role:

Senior QA Automation Engineer

Location:

Liverpool City Centre HQ / Hybrid (3 days in office)

Working Hours:

37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

What you will be doing:

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test suites using Playwright (web) and Maestro (mobile)
• Define and implement the automation framework architecture aligned with squad needs and wider QA standards
• Identify high-value automation opportunities across quote, buy, and portal journeys
• Integrate automated tests into Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous testing
• Develop and maintain API test automation to validate backend services and third-party integrations

Mobile Testing Leadership

• Lead mobile automation initiatives using Maestro, establishing best practices for the wider QA team
• Ensure comprehensive test coverage for native mobile app functionality, including offline behaviour, push notifications, and device-specific scenarios

Quality Assurance Delivery

• Collaborate with developers, product owners and Business Analysts to ensure requirements are testable and understood
• Execute exploratory testing and risk-based testing for new features and complex changes
• Validate integrations with payment gateways, enrichment services, and external data providers

Mentoring & Collaboration

• Mentor and upskill junior QA team members, supporting their growth in automation and testing best practices
• Conduct test case and automation code reviews to ensure quality and maintainability
• Define and track quality metrics (defect leakage, automation coverage, test execution times) with inputs from QA lead to maintain consistency across squads
• Proactively identify process improvements and implement them within the squad

What we are looking for:

• Experienced user of Automated test suites e.g. Playright (web) and Maestro (mobile)
• Demonstrable knowledge of Azure DevOps CI/CD Pipelines
• Abitlity to work within cross functional teams
• Proven ability to mentor junior QA team members
• Experience in defining and tracking quality metrics

Why Join Us?

• Competitive Salary & Benefits: We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package to ensure you feel valued and supported.
• Professional Growth: We are committed to your professional development and offer opportunities for career advancement and continuous learning. We have a number of great case studied from around the business which is showcased on our Linkedin & Acorn webpages.
• Collaborative Environment: Work in a supportive and inclusive environment where your ideas and contributions are valued.
• Exciting Projects: Be part of innovative and impactful projects that make a difference in our industry and community.

Grow with Acorn

AtAcorn Insurance, we're proud of our Liverpool roots - and even prouder of how far we've come. As part of theAcorn Group, we bring over 40 years of specialist insurance expertise to the table. From humble beginnings, we've grown into a national leader, now employing 1,700+ people across the UKandreached a milestone £750 million in total value of insurance policies written in 2024.

Our Values

• We run through walls for our customers and each other
• We challenge the status quo
• We succeed when we help those around us succeed
• We decide quickly when the smart thing to do is use our judgement
• 35 days' holiday(including bank holidays) with additional buy/sell options
• 24/7 mental health support& free counselling available
• Grow with us:Through career fairs, leadership programs, and learning on the go!
• Flexible benefits, including early access to salary via our internal platform
• Hybrid working optionsto support work-life balance and individual needs

Our Commitment to our colleague's:

These aren't just words - they're the principles we live by. And we're proud to back them up with real action, earning recognition and accreditation from leading organisations that share our commitment to people and growth:

• Mindful Employer- championing mental health and wellbeing
• Disability Confident Level 1 & 2- creating accessible, inclusive opportunities
• Menopause Friendly accredited- supporting every stage of life
• ️ Armed Forces Covenant signatory- honouring those who serve
• Great Places to Work 2024/25- fostering an engaging and positive workplace culture
• Best Place to Work for Development- proud to be investing in people's future
• Best Place to Work for Women- breaking down barriers to women's career progression

A Few Things to Know Before You Apply

We're really excited that you're considering joining Acorn! To help everything go smoothly, here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

If your application is successful, we will commencement relevant employment checks prior to you commencing employment with us. These will include a standard criminal record check and an insolvency register check.

Visa Requirements

Because our training is quite comprehensive, we can only consider applicants who have at least one year remaining on their Graduate or Post-Study Work visa. At the moment, we're not able to offer visa sponsorship.

We're Here to Support You

We're committed to creating an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can flourish. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process-or once you're part of the team-just let us know. Whether it's flexible hours, adapted equipment, or a bit of extra support, we'll work with you to make sure you can do your best work.