Automation Engineer (Senior)

Spike are retail technology experts delivering end‑to‑end, go‑live confidence for some of the largest and most complex retail brands in the UK and beyond.

This is a senior‑level opportunity within Spike’s Quality Engineering & Automation practice, suited to an experienced Senior Automation Engineer who operates as a trusted technical authority, delivery leader, and coach within complex client environments.

You will lead automation strategy and delivery across multiple retail technology programmes, working across diverse platforms, teams, and delivery partners. You will also play a key role in shaping how Spike designs, delivers, and continuously improves its automation capability.

This role goes beyond hands‑on delivery. At Senior level, you are expected to own automation outcomes, influence stakeholders, mentor others, and contribute to the growth and maturity of Spike’s automation practice.

As a Senior Automation Engineer, you will:

• Take ownership of automation strategy and delivery across complex client engagements
• Act as a senior automation authority within delivery teams and with client stakeholders
• Balance technical quality, delivery outcomes, and pragmatism across multiple projects
• Lead and develop Spike consultants, setting standards for automation quality and engineering excellence
• Contribute to the evolution of Spike’s automation frameworks, tools, and ways of working

• Own and lead automation activity across complex projects and programmes
• Define and implement automation strategies aligned to client delivery models and risk profiles
• Design and build scalable automation frameworks and approaches across web, API, and integrated systems
• Drive automation across functional and non‑functional testing, ensuring meaningful quality outcomes
• Integrate automation effectively into CI/CD pipelines and Agile delivery models
• Act as the senior escalation point for automation‑related risks, issues, and technical decisions

• Act as a trusted automation advisor to client stakeholders, supporting informed technical decision‑making
• Shape automation approaches within proposals, estimates, and delivery models
• Support pre‑sales and solution design activities where automation is a core component
• Identify opportunities to improve automation effectiveness and value for clients
• Help position Spike as a credible, high‑quality automation and quality engineering partner

• Lead, mentor, and coach Spike consultants on client engagements
• Support the development of less experienced automation engineers and test leads
• Promote high engineering standards, collaboration, and knowledge sharing
• Contribute to internal communities of practice, frameworks, and accelerators
• Demonstrate Spike values through behaviour, decision‑making, and client interactions

• Proven experience defining and delivering test automation strategies across multiple projects
• Strong hands‑on experience with web and API automation tools and engineering approaches
• Experience integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines and modern delivery models
• Development experience using one or more languages such as Java, C#, Python, or JavaScript
• Experience working in Agile environments, collaborating closely with development teams
• BDD experience using Cucumber, SpecFlow, and/or Gherkin
• Ability to operate autonomously with high levels of accountability

Retail or eCommerce experience is desirable, particularly within complex, multi‑system environments.

• Modern retail and eCommerce platforms
• API‑driven and microservices‑based architectures
• CI/CD tooling and cloud‑based delivery environments