Lead Automation Test Architect

Experis - ManpowerGroup; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent recruitment agency seeks a Lead Automation Test Architect to redefine Identity and Access Management on a global scale. You'll create an automation-first testing strategy while leading a team of engineers. This role is hybrid, requiring 3 days in the Sheffield office. A minimum of 5 years in a lead automation role with strong coding skills in Java and Python and extensive IAM experience are essential. Excellent communication skills and agile methodology knowledge are required.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience within Identity and Access Management.
• Solid experience of at least 5 years in a lead automation role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Create an overall testing strategy focused on automation.
• Plan and improve automated test frameworks.
• Lead and mentor other engineers.

Skills

Identity and Access Management

Java

Playwright

Python

Typescript

Cypher

Scala

API tooling (Insomnia, Apidog, Postman)

Agile delivery experience

DevOps & CI/CD integration

Tools

JIRA

Neo4j

Job description

Role Title: Lead Automation Test Architect

Location: Sheffield Hybrid Remote/Sheffield ; 3 days in office

Duration: 11-Dec-26

Rate: £600

Role Description: At the client’s we are redefining Identity and Access Management (IAM) on a global scale and launching a transformational programme to bridge modern IAM technology and solutions with big bank scale and complexity. The IAM Transformation program is forecast to be 5 years plus with significant change to be designed, planned and implemented globally. The transformation encompasses all aspects of IAM from authentication through to elevated access and will cover human and non‑human identities.

Key Responsibilities

• Create an overall testing strategy with an Automation First focus and minimal manual effort.
• Plan, develop, execute, maintain and improve automated test framework and scripts for web and graph database applications.
• Create and manage Jenkins pipelines for running automated tests, generating reports, and notifying the team about test results to streamline the CI/CD process.
• Lead, mentor, and manage other engineers within the team.
• Develop and execute test plans, test cases, test data, test scenarios, and other testing documentation based on requirements and specifications.
• Generate test data.
• Accurately report and track testing‑related defects and issues, writing or automating effective bug reports, attending triage meetings, and verifying bug fixes.
• Identify process and application issues and provide suggestions for improvement.
• Learn new technologies and adapt to them as needed.
• Communicate progress regularly to senior stakeholders and programme leads, tailoring information to the audience.
• Generate regulatory evidence as needed.
• Maintain FR / NFR traceability.
• Identify and collate test entry and exit criteria.
• Review test cases/QA for coverage and traceability to requirements/design.
• Liaise with business areas and technical leads regarding SIT/OAT/UAT scenario definitions as required.
• Analyse design and other documents for testability.
• Test functions and decision points "As Code", such as Policy as code.
• Provide strong technical leadership and process improvement – establish automation testing standards, best practices and governance frameworks across the organization.

Skills required

• Extensive experience within Identity and Access Management.
• Solid experience of at least 5 years in a lead automation role, skilled in creating frameworks with strong coding experience in Java, Playwright, Python, Typescript, Cypher, Scala and API tooling (Insomnia, Apidog or Postman).
• Deep IAM domain knowledge.
• Testing functions and decision points "As Code", such as Policy as code.
• Graph and event‑driven validation.
• Automation‑first test experience.
• Layered test architecture.
• Risk‑based test prioritisation.
• RBAC / ABAC / ReBAC / PBAC expertise.
• OPA / Rego policy testing.
• Policy explainability validation.
• REST API automation, API Gateway testing, Batch ETL testing.
• Consumer‑driven contract testing.
• Idempotency testing.
• Replay and reprocessing testing.
• Graph data validation (Neo4j).
• Containerised test execution.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; stakeholder engagement at all levels.
• Experience selecting and recommending test tools based on assessment of the environment/landscape.
• Experience creating an overall test strategy that fully defines approach, environment, scope, risks and resources required.
• Agile delivery experience.
• Cloud testing approaches and methodology – especially GCP, but also AWS, Azure, Entra, Ali Cloud and other systems such as ServiceNow, AD, ADLDS.
• Some knowledge of JMeter, Gatling, LoadRunner, NeoLoad or similar tools for load, stress and volume testing.
• Experience testing graph database management systems (GDBMS) and graph platform engineering with Neo4j basics.
• GDBMS performance analysis.
• Extensive experience using JIRA and Xephyr tooling.
• Good experience executing defined test plans including coordination, tracking and reporting.
• Positive team player within the overall test team.
• Exposure to SailPoint IdentityIQ, Identity warehousing, and protocols for data ingestion such as SCIM, REST API, LDAP, OIDC and CSV.
• Team Leadership & Management – proven ability to lead, mentor and manage other engineers.
• DevOps & CI/CD integration – experience of GitOps repos, integrating automation tests into GitLab CI/CD pipelines and implementing shift‑left testing practices.
• Pub/Sub and MQ experience.