When you join Kainos, you get to think beyond limitations to make an immediate and positive impact – like transforming digital services for millions of citizens or helping Fortune 500 companies get live and thrive on Workday.
You’ll be part of a people-first culture that is growing around the world. We’re a creative, committed, and diverse group of individuals who succeed as a team. At Kainos your ideas are heard and valued and you’ll leave a legacy that you can feel proud of. Join us and discover how our people write our story.
What is a placement?
Eligibility: Our Placement Programme is designed for undergraduate students who are in their second year of study and will be entering their third year. This 12-month fixed-term contract begins in the summer and is part of a sandwich year Placement at Level 6. It provides invaluable real-world industry experience. Please note that we can only consider applications from candidates who meet these criteria.
Purpose: The Placement aims to offer undergraduates a full year of industry experience between their second and final years of study, running from summer to summer. This opportunity allows students to apply classroom theory in a practical setting and gain valuable hands-on experience.
Main purpose of the role & responsibilities
As a Placement Test/QA Engineer in Kainos, after taking part in our award-winning, seven-week Engineering Academy you’ll work within a multi-skilled agile team, developing and executing functional automated and manual tests to help the team deliver working application software that meets user needs. You’ll do this whilst learning about new technologies and approaches, with talented colleagues who will help you learn, develop and grow.
Upon completion of the 12-month Early Careers Programme, you will have gained knowledge and skills to help transform the organization and set you on the path to becoming the next generation of leaders at Kainos. Fun fact - 11 of our 17 leadership team members have graduated from our Early Careers Programme!
About you
Minimum (essential) requirements
- Currently studying towards at least a Level 6 bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject.
- Good technical ability and can assist with test automation tasks and has a desire to develop their test automation skills further.
- Understanding of different delivery methodologies (e.g., agile, waterfall, v-model) and how testing fits within them.
- Basic understanding of functional testing types.
- Understanding of how to define and execute test scenarios.
- Understanding of identifying and reporting defects.
- Good problem solving and analytical skills.
- We all work in teams here in Kainos – a proven ability of strong team skills, including taking direction from others, is crucial.
- Ability to carry out responsibilities in accordance with company policies, procedures and processes.
- Ability to deliver tasks within a given timeframe.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Test Automation open-source technologies (e.g. Selenium, Protractor, Playwright, Cypress).
- ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level.
- Experience defining and creating test data.
- Knowledge of how to report testing progress.
- Technical awareness and a sound understanding of software architectures.
- Experience with version control systems such as Git/SVN.
- Experience working in Continuous Integration environment and configuring tools for testing such as Jenkins and/or TeamCity.
- Experience testing within Agile delivery environments.
- Experience working closely with developers.
- Experience in a manual or automated testing role or similar, either from commercial experience or from previous studies.
Things to know before applying
At Kainos, we work with a diverse range of clients and some of our projects require travel. If travel were required, we will endeavour to keep this to a minimum and ensure sufficient notice is provided.
We’re looking forward to receiving and reviewing your application. We strongly encourage you to apply early. If a high number of applications are received, this role may close earlier than the advertised deadline. In cases where a large volume of applications is received, the recruitment team will apply enhanced criteria to refine the shortlisting process.
We wish you all the best with your application to Kainos and look forward to hearing from you soon!
Timelines
- Closing Date: Friday 18th October
- Virtual Assessment Centre: 5th – 14th November
- Outcomes Communicated: 25th – 29th November
- Start Date: August 2025
So what are you waiting for? Let’s write the next incredible chapter of our story together.
Embracing our differences
At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive.
We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are.
We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field. Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out.
We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.