Quality Engineering Lead / Test Lead

Cpl Group; Greater London; Remote; GBP 85,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

CPL Group is seeking an experienced Quality Engineering Lead / Test Lead for a remote UK-based role. You will own testing across complex initiatives, driving from requirements and test planning through execution, defect management, and production acceptance, including hypercare.

Key responsibilities include leading SIT/UAT, coordinating operational testing, and defining test scripts and strategies across multiple systems. Strong stakeholder management and clear communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading testing in complex enterprise environments.
• Experience across SIT, UAT, data synchronisation and production acceptance.
• Ability to establish and manage end-to-end testing strategy across multiple systems.

Responsibilities

• Understand initiatives and translate requirements into test scenarios.
• Lead testing across SIT, UAT and data synchronisation.
• Coordinate testing of operations to ensure stability and hypercare.
• Develop and present a strategic testing approach covering technical and business use cases.

Skills

Test Leadership

Quality Engineering

SIT testing

UAT testing

Data synchronisation

Production acceptance

Agile/Sprint

Defect management

Stakeholder management

Test strategy

Test planning

Job description

Quality Engineering Lead / Test Lead

Number of positions: 1

Location: Remote – UK based

Contract: Inside IR35

Duration: 1 October 2026 – 31 March 2027

PAYE rate: £463 per day, inclusive of holiday pay

Umbrella equivalent: £537 per day

CPL is supporting a client with the appointment of an experienced Quality Engineering Lead / Test Lead to take ownership of testing across complex business and technology initiatives. The role will lead the testing approach from requirements and test planning through execution, defect management, production acceptance and hypercare.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand high-level initiatives and detailed requirements, translating these into appropriate test scenarios.
• Lead testing across SIT, Business UAT and technical data synchronisation.
• Coordinate testing of operational processes to ensure ongoing stability.
• Support Production Acceptance Testing and Hypercare.
• Develop and present a strategic testing approach covering technical and business use cases across multiple systems.
• Identify testing risks and obstacles, escalating issues and proposing practical solutions.
• Define clear test scenarios and scripts that can be executed by both business and technical teams.
• Plan, prioritise and manage testing activity across preparation and execution phases.
• Define appropriate user stories to support testing activity on a sprint-by-sprint basis.
• Run meetings with business and technical stakeholders to drive requirements and detailed testing activity.
• Lead test and defect-triage calls.
• Oversee junior test execution and provide direction where required.
• Track and communicate testing progress, scope and risks to relevant stakeholders.

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience operating as a Test Lead, Quality Engineering Lead or Senior Test Manager within complex enterprise environments.
• Proven experience across SIT, UAT, integration/data synchronisation and production acceptance testing.
• Ability to establish and manage an end-to-end testing strategy across multiple systems and stakeholder groups.
• Strong defect management and triage experience.
• Experience managing testing within Agile/Sprint-based delivery environments.
• Ability to work autonomously, identify testing scope and drive activity through to completion.
• Strong stakeholder management skills across both business and technical audiences.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex testing concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.