Test Manager (Connected Services)

Signet Recruitment & Retention; Bracknell; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment consultancy is seeking an experienced Test Manager to provide leadership in software testing, focusing on connected vehicle ecosystems. The successful candidate will define test strategies and manage testing phases across various systems while ensuring robust and reliable solutions. This hybrid role requires hands-on experience in complex software environments and is offered at £600 per day. The position promotes a dynamic work culture with opportunities in a multi-vendor setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Test Manager in complex software development environments.
• Strong understanding of Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Experience testing distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Experience in test automation tools and frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the test strategy for projects and releases.
• Develop detailed test plans and schedules.
• Establish testing standards and methodologies.
• Manage all phases of testing across multiple domains.
• Lead risk-based testing and validate integration architecture.

Skills

Test Management

Software Development Lifecycles

API Technologies

Security Testing

Test Automation

Job description

Are you an immediately available Test Manager with experience in connected vehicle ecosystems, IoT, or automotive software testing?

This role provides leadership and oversight across all test activities, from planning through execution to sign-off, with accountability for ensuring that solutions are robust, reliable, and fit for purpose. The Test Manager will be hands‑on, working at the critical intersection of software quality, system integration, and architectural integrity.
The role is initially for 12 months and is hybrid – 3 days a week in the office near Reading and 2 days WFH. (35 hr week)

Main Responsibilities

• Define, document, and own the test strategy, approach, and governance framework across projects and releases,
• Develop and maintain detailed test plans, schedules, and resourcing models, ensuring alignment with overall delivery and release objectives.
• Establish and enforce testing standards, frameworks, methodologies, and tools, including test automation where appropriate.
• Manage all phases of testing (unit, integration, system, UAT, performance, security, regression, etc.) across multiple domains.
• Ensure clear entry/exit criteria are agreed and adhered to for all test phases; provide go/no-go recommendations based on results and risk.
• Lead risk-based testing, identifying, managing, and mitigating quality risks throughout the lifecycle.
• Validate integration architecture across multiple systems, including APIs, microservices, and third‑party platforms, ensuring testability is built into system design
• Assess and challenge architectural decisions that may compromise system stability, resilience, or long‑term maintainability, acting as a technical authority who can push back on poor design choices.

KPI’s

• Test coverage metrics (requirements coverage, functional/non‑functional coverage).
• Defect detection rate, defect leakage into production, and defect turnaround time.
• Automation coverage and efficiency improvements.
• Test execution progress against plan and timely reporting.
• Quality of test documentation and stakeholder feedback.

Qualifications, skills and experience required

• Proven experience as a Test Manager in complex software development environments, ideally within connected car services or related domains.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (Agile and Waterfall) and integration into test management practices.
• Understanding of API technologies and integration patterns (synchronous, asynchronous, event‑driven) with hands‑on experience testing distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Working knowledge of OWASP standards, common security vulnerabilities, and experience conducting or coordinating security testing including SAST, DAST, and penetration testing.
• Understanding of authentication and authorization frameworks (OAuth, JWT, SAML) and familiarity with secure coding practices and threat modelling.
• Experience in test automation tools, frameworks, and practices.

The successful candidate will have experience working in a fast-paced and multi‑vendor environment. Proficiency in modern test management and reporting tools.

The role is inside IR35 and is £600 per day via an umbrella company.