At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a team of Test Engineers while redefining quality in an AI-driven environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company transforming vehicle services with modern cloud technologies.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on outcomes and supporting teams through change.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of a major digital transformation and shape the future of quality engineering.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership in Quality Engineering and experience with modern SDLC and test automation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a Lead Quality Engineer to shape and lead quality engineering across a major transformation programme within our Manheim Vehicle Services (MVS) platform. This is a high-impact leadership role where you’ll guide teams through the evolution from a legacy .NET monolith to a modern, cloud-native AWS architecture—while redefining how quality works in an AI-assisted development world. You’ll combine hands-on engineering expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership to ensure we build software that is reliable, secure, and built to last.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of Test Engineers and Analysts
- Set the vision and standards for quality engineering
- Act as a champion for quality across engineering and product
- Define quality guardrails for AI-generated and AI-assisted code
- Evolve practices for testing, validation, and review
- Shape how we maintain confidence in increasingly automated delivery
- Own and deliver the QA strategy and roadmap
- Define approaches across: Functional and exploratory testing, Performance, security, and resilience
- Lead automation strategy and tooling decisions
- Provide clear, risk-based input into release decisions
- Work across both legacy and modern platforms
- Embed BDD and spec-driven development practices
- Drive measurable improvements via metrics and KPIs
You’ll operate across a modern, evolving stack:
- Cloud: AWS
- Frontend: React
- Containers: Docker, EKS, ECS
- Data: Aurora, DynamoDB, DocumentDB
- Messaging: Kafka, SNS/SQS, EventBridge
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions
- Testing: Playwright, Cypress, Postman, K6
What We’re Looking For
- Strong leadership experience in Quality Engineering / QA
- Proven success delivering QA strategies with measurable outcomes
- Deep knowledge of: Agile, CI/CD, modern SDLC
- Test automation at scale
- Hands-on experience with: Modern and legacy systems, API and performance testing, Cloud environments (AWS preferred)
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Nice to Have
- Experience working with AI-assisted or agentic development
- Background in large-scale transformation or migration programmes
- Familiarity with Docker, Terraform, observability tooling
- Data testing and quality experience
- Value-driven: Focused on outcomes, not activity
- Pragmatic: Able to balance speed, risk, and quality
- Empathetic leader: Supporting teams through change
- Collaborative: Partnering across engineering, product, and architecture
If you’re passionate about building quality into modern software delivery and want to lead through one of the most exciting engineering transformations in the industry, we’d love to hear from you.
Lead Quality Engineer in Leeds employer: Cox Automotive Europe
At Manheim Vehicle Services, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration. As a Lead Quality Engineer, you will not only lead a talented team through a significant digital transformation but also benefit from our commitment to employee growth, modern cloud technologies, and a supportive work environment that values quality and strategic thinking. Join us in shaping the future of quality engineering while enjoying a dynamic workplace that encourages professional development and meaningful contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Quality Engineer in Leeds
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Cox Automotive Europe or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Cox Automotive Europe.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Cox Automotive Europe.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Cox Automotive Europe that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Quality Engineer in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Cox Automotive Europe.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cox Automotive Europe and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cox Automotive Europe
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Cox Automotive Europe uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
