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Optimal

Optimal

www.trustinoptimal.co.uk

2 Jobs

2 Employees

About the Company

At Optimal, recruitment is more than just matching candidates with roles - it's about building lasting relationships and thriving communities.

Our founder, with over 20 years of technical IT recruitment experience, is a passionate advocate for community engagement and the organiser of the first-ever London Ministry of Testing Meetup. Combining technical expertise with a CT-AI certification, they have made Optimal a true recruitment specialist.

Our core expertise lies in Test, Development, and Quality Engineering. Additionally, we cover other specialised tech domains listed below through our trusted partners, vetted over years of collaboration in the recruitment industry.

What sets us apart is our collaborative approach: we partner with boutique recruitment agencies that excel in their fields-whether it's AI/ML, Product Management, Microsoft D365, Cloud & Infrastructure, Cyber Security or Tech Sales.

For businesses seeking a deeper partnership, we offer an embedded onsite talent option, where a member of our team works closely with your talent teams. This allows us to gain a thorough understanding of your company culture and identify exactly what makes a great hire for your organisation.

With Optimal, clients benefit from a streamlined process, a single point of contact, and expert management at every stage - ensuring the recruitment experience is seamless and successful.

Listed Jobs

Company background Company brand
Company Name
Optimal
Job Title
Principal Data SDET | Data Migration | SQL | Python | Stakeholder Management
Job Description
Job Title: Principal Data SDET – Data Migration & Framework Architect Role Summary: Lead the design, implementation, and maintenance of enterprise‑grade data validation and automation frameworks across data, backend, and UI layers. Drive end‑to‑end testing of large‑scale data migrations, ETL pipelines, and cloud‑based services, while collaborating with development, DevOps, and business stakeholders to embed quality at every stage of delivery. Expectations: - Minimum 4 years of hands‑on testing experience in a financial or investment management environment. - Advanced expertise in data migration testing, SQL, and Python. - Proficiency with Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent cloud data platforms. - Proven ability to architect and deliver robust automation frameworks from scratch. - Strong stakeholder engagement skills; translate business requirements into test strategies. - Eligibility to work in the UK (British Citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain). Key Responsibilities: - Own the full lifecycle of data validation and migration testing for large‑scale data pipelines and ETL processes. - Build and maintain modular automation frameworks (SpecFlow, Playwright, Cypress, Selenium) covering UI, API, and end‑to‑end scenarios. - Define and enforce performance benchmarks using tools such as JMeter, k6, and Gatling across APIs and distributed systems. - Integrate automation suites into CI/CD pipelines (AWS, Azure DevOps, GCP) and ensure quality gates in production environments. - Collaborate with developers, architects, and DevOps to shape architectural decisions that enhance reliability, maintainability, and performance. - Mentor and lead a small team while remaining an active, 80 %+ hands‑on engineer. - Communicate complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders and translate business needs into testable outcomes. Required Skills: - Advanced SQL, Python, and scripting for data validation. - Hands‑on experience with Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent. - Framework architecture and design pattern knowledge for scalable test automation. - Proficiency with UI automation tools (Playwright, Selenium, Cypress, SpecFlow). - Performance testing tools (JMeter, k6, Gatling). - Cloud platform experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). - CI/CD pipeline management and integration. - Excellent written and verbal communication. - Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and collaboration skills. Required Education & Certifications: - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience). - Certifications such as AWS Certified Developer, Azure DevOps Engineer, or Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer are advantageous but not mandatory.
London, United kingdom
Hybrid
Senior
17-11-2025
Company background Company brand
Company Name
Optimal
Job Title
Senior SDET | Financial Services - Market Data Expertise Required
Job Description
**Job title:** Senior SDET – Market Data **Role Summary:** Lead the end‑to‑end test automation program for a high‑visibility Market Data transformation. Own the architecture, development, and maintenance of robust automation frameworks, execute comprehensive test plans, and drive quality throughout the delivery lifecycle. **Expectations:** - Proven senior QA authority with recent banking or financial services experience. - Deep exposure to Market Data systems and concepts. - Hands‑on design, delivery, and ownership of automation solutions. - Strong command of Python, SQL, and UI/API automation tools (Playwright, Cypress, Selenium). - Ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams, communicate risk, and enforce governance standards. **Key Responsibilities:** - Architect, build, and sustain automation frameworks for UI, API, and integration testing of Market Data applications. - Develop and maintain test scripts, data feeds, and validation logic across relational databases and cloud data flows. - Plan, execute, and report manual and automated test cases; manage defect lifecycle and quality metrics. - Integrate testing into CI pipelines, ensuring traceability and compliance with internal reporting templates. - Collaborate with engineering, IT services, and business SMEs to embed QA best practices and drive continuous improvement. - Mentor junior testers and support the Principal Test Manager in QA governance. **Required Skills:** - Senior experience in test automation engineering (≥5 yrs). - Expertise in Python and SQL; scripting in JavaScript or equivalent accepted. - Proven automation framework development with Playwright, Cypress, or Selenium. - Strong knowledge of cloud technologies, relational databases, and DevOps principles. - Familiarity with Jira, Agile delivery, and modern CI/CD practices. **Required Education & Certifications:** - Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. - ISTQB Foundation or equivalent certification.
London, United kingdom
Hybrid
Senior
19-11-2025