Graduate QA Analyst

2 days ago

Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom OCU Full time £25,000 - £35,000 per year

Graduate QA Analyst 

Role Overview

We're looking for a motivated Junior QA Analyst to support the quality assurance of new and updated features within OCU One. This role is ideal for someone early in their QA career—with a strong eye for detail, a willingness to learn, and a passion for improving digital products.

You will work within a squad environment, executing defined test cases, validating small features or user stories, logging defects with clear evidence, and learning core functional testing techniques. You'll be supported by senior QA colleagues, Engineers, and Architects, gradually increasing your autonomy as your skills develop.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Test Planning & Preparation

  • Understand requirements and acceptance criteria with support from senior QA/Engineers.
  • Prepare and organise test cases assigned to you; maintain accurate test evidence.
  • Ensure you have the correct data, environments, and access needed to execute test activities.
  • Raise questions early where requirements or behaviours are unclear.

2. Test Execution (Manual & Exploratory)

  • Execute defined functional test cases covering system, integration and regression scenarios (under guidance).
  • Perform simple exploratory testing focused on identifying unexpected behaviours.
  • Begin running basic API checks (e.g., Postman templates) and simple SQL lookups with support.
  • Test small features or individual user stories within a single functional area of the platform.

3. Defect Logging & Retesting

  • Raise clear, reproducible defects with steps, screenshots, or other evidence.
  • Work with Engineers and Senior QAs to understand severity, priority, and expected outcomes.
  • Re-test fixes and contribute to maintaining a clean defect backlog.
  • Provide daily concise updates on progress, blockers, and test outcomes.

4. Sprint Participation & Collaboration

  • Participate in ceremonies including stand-ups, refinements, planning, and retros (with guidance).
  • Estimate daily testing effort for assigned tasks and flag blockers promptly.
  • Align your work to sprint goals and commit to delivering within your defined scope.

5. Quality Standards & Continuous Learning

  • Follow OCU QA processes, Definition of Done, and agreed quality gates.
  • Maintain consistent, accurate, repeatable test execution and documentation.
  • Actively seek feedback and coaching to improve your techniques.
  • Suggest small improvements to test cases or team workflows as you grow.

Skills and Experience:

Essential Skills

  • Foundational understanding of software testing principles (gained via study or early experience).
  • Ability to execute structured test cases accurately and reliably.
  • Basic familiarity with tools such as:
    • ClickUp / TestMonitor for test management
    • Postman (template-based API checks)
    • SQL (simple lookups)
  • Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.
  • Clear written communication for raising defects and reporting progress.
  • Collaborative and open to coaching, feedback, and new ways of working.

Desirable Skills

  • Exposure to Agile/Scrum ways of working.
  • Basic understanding of digital platforms, web applications, or enterprise systems.
  • Interest in expanding into areas such as exploratory testing, non-functional checks, or automation foundations.

What We Value

We value our commitment to each other, summed up in our five values, we all sign up to these… We care about safety. We lead with integrity. We strive to be better every day. We make a positive impact. We deliver to grow. We are one company united.

Our Aim & Vision at OCU

To be the UK's leading energy transition and utilities contractor.

We are committed to leading the way in utilities and energy transition contracting, our mission is to innovate and deliver sustainability. At OCU, our passion for addressing complex challenges brings new standards of growth in our people and capabilities. OCU is an equal opportunities employer.

Company Information:

Established in 1994, OCU Group is one of the fastest growing utility engineering contractors in the UK, with a long successful track record in delivering customer-focused civil engineering solutions.

Working directly with many of the country's leading blue-chip power, water, telecoms, and rail clients, we are looking for the very best talent to join our growing team.

We pride ourselves on empowering our employees and offering opportunities for them to take control of their own personal development and career progression in a supportive environment.

We believe that being successful is a choice.

We choose to be successful.

We are OCU, 'One Company United'.

We celebrate difference and appreciate diverse backgrounds. We encourage everyone who join us to be themselves at work and create inclusive teams in our workplace.

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