Lead Test Engineer

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

Job title

Lead Test Engineer

Contract type

x2 Fixed Term Contract positions (a 12 month and an 18 month contract)

Location

Manchester

Salary

Manchester - £57,400 to £64,700

Working arrangements

Hybrid working, 2 days a week in office

Are you a technically skilled test automation engineer who enjoys building solutions in C# and improving quality?

This is a great opportunity to play a key role in delivering reliable, high-quality software that supports assessment and learning across the UK. As a Lead Test Engineer, you'll combine hands-on technical expertise with leadership in testing, helping teams build quality into products from the start and driving the adoption of modern automation practices.

You'll work closely with developers, analysts and product teams to ensure solutions are secure, scalable and fit for purpose. You'll have the opportunity to shape automation strategy, develop robust test frameworks and influence engineering practices across the wider team.

In this role, you'll be responsible for

As a Lead Test Engineer, you'll play a key role in defining and evolving our automation strategy while remaining hands-on with development and implementation.

• Designing, developing and maintaining scalable automated test frameworks using C#, .NET, Playwright, Reqnroll and other modern testing technologies
• Developing automated tests across web, API and integration layers to ensure comprehensive quality coverage
• Acting as a technical leader for quality engineering, helping teams make informed decisions around test approaches, quality practices and risk management
• Driving the adoption of automation-first testing practices across multiple development teams
• Improving the effectiveness, reliability and performance of automated testing within CI/CD pipelines
• Establishing and promoting automation standards, patterns and best practices across engineering teams
• Collaborating with developers to build quality into products from the earliest stages of development
• Mentoring engineers and supporting the growth of automation capability across the organisation
• Exploring and implementing emerging technologies, including AI-assisted testing approaches, to improve productivity and software quality

You'll thrive in this role if you're a technically minded engineer who enjoys solving complex problems and improving the way software is tested.

You'll bring

• Strong experience developing automated test frameworks and tests using C#/.NET and modern automation tools such as Playwright, Selenium and Reqnroll, alongside Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) practices
• Strong API testing experience and integration of automated testing within CI/CD pipelines
• Strong knowledge of quality engineering, test automation and Agile delivery practices
• Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring others and promoting automation best practice
• Strong understanding of test data management and environment automation
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to a range of audiences

This role offers the opportunity to further develop your technical expertise while making a meaningful impact on learners and education.

You'll benefit from

• A genuinely hands-on technical leadership role where you'll continue to build and develop automation solutions
• The opportunity to shape automation strategy and influence engineering standards across multiple products
• Exposure to modern technologies, cloud platforms and evolving software development practices
• The chance to solve complex engineering challenges and drive continuous improvement in quality engineering
• A collaborative, supportive and inclusive engineering culture
• Ongoing investment in learning, professional development and technical growth
• Flexible working arrangements that support a healthy work-life balance

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

Application process

• To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role by 23:59 on Sunday 13 September.
• If shortlisted, you will be invited to complete an on demand video interview. Final stage interviews will take place in our Manchester office in early September.

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Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose

• Reporting to the Head of Test and representing the Test Team, this role operates day to day within the“Agile” team as Lead Test Engineer. This role will personally undertake hands on manual and automated functional and non-functional testing. A key purpose of the role will also be to design tests based on requirements / acceptance criteria to produce manual and/or automated test scripts to provide the appropriate level of test coverage.
• To code, debug and maintain automated tests and frameworks. Raising defects when encountered and ensuring that initial process steps are undertaken in accordance with defect management processes.
• To represent the Test Team in the day-to-day activities, identifying areas of risk and applying appropriate testing techniques to mitigate them.
• To help complete AQA’s ongoing transition to a single, consistent set of cloud-based technologies (technology re-platform) and move to an agile delivery model in line with current software development best practices (Scrum/Kanban; continuous delivery) – and to continually improve and enhance that technology for new and changing business needs, once that transition is complete.

Landscape

To model professional behaviours with confidence, especially the specific AQA and Assessment Technology behavioural cornerstones.

To comply with all AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements, including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.

Where business needs change, to undertake other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level outside the terms of this role profile.

Activities

Customer (external or internal)

Being trusted and reliable in assessment design and delivery

Build excellent working relationships with our customers internal and external

Demonstrates commercial flexibility by undertaking other responsibilities which are of a commensurate level as business needs change.

