Head of Test

MAG; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airport operator is seeking a Head of Test to oversee testing and quality assurance across its tech projects. This role involves strategic leadership of a team of up to 20 engineers, ensuring high standards and integrating testing throughout the development lifecycle. Candidates should possess extensive expertise in complex system testing, proficiency in automation tools, and strong leadership capabilities. This position is based in Manchester with hybrid working options.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

10% company contribution pension

Car allowance

Private medical scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Free parking

Subsidised public transport

Company discounts

2 volunteering days per year

Free Virtual GP service

Care Concierge service

Qualifications

• Extensive testing expertise, with a strong background leading testing of complex systems and implementing modern methodologies.
• Technical proficiency across automation frameworks and tools.
• Strong automation and CI/CD mindset.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for testing and quality assurance.
• Lead a team of test engineers to ensure high quality standards.
• Shape testing strategy and drive automation.

Skills

Testing expertise

Leadership

Automation frameworks

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Selenium

Cypress

JUnit

TestNG

Jenkins

Azure DevOps

GitLab CI

Job description

Summary

Based at Manchester, Stansted or East Midlands Airport

Permanent Role

Office or Flexible / Hybrid working for a better work / life balance

We are proud to be a diverse employer, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds.

Why MAG?

At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UKowned airport operator, we serve over 60 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate.

We know that creating a firstclass journey for our customers starts with creating a firstclass career journey for our colleagues. Thats why were committed to building inclusive environments in which our people can thrive.

Youll also have access to some great benefits including :

• Bonus scheme
• 10% company contribution pension
• Car allowance
• Private medical scheme
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Free parking
• Subsidised public transport
• Huge range of company discounts
• 2 volunteering days per year
• Free Virtual GP service, available 24 / 7
• Care Concierge service

The role

As Head of Test, you will play a pivotal leadership role within MAG Tech, providing the strategic direction for testing and quality assurance across all MagTech projects. Leading a team of up to 20 test engineers, youll ensure our technology deliverables meet the highest quality standards and support our ambition to deliver seamless, secure, and innovative airport operations.

Reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer, you will shape testing strategy, embed best practice methodologies, drive automation, and work closely with engineering, product and business partners to ensure testing is integrated effectively throughout the development lifecycle.

What will make you successful in the role?

Were looking for an experienced testing leader who brings a blend of technical expertise, strategic capability, and teamoriented leadership.

Youll bring :

• Extensive testing expertise, with a strong background leading testing of complex systems and implementing modern testing methodologies.
• Technical proficiency across automation frameworks and tools such as Selenium, Cypress, JUnit, TestNG and CI / CD pipelines (Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI).Experience with hybrid cloud and SaaS environments, understanding their specific testing challenges and opportunities.
• Strong automation and CI / CD mindset, with the ability to design, implement and optimise automated test suites.
• Leadership and peoplemanagement strengths, with evidence of developing and motivating highperforming test teams.
• Capability development, including building internal testing expertise and fostering knowledgesharing.
• The ability to devise and execute testing plans for highly regulated and national critical infrastructure projects, enabling rapid and regular high-quality releases into production
• Clear stakeholder engagement skills, working effectively with software engineering, solution architecture, service operations and change teams.
• Robust riskmanagement and analytical skills, enabling strong decisionmaking on defect prioritisation, release readiness and quality governance.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, staying ahead of new technologies, tools and testing approaches.