Test Analyst Lead

RMB - Rand Merchant Bank; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in South Africa is seeking a Test Analyst Lead with 6-8 years of experience in IT Testing. The ideal candidate will oversee testing strategy, champion automation and performance testing, and guide the testing team. Responsibilities include mentoring team members, collaborating with diverse stakeholders, and engaging in advanced testing practices. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science is required, and knowledge of payment systems is advantageous. Competitive work environment that values innovation and collaboration.

Benefits

Opportunities to network and collaborate

Challenging Work

Opportunities to innovate

Qualifications

• 6 to 8 years’ experience in IT Testing.
• Familiarity with Swift ISO 20022 payment messaging standards is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of payment systems and ISO standards will be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Guide the testing strategy definition and continuously evolve it.
• Champion test optimisation and automation scalability.
• Oversee the adoption of testing frameworks into CI/CD pipelines.
• Mentor and coach the testing team with hands-on leadership.
• Engage with industry forums to bring insights into emerging trends.
• Ensure effective risk-based testing approaches.

Skills

Software quality assurance

Automation testing

Performance testing

Leadership

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science

Bachelor of Science with Honours

Job description

Dear Future Test Analyst Lead, RMB is a place where exceptional people create their own opportunities by challenging the conventional and driving sustainable impact. United by our proud heritage and strong ethics. Innovative ideas, it’s the magic of our people and culture that sets us apart. Now, is the time to imagine your next move with South Africa’s number one employer in Financial Services for 2025, where you can embrace the power of collective thinking to unlock unique opportunities for our clients and society

In this role

In this role, you will be required to serve as the deep subject matter expert (SME) in software quality assurance, guiding the testing team and the broader organisation in best-, next-, and emerging testing practices. Guide the testing strategy definition, and continuously evolve the testing strategy, ensuring the effective integration of functional, automated, and performance testing into software development lifecycles. Provide expert-level insights, drives innovation in testing methodologies, and ensure that the testing function remains at the forefront of industry advancements. Champion test optimisation, automation scalability, and performance engineering to enhance software quality, speed, and resilience.

Are You Someone Who Can

• Establish and refine the test strategy by incorporating best practices in functional, automation, and performance testing, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s technology and business objectives.
• Act as a trusted SME and thought leader in the testing domain, providing expert guidance on new and emerging testing methodologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Develop a future-ready test capability by researching, evaluating, and implementing advanced testing approaches, including AI-driven test automation, predictive defect analysis, and continuous testing in DevOps environments.
• Oversee the adoption and scaling of automation and performance testing frameworks, ensuring their optimal integration into CI/CD pipelines for continuous quality assurance.
• Mentor and coach the testing team by providing hands‑on leadership, technical direction, and knowledge‑sharing sessions to upskill team members.
• Define, monitor, and refine quality metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of functional, automated, and performance testing efforts.
• Collaborate with architects and engineering teams to incorporate testing principles into system design, ensuring testability and performance are built into solutions from the outset.
• Lead the continuous evolution of test environments and tooling, ensuring they remain cutting‑edge and fit for purpose in a cloud‑native, API‑driven, and microservices architecture landscape.
• Conduct deep‑dive reviews of complex test scenarios and defect patterns, identifying systemic issues and recommending long‑term fixes to improve software resilience.
• Champion shift‑left and shift‑right testing practices, embedding testing earlier in the development lifecycle while ensuring robust monitoring and validation in production environments.
• Engage with industry forums and networks, bringing insights into emerging trends such as autonomous testing, synthetic test data generation, and chaos engineering.
• Drive cross‑functional collaboration with developers, DevOps engineers, and business stakeholders to optimize testing efficiencies and minimise time‑to‑market.
• Ensure effective risk‑based testing approaches, prioritising test coverage for high‑impact business functionalities and mission‑critical applications.
• Advocate for and secure investment in advanced testing technologies, ensuring the organisation remains competitive in delivering high‑quality software solutions.
• Act as the final point of escalation for complex testing challenges, resolving critical issues and guiding the team toward data‑driven testing improvements.

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science. A Bachelor of Science with Honours will be advantageous.
• 6 to 8 years’ experience in IT Testing.
• Familiarity with Swift ISO 20022 payment messaging standards is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of payment systems and ISO standards will be an advantage.

You Will Have Access To

• Opportunities to network and collaborate
• Challenging Work
• Opportunities to innovate

Are you interested to take the step? We look forward to engaging with you further. Apply now!

Take note that applications will not be accepted on the below date and onwards, kindly submit applications ahead of the closing date indicated below. 20/01/26

All appointments will be made in line with FirstRand Group’s Employment Equity plan. The Bank supports the recruitment and advancement of individuals with disabilities. In order for us to fulfill this purpose, candidates can disclose their disability information on a voluntary basis. The Bank will keep this information confidential unless we are required by law to disclose this information to other parties.