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- Tasks: Lead QA function, define testing strategy, and improve automation across web and mobile.
- Company: Dynamic UK-based SaaS company focused on enhancing communication within organisations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, unlimited leave, flexible working, and great office perks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product quality and lead a growing QA team.
- Qualifications: Experience in automation QA, strong leadership skills, and familiarity with modern testing tools.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team with exciting growth opportunities and a vibrant work culture.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Engage Solutions Group is a UK‑based SaaS company focused on solving a real communication challenge inside organisations: how to keep employees and customers connected, informed and part of a community. We didn’t start in SaaS - the company originally came from print media. But in 2015–16, we made an early pivot into mobile apps as we recognised how quickly everything was moving to smartphones. In 2017, two new owners with strong SaaS backgrounds led the shift toward a product‑led business, and in 2019 we brought in a new Head of Engineering to help shape the modern platform.
Fast forward to today: we now work with 60+ customers across sectors like retail, automotive, legal, and professional services, with impressive revenue—organically grown. We compete with large general‑purpose platforms, but win when organisations want something more focused, practical, and supported by people who genuinely understand their needs.
We’re at a pivotal stage. The product works, the customer base is growing, and design is the biggest opportunity we have to elevate the entire experience.
Why This Role Is So Exciting!!
This isn’t a “maintain what already exists” QA role—you’ll define how quality is built, scaled and embedded across the product. You’ll report directly to our Head of Engineering and work closely with product and engineering leadership. You’ll own quality end to end, with real influence over release confidence, automation strategy and engineering best practice. You’ll balance hands‑on automation work with leadership and mentoring, shaping a modern, scalable QA function. You’ll work in a team that already values automation and quality, with the mandate to evolve and improve how we test across web and mobile. As the business grows, you’ll have the opportunity to build and lead a larger QA team and set long‑term quality standards. If you’re ready for a role with ownership, technical depth and the ability to make a visible impact on product quality, this is a strong fit.
Overview of the Role
You’ll lead our QA function, reporting into the Head of Engineering and partnering closely with engineering and product teams to ensure quality is embedded throughout our development lifecycle. This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll own our testing strategy and automation roadmap while remaining actively involved in writing, maintaining and improving automated tests across web and mobile platforms. We already have a solid automation foundation in place and are committed to continuing that investment. You’ll evolve our approach, improve reliability and execution speed, and ensure testing scales as the platform and team grow. As we scale, you’ll line‑manage and develop the QA team, building a high‑performing quality function.
Key Responsibilities
- Quality Leadership & Strategy
- Define and own the overall QA and test automation strategy
- Represent quality in sprint planning, technical discussions and release decisions
- Build a scalable automation roadmap that supports frequent releases
- Improve test coverage, execution speed and confidence in releases
- Line‑manage and mentor QA engineers, supporting growth and development
- Write, maintain and improve automated tests using Playwright (web) and Appium (mobile)
- Improve test stability, reliability and CI/CD integration
- Manage test planning and execution using TestRail, ensuring clear visibility of coverage and results
- Work closely with engineers to embed quality early in the development process
- Support testing across development, sandbox and production environments
- Partner closely with engineering and product teams day to day
- Support the QA team in managing TestRail and JIRA integration
- Help drive improvements to release processes and test environments
- Champion quality standards and best practice across the organisation
What You’ll Work On (First 6–12 Months)
- Reduce customer‑found defects by strengthening test coverage and earlier detection
- Optimise automated test execution time and CI/CD reliability
- Evolve the automation framework across web and mobile platforms
- Improve visibility of quality metrics and test results
- Introduce a more strategic, long‑term vision for QA as the product and team scale
What We’re Looking For
- Significant commercial experience in Automation QA
- Strong commercial hands‑on experience with modern web automation frameworks (Playwright, Cypress, Selenium)
- Good commercial experience with mobile automation tools (Appium, Detox or similar)
- Proven experience line‑managing or mentoring QA engineers
- Experience working in agile / scrum environments
- Familiarity with test management tools such as TestRail
- Strong communication skills and confidence advocating for quality
- Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
- API testing experience (Postman, REST Assured or similar)
- Experience testing multi‑tenant SaaS products
- Exposure to Laravel, AWS or MySQL environments
- Experience building or scaling QA teams in early‑stage or growing companies
- Familiarity with AI‑assisted testing tools (e.g. TestMu AI)
Our Current Setup (For Context)
- Automation: Playwright (web), Appium (mobile)
- Test Management: TestRail
- Backlog: JIRA
- Environments: Development, sandbox and production
- Release Cadence: Smaller frequent releases, with larger quarterly releases
What’s on offer:
- Genuinely competitive salary package (full details to be disclosed during interviews)
- Unlimited annual leave policy
- Flexi-hybrid working (2 days in our stunning office, with roof terrace, in central Manchester)
- Other perks: Private Healthcare, Pension Scheme, Gym, cycle store and on‑site shower facilities, Cycle to work scheme, Death in Service, Quarterly release parties & Fantastic summer and Christmas social events
Interview Process / Candidate Experience
We keep things simple, respectful of your time, and focused on genuine conversation. Intro call – informal chat with our Talent team to understand your background and what you’re looking for (30 mins, video call). Conversation with Head of Engineering – deeper discussion about the role, your experience and expectations (45 - 60 mins, video call). Final F2F session – meet wider team members, discuss ways of working, values and any final questions (60-75 mins, F2F). We aim to move quickly, provide clear feedback at every stage, and create a process that feels like a two‑way evaluation.
Automation QA Lead in Manchester employer: Engage (Solutions Group)
Contact Detail:
Engage (Solutions Group) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation QA Lead in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company, understand their products, and be ready to discuss how your skills align with their needs. Practise common interview questions and think about how you can showcase your experience in automation QA.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your passion for quality! During interviews, share examples of how you've improved testing processes or mentored others. This will demonstrate your commitment to quality and your ability to lead a team effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Engage Solutions Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Automation QA Lead in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Automation QA Lead role. Highlight your relevant experience with automation frameworks like Playwright and Appium, and show how your skills align with our needs at Engage Solutions Group.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a hands-on leadership role, don’t forget to mention any experience you have in mentoring or managing QA teams. We want to see how you can inspire and develop others while driving quality across our products.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your achievements stand out, and ensure your passion for quality and automation shines through.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Engage (Solutions Group)
✨Know Your Automation Tools
Make sure you’re well-versed in the automation frameworks mentioned in the job description, like Playwright and Appium. Brush up on your hands-on experience with these tools, as you'll likely be asked to discuss specific projects or challenges you've faced while using them.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves mentoring and managing a QA team, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your approach to fostering growth and development among your team members, as this will demonstrate your capability to build a high-performing quality function.
✨Understand the Company’s Journey
Familiarise yourself with Engage Solutions Group's transition from print media to SaaS. Understanding their history and current focus will help you align your answers with their vision and show that you're genuinely interested in their mission to enhance communication within organisations.
✨Prepare for Agile Discussions
As the role requires working closely with engineering and product teams in an agile environment, be ready to discuss your experience with agile methodologies. Share how you've integrated quality assurance into the development lifecycle and any strategies you've used to improve collaboration between teams.
