Graduate Software Validation Engineer

As we continue to develop increasingly complex integrated systems, we are seeking a Graduate Software Validation Engineer to help ensure the quality, reliability, and performance of our products.

In this role, you will be responsible for designing, building, and executing comprehensive validation strategies covering both manual and automated testing. You will work across complex software and hardware subsystems, ensuring they operate seamlessly as fully integrated and compliant systems.

Working closely with software developers, systems engineers, project managers, and wider stakeholders, you will contribute throughout the full product lifecycle—from early design through to final system validation and release—playing a key role in ensuring product readiness and operational confidence.

What You Will Be Doing

In this role, you will:

Verification & Validation

• Analyse system requirements, design specifications, and user stories to develop robust validation strategies across software and hardware systems.
• Ensure requirements are clear, complete, and testable, working closely with stakeholders to refine understanding where needed.

Test Design & Automation

• Design, develop, and execute validation plans covering functional, performance, integration, and regression testing.
• Build and maintain automated test frameworks and scripts using languages such as C#, C++, Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript.
• Define appropriate levels of automation to maximise test coverage for critical system functionality.
• Specify requirements for validation tools, environments, and supporting infrastructure.

Issue Investigation & Reporting

• Investigate, reproduce, document, and track system issues through to resolution.
• Analyse test results and communicate findings clearly to engineering teams and stakeholders.

System & Field Validation

• Support validation activities at test facilities and customer sites, including Sonardyne’s Plymouth Trials Facility.
• Evaluate system performance under real-world operating conditions, including environmental robustness and repeatability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with software, hardware, firmware, and systems engineering teams to diagnose and resolve issues.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in validation practices across engineering disciplines.
• Maintain strong communication channels across multidisciplinary teams.

Continuous Improvement

• Support the development and expansion of automated testing capabilities.
• Contribute to improvements in validation processes, tools, and methodologies.
• Maintain and develop technical capability through ongoing professional development.

What We Are Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in software or systems validation, including automation testing.
• Strong programming ability in one or more of: C#, C++, Python, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Solid understanding of the software development lifecycle and CI/CD principles.
• Experience working in structured software engineering environments using source control and peer review practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across engineering teams.

Desirable Experience

• Experience testing web, Windows, or API-based systems in engineering or technical environments.
• Familiarity with automation frameworks and test tools.
• Exposure to hardware/software integration or embedded systems validation.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Information Technology, or a related discipline

Why Join Us

At Sonardyne, you will be part of a team developing cutting-edge subsea technologies used in some of the most demanding environments on Earth. You will contribute directly to the validation of complex systems that operate across global energy, scientific, and defence industries—helping ensure they perform reliably when it matters most.