Deliver high quality software to our customers that has been thoroughly tested.

Product and internal processes

Delivering quality products and outcomes – as recognised by the customer

Facilitate product backlog management and iteration planning by providing estimates and advising on Testing approaches and options in the context of delivery cost and risk.

Deliver high quality software that has been thoroughly tested to our customers

Ensures AQA is safe and legally compliant by applying AQA’s policies and other legislative requirements including but not limited to HSE, Equal Opportunities and ISMS.

Actively participate in review of acceptance criteria/requirements (static testing) to identify errors, omissions and areas of ambiguity.

Provide data to colleagues to enable derivation of testing progress reports and quality metrics.

Facilitate and participate in all Agile ceremonies

Sprint planning, demos, 3 amigos, retrospectives etc.

Based upon solid foundations in manual testing, derive appropriate test coverage and test techniques.

Undertake Test Execution (dynamic testing) tasks, preparing test environments, executing test scripts, comparing actual with expected results and documenting and reporting outcomes.

People and culture

Ensuring we have great people achieving their potential

Collaborate with the agile team to produce high quality output.

Be an advocate for testing (especially automation / technical testing) best practices, leading by example.

Mentor and coach team members in automated testing, embedding automated testing methods in Software Solution activities.

Assist with the continual improvement of ways of working in both Testing and wider departmental processes. To identify opportunities for testing process improvement and act as advocate for their consideration for implementation

Technology

Delivering demonstrably secure, reliable, agile and cost-effective systems

Deliver Test Automation Framework(s) to support the use of Automation in line with the AQA Automation Strategy.

Provide API testing to support (agile) team delivery.

Keep abreast of state-of-the-art testing practices by reading and attending external events, share learnings within the Software Solutions group to ensure practices remain appropriate and up to date.

Key internal relationships

Test colleagues

Agile team colleagues

departmental managers

Business Users

Product Owners

Key external relationships

Suppliers

3rd Party Development Partner

Key performance indicators

Delivering demonstrably secure, reliable, agile and cost-effective systems

Demonstrate proficiency in the use of AI and champion it's utilisation with the wider team to make Test Prep more efficient

Deliver Test Automation Framework(s) to support the use of Automation in line with the AQA Automation Strategy

Implementation of Test Automation frameworks

Coaching and mentoring of colleagues on automation practices

Successful delivery of (agile) delivery team output that has been thoroughly tested to a very high standard

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

Knowledge

A broad understanding of testing and its role, relevance and application in either a commercial or an educational environment

In-depth understanding of the testing life-cycle in context of the SDLC (Agile and at least one other)

Detailed knowledge and understanding of testing (including automation) techniques and management tools and their application in Agile and at least one other methodology

Detailed knowledge of Agile best testing practice techniques and SCRUM

Qualification

Degree level qualification in Software Engineering or equivalent discipline, or equivalent professional experience

Skills

Proven ability to develop solutions in a .Net/C# environment

Proven ability to coach and mentor colleagues in automated testing techniques

Proven oral and written communication skills and ability to explain issues to technical and non-technical staff

Proven ability to devise and implement automated testing; egTDD/BDD, Cucumber, Specflow, Selenium, CodedUI

Ability to undertake both functional and non-functional testing

Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills in a variety of situations

Excellent analytical skills

Proactive and motivating who facilitates quality and collaboration amongst the team.

A questioning and investigative mind

A pragmatic approach with requisite attention to detail

Ability and willingness to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team

Ability to apply a risk-based testing approach and awareness of commonplace system malfunctions and defects

Ability to quickly glean knowledge of systems and components under test

Ability to adapt to new approaches, technologies, tools and procedures

Ability to positively influence colleagues with regard to Testing matters

Demonstrates resilience and calmness under pressure to meet tight deadlines in complex contexts

Receive feedback and learn from mistakes for continuous self-development

Demonstrates proactive collaborative working across functional areas to deliver shared goals

Experience

Demonstrable experience of successfully undertaking Lead Test Engineer tasks in line with the Key Accountabilities

Demonstrable experience of operating in Agile environments

Experience in using one or more testing tools in a day-to-day hands-on automated testing role

Experience in API testing

Demonstrable experience and knowledge of recognised testing techniques (eg black box, white box, risk-based, scenario-based)

Experience of different Test Activities (eg System, Integration, User Acceptance) including both functional and non-functional testing