Data Test Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Data Test Engineer

BUSINESS FUNCTION: IT
SALARY: £43,850
ROLE TYPE: Permanent
LOCATION: Leeds,York
HOURS: 37 per week

Data can tell powerful stories – but only when it’s trusted. As part of our team at Northern, you’d be the person making sure that trust is well placed. Working at the heart of our Data and Analytics function, you’d help shape how data is tested, validated, and relied on across the business.

From customer journeys to operational performance, our decisions depend on data being accurate, complete, and ready when it’s needed. That’s where you come in. You’d bring an engineering-led approach to testing, blending hands-on manual testing with smart automation to make sure our data platform and data lake deliver quality at scale.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll play a key role in building confidence in Northern’s data, making sure it stands up to real-world use and supports better decision-making across the organisation.

· Designing and building automated testing frameworks to validate data across pipelines, transformations, and datasets

· Carrying out manual testing where it adds the most value, especially for complex scenarios

· Embedding testing into the data lifecycle – from ingestion through to transformation and delivery

· Working closely with data engineers, analysts, and platform teams to define test approaches and quality standards

· Integrating automated tests into Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines so quality is built in, not bolted on

· Spotting data issues early, investigating root causes, and working with teams to resolve them

· Creating clear documentation and reporting on data quality, risks, and testing outcomes

· Contributing to better ways of working by improving frameworks, standards, and reusable tools

· Supporting audit and compliance needs by ensuring testing is traceable and well documented

About you

Data testing isn’t just something you do – it’s something you think about. You understand how data moves, where it can go wrong, and how to catch issues before they cause problems.

A few things you’ll bring with you:

· Experience testing data platforms, data lakes, or ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes

· Strong SQL skills and experience with at least one programming language such as Python, Java, or Scala

· Confidence working with data testing or validation tools – for example Great Expectations, dbt, or similar

· An understanding of automated testing approaches, including Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD)

· Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and modern data technologies

· A collaborative approach – you’re comfortable working with both technical teams and business stakeholders

· A problem-solving mindset, with the curiosity to dig into data and the drive to improve how things work

If you’ve helped teams move from manual testing to smarter, automated approaches – even better.

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.

Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.

Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.

Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.

Electric Car Scheme: Lease a brand new electric or plugin hybrid car.

Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.

Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.

Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.

Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North – connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,650 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, beginning a journey that would transform travel across the world. We’ve recently celebrated 200 years of the modern railway and, as we reflect on that legacy, our focus is now on the future as Great British Rail takes shape. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B - we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.