Software Test Lead

SII Services Limited; Stanford Dingley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology services provider in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced Software Test Lead to oversee the testing strategies in complex communications systems. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience, strong leadership skills, and hands-on knowledge in test automation frameworks like Python and C++. This role offers competitive benefits including a private medical insurance package and continuous professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive Basic Salary

6% Employer Contribution

Private Medical Insurance

25 days holiday

Flexible working

Continuous professional development

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in software testing, with at least 2 years in a lead role.
• Hands-on experience with test automation and frameworks.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of test cases for software systems.
• Oversee development of test automation frameworks.
• Collaborate with teams to align testing with project requirements.

Skills

Test automation frameworks knowledge

Python

C++

Java

Networking principles and protocols

Analytical skills

Leadership skills

Tools

JIRA

Cucumber

Jenkins

Job description

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced Software Test Lead to lead a high‑performing engineering team developing advanced communications and systems technology. The role involves overseeing the design, implementation, and maintenance of automated and manual test frameworks to ensure the delivery of high‑quality software in a complex, networked environment. The ideal candidate will combine hands‑on test expertise with leadership experience, mentoring team members, driving test strategy, and ensuring effective collaboration across software development and systems engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and execution of automated and manual test cases for embedded and distributed software systems.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of automated test frameworks and scripts using Python, C++, or Java.
• Drive the integration of test automation into CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous validation, reporting, and quality assurance.
• Supervise the design, configuration, and maintenance of virtualised or containerised test environments (VMs, Docker, Kubernetes).
• Lead system‑level and interface testing, including API and network protocol validation.
• Analyse test results, identify defects, and coordinate with software development teams to ensure timely resolution.
• Contribute to and enforce structured test methodologies to ensure repeatable, scalable, and reusable test assets.
• Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop and network integration testing activities.
• Mentor and guide junior test engineers, promoting best practices and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with project managers, systems engineers, and developers to align testing with project requirements, schedules, and risk management.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Software Test Engineer, QA Engineer, or Automation Engineer in a systems or communications environment, with at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory role.
• Strong knowledge of test automation frameworks (e.g. PyTest, Robot Framework, Cucumber, JUnit, or similar).
• Proficient in Python, C++, or Java for test scripting and automation.
• Hands‑on experience designing and maintaining automated test environments (VMs, containers, or network simulators).
• Sound understanding of networking principles and protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, routing, switching, etc.).
• Experience with API testing (REST, SOAP, gRPC, or message bus systems such as MQTT, Kafka, RabbitMQ).
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools (e.g. Jenkins, GitLab CI, Azure DevOps).
• Experience with requirements and defect management tools (e.g. JIRA, TestRail, Azure Test Plans).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of coordinating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing approaches.

Desirable

• Experience in mentoring or managing a small test team.
• Exposure to mission‑critical or defence‑related systems testing.
• Familiarity with Agile testing practices and sprint‑based delivery.

Benefits

• Competitive Basic Salary
• 6% Employer Contribution + 6% as a salary sacrifice
• Private Medical Insurance, Life Cover and Income Protection
• 25 days holiday
• 5 days full sick pay per year
• Flexible working
• Cycle to Work & TechScheme
• Continuous professional development
• Corporate access to the Udemy platform, Group Income protection