Conformance Team Leader

Sepura; Waterbeach; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sepura Ltd in Waterbeach, Cambridge, is seeking a Conformance Team Lead to steer our Conformance Testing Team. This management-focused role oversees planning, coordination, and regulatory compliance across projects, with emphasis on lab organisation and stakeholder communication.

You will set testing direction, collaborate with development and certification partners, and drive risk-based testing to ensure timelines align with regulatory demands.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in test management or lead role.
• Experience in regulated industries (telecom, electronics).
• Experience with sprint planning and backlog management using tools like Jira or Azure DevOps.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment capabilities.
• Familiarity with working with third-party labs.
• Experience organising and managing physical test labs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of conformance test engineers.
• Plan and run sprint ceremonies (planning, reviews, stand-ups, retrospectives).
• Organise and prioritise tasks to ensure timely delivery of test objectives.
• Develop and maintain conformance testing strategy aligned with product goals.
• Create and maintain detailed test plans and schedules.
• Oversee test execution, documentation, and results validation.
• Collaborate with development, product management, and certification partners to align testing with lifecycles.
• Drive continuous improvements in test methodologies and automation where applicable.

Skills

Team Leadership

Sprint Planning

Agile Methodologies

Risk Assessment

Stakeholder Management

Test Lab Management

Conformance Testing

Jira/AzureDevOps

Regulatory Knowledge

Communication Skills

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

TestRail

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Conformance Team Lead to lead our Conformance Testing Team.

This is a management-focused position, where the primary responsibility is to oversee and organise the team's work, drive planning and execution, and ensure compliance across projects. While a technical background in testing is important to understand the context, the role itself does not involve hands-on test execution. Instead, the focus is on management, planning, coordination, lab organisation, and stakeholder communication. You will play a key role in setting direction for the team, ensuring effective collaboration with development and certification partners, and keeping testing efforts aligned with product timelines and regulatory demands. Come and join Sepura Ltd at an exciting time of growth and progress your career within this innovative technology company, based in Waterbeach, Cambridge. Our customer base includes many different industries and markets around the world. Our complete TETRA and LTE solutions have been developed specifically for users in multiple sectors to face their critical communications challenges. There is no such thing as a typical day here at Sepura. You will be supported by your manager and team, as well as collaborating with other departments across the business. Activities you will be responsible for include:

• Team Leadership & Management
  • Lead, mentor, and manage a team of conformance test engineers.
  • Plan and run sprint ceremonies (planning, reviews, stand‑ups, retrospectives).
  • Organise and prioritise tasks, ensuring timely delivery of test objectives.
• Planning & Strategy
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive conformance testing strategy aligned with product and business goals.
  • Create and maintain detailed test plans and test schedules.
  • Drive risk‑based testing approaches and ensure adequate coverage of regulatory requirements.
• Lab and Resource Management
  • Organise and maintain a fully functional test lab for regulatory compliance testing.
  • Manage lab scheduling, equipment calibration, and test environments.
  • Allocate test resources effectively to meet project timelines.
• Execution & Reporting
  • Oversee test execution, ensure proper documentation, and validate results.
  • Track progress and quality metrics across testing activities.
  • Provide clear and timely updates to stakeholders and higher management.
  • Generate comprehensive test reports and compliance documentation.
• Collaboration
  • Collaborate with development, product management, and certification partners to align testing with product lifecycles.
  • Work closely with compliance bodies to understand and embed changing regulatory standards.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Identify process gaps and drive continuous improvements in test methodologies and automation where applicable.
  • Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and quality.
  • Performance management and personal development reviews

This job involves some travelling so the successful applicant will have a full, clean driving licence, own car, and valid passport. Travel expenses will be paid.

What you need to succeed:

Essential

• Proven experience in testing, and in a test management or lead role.
• Solid understanding of managing testing, especially in regulated industries (e.g. telecom, electronics).
• Experience in sprint planning, agile methodologies, and managing team backlogs using tools like Jira or Azure DevOps.
• Strong analytical skills and risk assessment capabilities.
• Familiarity with working with third‑party labs.
• Experience organising and managing physical test labs.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Exposure to automated testing frameworks and tools.

Desirable

• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks relevant to your domain (e.g., CE, FCC, RED, EMC, E‑mark, etc.).
• Previous experience working in a multi‑site or international team environment.
• Understanding of 4G/5G, TETRA, or similar wireless technologies.

Essential skills

Skilled in the interpretation, understanding, and use of:

• Strong people management skills – including task delegation, performance reviews, and coaching.
• Experience with Agile methodologies, especially sprint planning, backlog grooming, and team ceremonies.
• Demonstrated ability to organise and maintain test labs, including scheduling, equipment, and environment setup.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills – capable of building and executing comprehensive test plans.
• Proficiency in risk‑based testing and prioritisation strategies.
• Ability to generate clear reports and communicate effectively with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Familiarity with test management tools (e.g., Jira, TestRail, Azure DevOps).

Desirable skills

• ISTQB or other relevant testing certifications.
• Experience working in a regulated industry such as telecom, automotive, or medical devices.
• High‑level understanding of wireless communication technologies (e.g., LTE, 5G, TETRA).
• Exposure to automated testing processes, even if not directly hands‑on.
• Experience in multi‑site or international team collaboration.
• Background in electronics or embedded systems testing.
• Familiarity with continuous improvement models (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma) for process optimisation.
• Experience collaborating with external certification/compliance labs (e.g., Dekra, TÜV, etc.).
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance frameworks relevant to your industry (e.g., CE, FCC, RED, EMC).

Personal attributes

• Strong leadership presence – inspires confidence, earns trust, and motivates the team to deliver quality results.
• Highly organised – able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines without losing sight of the details.
• Clear communicator – able to convey complex information simply, both verbally and in writing.
• Proactive and decisive – takes initiative and makes informed decisions with confidence.
• Collaborative mindset – values teamwork and fosters strong working relationships across departments.
• Quality‑driven – committed to maintaining high standards in conformance and compliance.
• Adaptable and calm under pressure – able to adjust to shifting priorities and manage testing around changing product timelines.
• Process‑oriented – enjoys setting up and refining structures that help teams operate efficiently.
• Customer‑and compliance‑focused – understands the importance of delivering tested, compliant products that meet market and regulatory expectations.
• Ethical and professional – upholds integrity in all aspects of work and leads by example.