Alpha Implementation Functional Test Lead, Officer

State Street; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

State Street in Edinburgh seeks an Implementation Functional Test Lead to own end-to-end functional testing for a designated Alpha implementation. You will coordinate with the Test Manager, manage test execution, defect tracking, risk reporting, and milestone alignment.

You will lead collaboration with business, technology and integration teams to ensure scope and data readiness, while partnering with the System Performance and Automation teams to drive testing effectiveness and reuse.

Qualifications

• End-to-end testing experience across complex programs.
• Ability to own test strategy, planning and execution.
• Strong defect management and risk-based decision making.
• Experience leading defect triage and governance across stakeholders.
• Project and delivery coordination skills in multi-team environments.
• Experience with agile or hybrid delivery models (JIRA, Confluence).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a global, multi-vendor setting.
• Knowledge of front, middle, and back-office workflows (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Implementation Test Manager to oversee all test execution for an assigned function within a specific Alpha implementation.
• Own function-level test delivery, including strategy, detailed planning, and day-to-day execution across test phases.
• Provide governance for defect management, triage, prioritization, tracking and closure across test cycles.
• Coordinate with business, technology, and integration teams to align scope, data readiness and environments.
• Support performance testing planning and execution with the System Performance team.
• Drive automation adoption with the Automation team to enhance coverage and reusability.
• Lead end-to-end defect management and ensure traceability to business processes and test scenarios.
• Produce clear test status reporting for leadership and stakeholders.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of testing approaches and assets.

Skills

End-to-end testing

Test leadership

Defect management

Triage governance

Delivery coordination

Agile/JIRA/Confluence

Analytical skills

Global multi-vendor

Front/middle/back-office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

Job description

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a strong delivery-focused testing professional to serve as an Implementation Functional Test Lead within the Alpha Global Testing Practice. This role partners closely with the Implementation Test Manager and is accountable for managing end-to-end test execution for a specific function (e.g., Front Office, Middle Office, Back Office, or Data) within an Alpha implementation.

The role requires hands-on ownership of planning, execution, coordination, reporting and defect management to ensure high-quality, predictable delivery outcomes.

Why this role is important to us

Alpha implementations are complex, multi-functional programs spanning business processes, data, and technology across the investment lifecycle. Functional test execution must be tightly coordinated, well-governed, and aligned with overall program milestones. The Functional Test Lead plays a critical role in ensuring function-level testing is executed effectively, risks are surfaced early, and dependencies across teams are actively managed.

What you will be responsible for

• Partner with the Implementation Test Manager to manage all aspects of test execution for an assigned function within a specific Alpha implementation.
• Own function-level test execution delivery, including:Test strategy and approach for the functionDetailed test planning and schedulingDay-to-day execution management across test phasesDefect management, triage, and resolution trackingStatus reporting, risk identification, and issue escalation
• Provide strong project management discipline for the functional testing workstream, including dependency tracking and milestone alignment.
• Coordinate closely with business, technology, and integration teams to ensure functional scope, data readiness, and environments are aligned.
• Partner with the System Performance team to support planning and execution of performance testing activities relevant to the function.
• Partner with the Automation team to drive adoption and execution of automation, ensuring functional test coverage, reusability, and alignment with overall test strategy.
• Own end-to-end defect management for the assigned function, including defect identification, logging, triage, prioritization, tracking, and closure across test phases.
• Lead defect triage forums at the functional level, partnering with business, technology, and integration teams to drive timely resolution.
• Ensure defects are risk-assessed, severity-aligned, and impact-aware, with clear traceability to business processes and test scenarios.
• Proactively identify defect trends, systemic issues, and quality risks, escalating to the Implementation Test Manager with clear mitigation recommendations.
• Maintain strong governance over defect SLAs, aging, leakage, and reopen rates, ensuring transparency and predictability in execution.
• Ensure accurate and disciplined use of defect management tools (e.g., JIRA), including reporting, dashboards, and audit-ready documentation.
• Ensure adherence to testing standards, governance, and best practices across functional test cycles.
• Manage and guide functional test analysts and testers (FTEs and vendors), providing clear direction and execution oversight.
• Produce clear, concise test status reporting for the Test Manager and broader implementation leadership.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of functional testing approaches, assets, and execution models.
• Play an advisory role in projects facing challenges, providing direction, solution and stabilization support.
• Proactively drive initiatives, identify gaps and implement improvements across projects.

What we value

• Strong execution mindset with the ability to operate independently while aligning closely with broader program leadership.
• Experience leading functional testing within complex, client-facing transformation or platform implementation programs.
• Ability to balance hands-on test leadership with structured reporting and stakeholder communication.
• Strong collaboration skills across Testing, Performance, Automation, Technology, and Business teams.
• Commitment to quality, risk management, and delivery predictability.

These skills will help you succeed in this role:

• End-to-end test execution and delivery management
• Functional test planning and execution leadership
• Defect management and risk-based decision making
• Experience leading defect triage and resolution governance
• Project and delivery coordination skills
• Experience with agile or hybrid delivery models (e.g., JIRA, Confluence)
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to work effectively in a global, multi-vendor environment
• Knowledge of front, middle, and back-office workflows and data flows (preferred)

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Technology, Finance, Management, or related disciplines
• 10–15 years overall experience, with strong experience in functional testing for financial services or technology transformation programs
• 4–8 years of experience leading testing workstreams or functional teams across internal and external stakeholders

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.

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