Lead Test Engineer

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in Leeds is seeking a Lead Test Engineer to oversee test engineering teams and design automation-first testing frameworks. The role emphasizes quality assurance and collaboration across digital services. Ideal candidates will have experience in leading teams and implementing innovative testing strategies while promoting continuous improvement. The role offers extensive benefits and a commitment to flexible working.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience in leading multiple test engineering teams.
• Proven track record in automation-first testing frameworks.
• Strong understanding of risk-based test strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead test engineering teams to embed quality across services.
• Design and scale automation-first testing frameworks.
• Define and implement risk-based test strategies.

Job description

Overview

The Lead Test Engineer role sits within DVSA's Strategy, Policy, Digital & Technology Directorate, which is responsible for delivering high-quality, user-focused digital services that support road safety and compliance across the UK. The directorate brings together multi-disciplinary teams of developers, testers, analysts, product owners, architects, and operations specialists to design, build and run modern digital solutions. Test Engineering is a core capability within these delivery teams, ensuring that DVSA's systems are robust, secure, and resilient. The community of Test Engineers is focused on embedding automation-first quality practices, promoting collaboration across teams, and driving continuous improvement. As part of a wider cross-government Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) function, the team works closely with partners inside and outside DVSA, sharing knowledge and aligning with industry best practices. Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

Responsibilities

• Leading multiple test engineering teams to embed quality across DVSA digital services.
• Designing and scaling automation-first testing frameworks, tools, and pipelines.
• Defining and implementing risk-based test strategies across projects and platforms.
• Establishing and maintaining test engineering standards, practices, and metrics.
• Coaching and mentoring test engineers to build capability and modern testing skills.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure quality is built in from the outset.
• Driving continuous improvement in test practices, defect management, and quality reporting.
• Representing DVSA in the wider testing community, sharing innovation and best practice.
• Line management and leadership development to empower teams to deliver excellent outcomes for the public.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance. Read more in the Benefits section below!
• Find out more about what it's like working at Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency - Department for Transport Careers

Your responsibilities around the role also include communicating with stakeholders and actively participating in the wider testing community to share innovation and best practices.

Disability Confident: A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to .

Open Sessions: Would you like to find out more about the role, the team and what it's like to work in our department? If so, we are organising an open session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on 25th September 2025 at 17:30. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1660054470609?aff=oddtdtcreator