This is a fantastic opportunity for a mid-level to senior QA Engineer to become a key member of our fast-paced and self-contained agile development team. You'll combine strategic ownership of the QA process with hands-on testing and the implementation of automated solutions across our maritime technology platform.
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Who are Idwal?
Idwal is the global leader in vessel inspections, technology and data. Founded in 2010 we've become the trusted partner for independent sale and purchase inspections and fleet condition monitoring across the maritime industry. We inspect almost half of all vessels sold globally each year. Our 500-point inspection reports provide transparent and actionable insights into a vessel's maintenance, quality and ESG compliance, all contextualised by the Idwal Grade® – the industry standard for measuring asset integrity. With over 10 million data points, more than 15% of the global fleet inspected since 2019, and operations in over 100 countries, we've transformed ship inspections from a traditional service into a data-driven digital platform. Operating from our headquarters in Cardiff Bay, with employees in Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo and Athens, and supported by an extensive network of expert marine surveyors worldwide, we serve leading banks, financial institutions, private equity groups, ship owners, brokers, insurers and charterers.
Why work at Idwal?
Innovation meets stability. Backed by private equity (LDC), we have the resources and ambition of a scale-up combined with the stability of an established, profitable business. You'll work on genuinely industry-changing technology that's already recognised as the gold standard in maritime – but without the uncertainty of an early-stage startup.
Real impact. The work you do here matters. Our technology platform and data services directly influence multimillion pound vessel transactions and help ensure safer, more sustainable shipping worldwide. Your quality assurance work protects the integrity of systems that the world's leading maritime organisations depend on.
Technology at our core. We're not a traditional shipping company that's added technology – we're a technology company serving the maritime sector. Our in-house engineering team has built proprietary platforms from the ground up, and we're continuously innovating with AI, data analytics, and digital solutions that are genuinely transforming our industry.
Global reach, local roots. While we operate globally across 100+ countries, our engineering team is based in Cardiff Bay with a flexible, hybrid working model. You'll collaborate with marine surveyors, technical experts, and clients worldwide while being part of a close-knit Welsh team.
What is it like at Idwal?
Our culture. We've built something special here – a passionate team of shipping professionals, marine engineers, master mariners, developers and technology specialists working towards a common goal. We're friendly and collaborative with regular team events and charity initiatives that keep us connected beyond the day-to-day work.
Where you'll work. We operate a hybrid working policy with one day per week in our Cardiff Bay office, giving you the flexibility to balance focused home working with valuable face-to-face collaboration time.
How we work. We embrace agile methodologies and modern engineering practices. Our teams are empowered to make decisions, experiment with new approaches, and continuously improve. You'll work alongside people who are experts in their fields pushing the boundaries of what's possible with inspection technology and data platforms.
What you'll do
Quality Leadership
- Own and improve the testing process by defining testing strategies across the Engineering department
- Champion quality throughout the software development lifecycle, advocating for best practices and standards
- Collaborate with Product Owners and Engineering Leads to establish quality metrics and KPIs
Testing & Automation
- Design, develop and maintain robust automated test suites using Cypress for E2E testing
- Execute manual and automated functional testing across multiple applications and services
- Implement and run non-functional tests including security and performance testing
Agile Collaboration
- Fully embed yourself within an Agile team; estimating user stories, defining acceptance criteria, and planning sprints
- Participate actively in daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives
- Work closely with developers to implement testability features and resolve defects efficiently
Cross-Functional Engagement
- Work with stakeholders, gathering requirements and translating them into comprehensive test scenarios
- Contribute to technical discussions and solution design from a quality perspective
Continuous Improvement
- Monitor and report on test results, identifying trends and areas for improvement
- Stay current with industry best practices and emerging testing technologies
- Contribute to the evolution of our CI/CD pipelines and testing infrastructure
What you'll need
Essential Experience
- 3-5+ years of hands-on QA Engineering experience in a software development environment
- Strong proficiency with automated testing tools, particularly Cypress (or similar frameworks)
- Solid experience with JavaScript/Node.js for test automation
- Proven track record in API testing using tools such as Postman, REST Assured, or similar
- Experience with continuous integration tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions)
- Demonstrable experience testing across multiple devices and browsers (BrowserStack, Sauce Labs, or similar)
- Strong understanding of the software development life-cycle and Agile methodologies
Technical Skills
- Proficiency in writing clean, maintainable test code
- Experience with test reporting frameworks • Understanding of version control systems (Git) and collaborative development workflows
- Familiarity with performance testing concepts and tools • Knowledge of security testing principles and common vulnerabilities
Professional Qualities
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex technical issues to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset
- Meticulous attention to detail and a genuine passion for delivering quality software to end users
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Proactive approach to identifying and addressing quality issues
Interested? Get in touch with our recruitment team to find out more. Either send your CV or LinkedIn profile to Rhys.jevons@idwalmarine.com or speak to Allison Hetherton on 02920 446 644.
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