Lead Test Engineer

AQA; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

2 days in office per week

Competitive salary

Job summary

AQA in Manchester is seeking a Lead Test Engineer on two fixed-term contracts (12 and 18 months) to lead automation efforts and contribute hands-on development in C#/.NET.

You will design scalable test frameworks (Playwright, Selenium) across web, API and integration layers, mentor engineers, and drive CI/CD automation while shaping our quality engineering practices.

Hybrid work with two in-office days per week, salary £57,400 to £64,700, and a strong focus on learning and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience in designing scalable automated test frameworks using C#/.NET.
• Strong API testing experience and CI/CD integration.
• Proven ability to mentor teams and promote automation best practices.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and maintain scalable automated test frameworks using C#/.NET and Playwright, Selenium and similar tools.
• Develop automated tests across web, API and integration layers for comprehensive coverage.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor engineers on test approaches and quality practices.
• Drive adoption of automation-first testing across multiple development teams.
• Improve reliability and performance of automated tests within CI/CD pipelines.
• Establish and promote automation standards and best practices across engineering teams.
• Collaborate with developers to embed quality from early development stages.
• Explore emerging technologies, including AI-assisted testing, to boost productivity.

Skills

C#/.NET

Playwright

Selenium

BDD

Test automation leadership

Tools

Playwright

Selenium

Reqnroll

Job description

Job title: Lead Test Engineer
Contract type: x2 Fixed Term Contract positions (a 12 month and an 18 month contract)
Location: Manchester
Salary: Manchester - £57,400 to £64,700
Working arrangements: Hybrid working, 2 days a week in office

Are you a technically skilled test automation engineer who enjoys building solutions in C# and improving quality?

This is a great opportunity to play a key role in delivering reliable, high-quality software that supports assessment and learning across the UK. As a Lead Test Engineer, you'll combine hands-on technical expertise with leadership in testing, helping teams build quality into products from the start and driving the adoption of modern automation practices.

You'll work closely with developers, analysts and product teams to ensure solutions are secure, scalable and fit for purpose. You'll have the opportunity to shape automation strategy, develop robust test frameworks and influence engineering practices across the wider team.

In this role, you'll be responsible for:

As a Lead Test Engineer, you'll play a key role in defining and evolving our automation strategy while remaining hands-on with development and implementation.

• Designing, developing and maintaining scalable automated test frameworks using C#, .NET, Playwright, Reqnroll and other modern testing technologies
• Developing automated tests across web, API and integration layers to ensure comprehensive quality coverage
• Acting as a technical leader for quality engineering, helping teams make informed decisions around test approaches, quality practices and risk management
• Driving the adoption of automation-first testing practices across multiple development teams
• Improving the effectiveness, reliability and performance of automated testing within CI/CD pipelines
• Establishing and promoting automation standards, patterns and best practices across engineering teams
• Collaborating with developers to build quality into products from the earliest stages of development
• Mentoring engineers and supporting the growth of automation capability across the organisation
• Exploring and implementing emerging technologies, including AI-assisted testing approaches, to improve productivity and software quality

You’ll thrive in this role if you’re a technically minded engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and improving the way software is tested.

You’ll bring:

• Strong experience developing automated test frameworks and tests using C#/.NET and modern automation tools such as Playwright, Selenium and Reqnroll, alongside Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) practices
• Strong API testing experience and integration of automated testing within CI/CD pipelines
• Strong knowledge of quality engineering, test automation and Agile delivery practices
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring others and promoting automation best practice
• Strong understanding of test data management and environment automation
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to a range of audiences

This role offers the opportunity to further develop your technical expertise while making a meaningful impact on learners and education.

You’ll benefit from:

• A genuinely hands-on technical leadership role where you’ll continue to build and develop automation solutions
• The opportunity to shape automation strategy and influence engineering standards across multiple products
• Exposure to modern technologies, cloud platforms and evolving software development practices
• The chance to solve complex engineering challenges and drive continuous improvement in quality engineering
• A collaborative, supportive and inclusive engineering culture
• Ongoing investment in learning, professional development and technical growth
• Flexible working arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone-regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background-is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.