External Dependency Test Lead

Avance Consulting; Warwick; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated External Dependency Test Lead to oversee the migration of critical Electricity Transmission processes to a new SCADA system. This role involves leading both Agile and Waterfall test stages, ensuring quality and resource management, and coordinating with various teams to enhance operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess over five years of experience in UAT, strong communication skills, and a solid understanding of SCADA systems. Join this innovative team and contribute to a project that aims to significantly improve the monitoring and control of electricity substations across the region.

Qualifications

• Over 5 years of experience in UAT and customer-facing test stages.
• Strong skills in test planning, estimation, and defect management.
• Good knowledge of SCADA and Real-Time Control systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the waterfall test stages and manage external dependencies.
• Coordinate with interfacing system teams during testing stages.
• Ensure quality assurance processes and reporting standards.

Skills

UAT Leadership

Test Planning

Defect Management

JIRA

Excel Reporting

SCADA Knowledge

Problem-Solving

Teamwork

Tools

JIRA

Power BI

Oracle MFT

Mulesoft APIs

Job description

Client is in the process of migrating the Electricity Transmission business processes from the current shared SCADA system to a new OSI Aspentech/DGM provided Monarch SCADA System. This is necessary as part of separation from NESO (National Electricity System Operator), as they currently share a SCADA system.

The new ET SCADA system will monitor/control approximately 350 electricity substations. Each substation comprises about 150 assets, including connectors, circuit breakers, and switch gears.

Each substation has an estimated 2,000 sensors providing health status and asset data back to the SCADA system.

The new SCADA will be integrated with other business systems to automate data handling, meet regulatory objectives, enhance digital capabilities, and improve efficiency while maintaining safe systems of work.

The programme employs a mix of SCRUM delivery (until the end of SIT) and Waterfall testing stages. There are four SCRUM Teams across five functional areas: MWP, MRTF, MTNC, SVC, and PNA (combined as the EMS team). Teams consist of DGM, NGET business SMEs, test resources, and other suppliers' personnel.

Your responsibilities:

Reporting to the Functional Test Manager, the External Dependency Test Lead (EDTL) has two main roles:

1. To lead the waterfall test stages, including Point to Point, Automation, STRC (System Test and Regression of Connected systems), Validation with NESO, and UAT. This involves planning, estimating, preparing, executing tests, ensuring quality, and resource management in collaboration with Business SMEs and the wider Test Team.
2. To manage external dependencies for Agile Testers, such as TDEMS (Test Data and Environment Management Services) and NESO, ensuring environments are available and refreshed, and support is arranged for SIT. The EDTL will also interface with the SIQ team and other SMEs for scope and coverage assurance. Additionally, the role may involve acting as interim Defect Manager and deputising for the FTL as needed.

The EDTL will coordinate with interfacing system teams (platform teams) during the STRC stage, ensuring they test their systems and provide status updates, test scripts, and results to the core test team via the Agile Test Lead. QA processes will be implemented to ensure testing quality and reporting standards.

The role also involves interfacing with the SIQ team and other SMEs to ensure scope and coverage, and reporting to the Test Automation SME. The EDTL may serve as interim Defect Manager when required.

Essential skills/knowledge/experience:

• Over 5 years of experience leading UAT and customer-facing test stages in Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Strong skills in test planning, estimation, design, development, documentation, and defect management.
• Experience in quality assurance for testing.
• Proficiency with JIRA and XRAY Test Management, including JQL scripting, and experience in reporting with Excel or Power BI.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and adaptability to overcome delivery challenges.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to effectively communicate technical and testing concepts.
• Good knowledge of SCADA and Real-Time Control and NMS, preferably OSI Aspentech / DGM products, or comparable industry products.
• Experience with Oracle MFT and Mulesoft APIs.
• Familiarity with industry standards and regulations such as IEC101, IEC104, GI74, IEC 61850, IEEE standards.

*Note: Free services are subject to limitations.