Test Engineer Level 4

NATS is the UK's leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Salary: £62,278.99 - £83,038.65

Closing Date: 30/10/2026

Please include a cover letter with your application.

Job Purpose/Overview

Responsible to the Senior Test Manager / Test Manager for the successful completion of the following tasks:

• Testing of system requirements.

• Testing of system design proposals.

• Testing of system change requests.

• Represent NATS as domain technical expert.

• Provide Testing support for services and systems in operational use.

Principal Accountabilities

The accountabilities covered by these roles are summarised below:

• Accountable for test engineering activities as directed by the Senior Test Manager / Test Manager for delegated domain, to ensure conformance to the requirements and whether the system satisfies its intended use and user / customer needs.

• For delegated domain / system(s), provide specialist advice and consultancy to other areas of NATS and external system suppliers.

• Responsible for delivery of related technical documentation as agreed within the work packages.

• The post holder will be responsible for carrying out system lifecycle activities for a number of package items, as allocated by the Senior Test Manager / Test Manager. The lifecycle encompasses activities as defined in the Manage Verification process, such as:

• Provide input/support to the generation of requirement specifications

• Define test requirements and design tests to satisfy requirements and safety

• Write and maintain project documentation and produce formal documentation for changes

• Investigate and diagnose problems and propose solutions

• Test the changes and integrate with other parallel activities

• Write test plans, test scripts, test reports and other associated test documentation

• Perform testing at required levels for one or more systems

• Proficient in the selection and use of test tools, diagnose test failures and provide results and recommendations

• Maintain test tools and test environments

• Act as a focal point to provide technical expertise for one or more systems

• Liaise with key stakeholders to provide support and improve understanding of requirements

• Provide estimates to team leads as required to achieve a particular change and contribute to the planning activity

• Review work items and act as a co-ordinator for work produced by other team members

• Contribute to the maintenance and improvement of department procedures where appropriate

• Support in the provision of resource estimates for work packages, CRs and new systems

• Support project test review activities and participate in project phase and engineering reviews.

• Provide assurance of the adequacy of the test tools, resources and test environments of suppliers.

• Support the acceptance of supplier test documentation.

• Support the Acceptance Criteria definition.

Autonomy

• Expected to work unsupervised, on one or more assigned Testing Tasks, following the Manage Verification Process to ensure they are delivered to the agreed quality, cost and time.

• Has responsibility for delegating and supervising staff and/or contractors under their control in order to achieve project goals.

Job Scope

• Co-ordinate with Technical Design, Project or System Engineering Managers, Project Managers, customers, Test Managers, Test engineers and others to agree timescales and work plans to perform the timely and efficient execution of assigned test activities.

• Analyse requirements to determine optimum test solutions and produce accurate test specifications for assigned tasks.

• During project transition provide technical expertise to operational units in supporting the rapid analysis and diagnosis of system deficiencies.

• Provide support to assist the development, implementation and acceptance of the project.

• The post holder must be highly motivated and able to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, understanding and reviewing reports written by others and writing documents forming part of the formal documentation of a change. Must have good interpersonal communication skills

• The ability to support, coach, motivate and develop members of the team to maximise their contribution to the needs of projects in coordination with People Leads.

Essential Skills and Experience

• The job holder is expected to hold, as a minimum, an HNC (or an equivalent qualification) in an Engineering related discipline and have relevant engineering experience

• Applicants not holding the expected qualification but who have undertaken relevant lower-level qualifications/certifications in similar fields and have demonstrable skills and capabilities gained through relevant experience in a test engineering role (preferably in a business critical or safety critical sector) will be considered.

• Proven experience in the engineering aspects of large real time systems, preferably in safety related environments and / or Air Traffic Management Systems (ATM).

• The job holder should have a good working knowledge of the Manage Verification and Defect processes, as part of the wider Manage Service Transition process.

Additional Vacancy Information

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements.Find out more here .

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe - we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS

Please note: All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance click here Security Clearance - NATS

Department: Day Teams - Oceanic

Location:
Prestwick, South Ayrshire, GB, KA9 2GX

Country/Region: GB

Postal Code: KA9 2GX

Job Code: 1620

Salary Range: £62,278.99 - £83,038.65

Date: 16 Oct 2026