HW QA Engineer

Test & Validation Engineer

Cardiff (site-based)

6 months initially (with strong likelihood of extension beyond 12 months)

Role Overview

An opportunity has arisen for a practical, hands-on Test & Validation Engineer

to contribute to the verification and validation of a newly developed combined hardware and software solution.

You will operate as part of a small, dedicated team tasked with building and delivering comprehensive quality assurance activities across the full product lifecycle.

The role focuses on a top-down, user-centric testing approach, blending exploratory testing, full-system validation, and some level of automation to uncover issues that may occur in real-world usage before release.

Core Responsibilities

Carry out full system-level testing covering hardware components, software, and user interaction points

Detect, document, and monitor defects and usability concerns from an end-user perspective

Create, maintain, and execute test documentation, including plans, scenarios, and cases

Undertake hands-on testing, including exploratory and black-box techniques

Assist with automation efforts, such as scripting or simple hardware-assisted testing setups

Configure and manage test labs and environments across different platforms

Diagnose faults and collaborate with engineering teams to resolve issues

Assemble and modify test setups, including basic hardware adjustments where needed

Conduct regression testing to ensure stability ahead of releases

Essential Experience

Academic or practical background in electronics, electrical engineering, or similar discipline

Proven exposure to system or product-level testing/validation

A genuine interest in fault-finding and pushing products to failure points

Confidence working across both physical devices and software interfaces

Familiarity with scripting languages (e.g. Python) or entry-level automation tools

Understanding of typical test environments, including operating systems and web-based interfaces

Ability to manage workload independently with minimal direction

Additional / Beneficial Skills

Knowledge of automation frameworks or microcontroller-based testing

Basic understanding of networked systems (IP connectivity)

Experience working within Agile or Lean delivery models

Practical lab skills such as soldering or basic hardware modification

Key Attributes

Naturally curious with a problem-solving mindset

Detail-oriented, with a strong focus on end-user experience and quality

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, self-managed team environment

Clear and confident communicator, able to explain technical issues effectively