Senior Test Lead

In this hands-on, influential role, you will design scalable automation across the full testing pyramid and help engineering teams use AI-assisted tooling where it delivers genuine value.

The role

You will architect and evolve enterprise-level test automation across unit, contract, integration, API, UI and selective end-to-end testing. Working primarily with Java, TypeScript, Selenium and Playwright, you will embed fast, reliable quality signals throughout the software development lifecycle and CI/CD pipeline.

• Build and evolve frameworks: Design maintainable, reusable and scalable test automation frameworks in Java and TypeScript.
• Strengthen the testing pyramid: Promote strong unit-test discipline and create contract, service-level integration, API and high-value end-to-end coverage.
• Improve UI and E2E quality: Build low-flake Selenium and Playwright suites, including visual regression and practical self-healing approaches.
• Integrate quality into delivery: Embed automated testing into CI/CD so teams receive useful quality signals in minutes, not days.
• Manage test data responsibly: Support data provisioning, masking, refresh and synthetic-data strategies in line with GDPR.
• Optimise and troubleshoot: Improve test speed and reliability, investigate failures and resolve automation issues quickly.
• Turn results into insight: Create reporting that highlights trends, risks and release readiness, not only pass/fail counts.
• Evaluate new tooling: Assess AI-assisted testing and development tools honestly, adopt what works at scale and explain their value and limitations to stakeholders.

• Strong experience of software-testing experience, including at least 5 years of hands-on test automation.
• Strong Java skills, including collections, streams, REST clients and Maven or Gradle.
• Strong TypeScript/JavaScript skills, including ES6+ and Node-based test tooling.
• Hands-on experience with Selenium, Playwright and Rest Assured, plus testing web services, web UI and REST APIs.
• Proven experience designing enterprise-level automation frameworks, ideally in a regulated environment.
• Practical experience across integration/contract and E2E testing, with a clear understanding of how these layers relate to unit coverage.
• Experience with SQL, synthetic test-data generation, Git workflows and CI tooling.
• Strong testing fundamentals, including equivalence partitioning, boundary analysis, negative testing and risk-based prioritisation.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills.
• Practical exposure to AI-assisted testing or development tools such as Copilot, Cursor or LLM-based test generation.
• A degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Nice to have

• Financial services, automotive finance or another regulated industry
• Contract testing with Pact and service virtualisation
• Google Cloud and Cloud Build
• Performance testing with k6 or JMeter
• Security and compliance tooling such as OWASP ZAP, FOSSA or Cycode
• Knowledge of GDPR and security requirements for test data

What we offer

A collaborative engineering culture where test automation is treated as software engineering. You will have opportunities for professional development and dedicated time and budget to evaluate AI-driven quality-engineering tools.

Pratical information

• Our people work 4 days a week in the office and 1 day working from home.
• If you are concerned about traveling to work premises due to disability (or other reasons), please contact us. We are an inclusive team and would like to discuss what adjustments we can make to support your application.

What's next?

Just Apply, Be Confident, and Take the Next Step! 

If you are a hands-on SDET who enjoys solving complex quality challenges and influencing how engineering teams test, we would love to hear from you. You do not need to meet every preferred criterion. 

The Company is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity for all and is opposed to any form of less favourable treatment or harassment on the grounds of race, religion or belief, sex, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.

This position is based in Dunton, and it is expected the successful candidate will be able to attend the Dunton for typically 4 days a week and remain flexible on the days they are required to attend the office according to business requirements

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