Test Lead

Version 1; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme

Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching

Flexible/remote working

Financial Wellbeing initiatives

Employee Wellbeing schemes

Educational assistance and incentivised certifications

Reward schemes including Annual Excellence Awards

Community First initiatives

Job summary

Version 1 is seeking a highly skilled Automation and Performance Test Engineer to lead strategic testing initiatives across complex systems. This role requires the ability to blend technical expertise with leadership and problem-solving skills to enhance quality across engineering processes.

Key responsibilities include leading large-scale testing activities, managing automation frameworks, and enhancing processes for continuous improvement. Excellent communication and a strong understanding of Agile/DevOps are essential. The position offers flexible working options and various employee benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading testing teams and strategic testing initiatives.
• Strong hands-on experience with automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Playwright, Cypress).
• Experience with Virtuoso for test automation or similar tool.
• Deep understanding of CI/CD pipelines, test environment management.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Experience in Agile and DevOps environments.
• Expertise in database and ETL testing.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead large-scale testing activities, managing risks.
• Build and evolve automation frameworks using open-source technologies.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to enhance quality.
• Design and execute various testing techniques including functional and automated testing.
• Communicate test results effectively to stakeholders.
• Manage defect lifecycle and ensure timely resolution.
• Perform thorough testing of database systems and ETL processes.

Skills

Automation frameworks (Selenium, Playwright, Cypress)

CI/CD pipelines

Database and ETL testing

Problem-solving

Agile and DevOps environments

Test management tools

AI tooling

Job description

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Automation and Performance Test Engineer to lead strategic testing initiatives across complex systems. This role demands a blend of technical expertise, leadership capability, and problem-solving acumen to drive quality across our engineering processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Plan and lead large-scale, complex testing activities, managing risks and identifying opportunities to improve quality and efficiency.
• Technical Ownership: Build, maintain, and evolve automation frameworks using open-source technologies.
• Process Improvement: Lead investigative work into existing processes to identify gaps and implement improvements.
• Test Design & Execution: Design and execute a wide range of testing techniques including functional, performance, and automated testing.
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate test results and insights effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: Review and enhance test environments and processes to support ongoing quality improvements and maintain high standards.
• End-to-End testing specialising in validating data pipelines, source-to-target mapping, and data integrity testing.
• Test Automation: Implement and maintain test automation using Virtuoso and other relevant tools.
• Test Management: Oversee test planning, execution, and reporting aligned with the Test strategy.
• Defect Management: Manage defect lifecycle and ensure timely resolution and reporting.
• Database/ETL Testing: Perform thorough testing of database systems and ETL processes to ensure data accuracy and reliability.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading testing teams and strategic testing initiatives.
• Strong hands‑on experience with automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Playwright, Cypress)
• Experience with Virtuoso for test automation or similar tool.
• Deep understanding of CI/CD pipelines, test environment management.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence and mentor others.
• Experience in Agile and DevOps environments.
• AI tooling experience.
• Expertise in database and ETL testing.
• Familiarity with test management and defect tracking tools.
• SC eligible preferred

Benefits

• Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits.
• Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme.
• Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people's individual circumstances and offer flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance.
• Financial Wellbeing initiatives including Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme.
• Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more. Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies.
• Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat.
• Reward schemes including Version 1's Annual Excellence Awards & Call-Out platform.
• Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.

and many more exciting benefits... drop us a note to find out more.