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- Tasks: Lead the development of automation-first test strategies in a dynamic government digital transformation programme.
- Company: Join a major player in government tech, driving innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital transformation while shaping the future of testing.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in test strategy and automation, especially in microservices environments.
The predicted salary is between 40320 - 40320 £ per year.
Inside IR35 £640/day max (Umbrella, dependent on experience) 12-month contract. SC Clearance required. Locations: Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle (60% hybrid) (No London-based candidates).
We are seeking an experienced Lead Test Engineer / Principal SDET to support a major digital transformation programme within a large government environment. You will play a key role in shaping and embedding a scalable, automation-first test strategy across multiple engineering teams, supporting the transition from monolithic systems to a modern microservices-based architecture. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, combining strategic influence with active contribution to automation frameworks and engineering practices.
Key Responsibilities- Test Strategy & Leadership
- Define and implement an end-to-end test strategy aligned to microservices architecture.
- Establish testing standards, patterns, and best practices across multiple teams.
- Assess existing testing approaches and drive continuous improvement.
- Embed scalable testing frameworks and reusable solutions across engineering teams.
- Hands-on Engineering
- Design, build, and maintain robust automated test frameworks.
- Deliver testing across all levels: unit, integration, contract, system, and end-to-end.
- Lead automation efforts within Java-based environments.
- Actively contribute to code and framework development, not just governance.
- Collaboration & Governance
- Work closely with engineering teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment on quality.
- Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and coaching to engineers and testers.
- Promote consistent application of testing practices across delivery teams.
- Maintain visibility of quality metrics and delivery outcomes.
- Technical Expertise
- Strong experience defining and implementing test strategies in microservices environments.
- Hands-on automation experience using: Java, Selenium, Rest Assured.
- Strong experience in API, integration, and contract testing.
- Experience working across both monolithic and distributed systems.
- Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, Spring Boot-based applications, Kafka or similar event-driven messaging systems.
- Modern Testing Practices
- Experience with contract testing (e.g. Pact, Spring Cloud Contract).
- Strong API testing and service-level testing experience.
- Awareness of non-functional testing (performance, accessibility).
- Experience with NoSQL databases such as MongoDB.
- Ability to build scalable, maintainable, reusable automation frameworks.
- Leadership
- Experience operating at Lead or Principal SDET level.
- Ability to influence across teams without direct authority.
- Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Proven ability to drive engineering quality in complex environments.
- AWS experience.
- Playwright / Serenity BDD.
- Performance testing tools (Gatling, K6).
- Observability tools (Grafana, Prometheus, Splunk).
- Docker and modern DevOps practices.
- AWS.
- Java, Selenium, Rest Assured.
- Serenity BDD / Playwright.
- Pactflow / Spring Cloud Contract.
- Kafka.
- MongoDB.
- Jenkins / GitHub / GitLab.
- Docker.
- Gatling / K6.
- Grafana / Prometheus / Splunk.
About You: You are a hands-on technical leader who can define direction while actively contributing to delivery. You thrive in complex, multi-team environments and are passionate about building scalable, reliable, automation-first testing solutions. You are equally comfortable writing automation code as you are shaping strategy and influencing senior stakeholders.
Lead Test Engineer / Principal SDET in Birmingham employer: GTC Recruitment
Contact Detail:
GTC Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Test Engineer / Principal SDET in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your automation frameworks and testing strategies. This is your chance to demonstrate your hands-on experience and technical expertise, making you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of microservices and automation tools. Be ready to discuss your past experiences and how you've driven quality in complex environments. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Don’t miss out!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Test Engineer / Principal SDET in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Lead Test Engineer role. Highlight your hands-on automation experience and any leadership roles you've had, especially in microservices environments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've defined test strategies or led teams in the past, and don’t forget to mention your passion for automation!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, be sure to highlight your expertise with Java, Selenium, and any other relevant tools mentioned in the job description. We want to see your hands-on experience and how you’ve applied it in real-world scenarios.
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 us you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at GTC Recruitment
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java, Selenium, and Rest Assured. Brush up on your knowledge of microservices architecture and CI/CD pipelines, as these will likely come up during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your experience in leading teams and influencing without authority. Think about times when you’ve implemented testing strategies or mentored others, as this role requires strong leadership in a complex environment.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Testing Strategies
Since the role involves defining and implementing test strategies, be prepared to discuss your approach to creating scalable, automation-first testing frameworks. Have a few case studies or examples ready to illustrate your thought process and results.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s current testing practices and challenges they face. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if the company aligns with your values and expertise.