At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead QA efforts, design test plans, and ensure top-notch software quality.
- Company: Dynamic tech company focused on innovation and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and clear career progression.
- Why this job: Shape the future of product quality and influence releases directly.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in QA, strong automation skills, and a detail-oriented mindset.
- Other info: Opportunity to grow into Head of QA and build a quality culture.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 42500 £ per year.
We’re hiring a QA & Test Lead. This one’s for someone who genuinely cares about software quality, not just ticking test cases, but shaping how quality is built into a product from day one. The role is hybrid based in Wakefield (WF4) so you must be able to travel to site 3 days a week. This is a hands-on QA leadership role.
You’ll own the testing strategy end-to-end: exploratory testing, automation (UI + API), release confidence, and setting the standard for how quality shows up across the business.
What you’ll be doing:
- Designing and executing robust test plans for new features
- Building and maintaining automated test suites
- Getting stuck into exploratory testing to uncover edge cases
- Defining quality gates and release criteria
- Tracking quality metrics and test coverage
- Working side-by-side with engineers to reproduce, fix, and verify bugs
- Championing best-practice testing across the team
Why this role stands out:
- You’ll define the QA strategy and standards from scratch
- Direct influence on product quality and releases
- Close collaboration with engineering and founders
- A clear path to Head of QA / Quality Engineering
What we’re looking for:
- 3+ years in QA / software testing
- Strong automation experience (Playwright, Cypress, or similar)
- API testing experience (Postman / REST)
- CI/CD and test integration knowledge
- SQL for data validation
- A methodical, detail-driven testing mindset
Your growth in the first 6–12 months:
- Build out the automation framework
- Embed QA into CI/CD pipelines
- Own quality gates and release confidence
- Grow into Head of QA as the team scales
- Shape the long-term quality culture and hiring standards
Bonus points if you’ve:
- Worked with TypeScript / JavaScript
- Done performance or load testing
- Built B2B SaaS products
- Thrived in early-stage or fast-growth environments
£40k - £50k plus package. If this sounds like you or someone you know who lives and breathes quality, get in touch! No sponsorship offered for this position.
QA & Test Lead in Wakefield employer: Impactive IT
Contact Detail:
Impactive IT Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land QA & Test Lead in Wakefield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the QA and software testing world. Attend meetups or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your testing strategies, automation projects, and any cool test cases you've designed. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to the table.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your technical knowledge and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with automation tools like Playwright or Cypress, and how you’ve tackled quality challenges in past roles.
✨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, we love hearing from candidates who are genuinely excited about shaping quality in our products.
We think you need these skills to ace QA & Test Lead in Wakefield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Quality: When you're writing your application, let us see your genuine passion for software quality. Share examples of how you've shaped quality in past projects, not just the tasks you completed. We want to know how you care about building quality from day one!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in QA and software testing. Focus on your automation skills and any hands-on work with tools like Playwright or Cypress. Tailoring your application to match our job description will help us see why you're a great fit!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and achievements. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the good stuff!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply 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 the StudySmarter team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Impactive IT
✨Know Your QA Fundamentals
Make sure you brush up on your QA principles and methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you approach testing, the importance of exploratory testing, and how you ensure quality is integrated from the start. This will show that you genuinely care about software quality.
✨Showcase Your Automation Skills
Since automation experience is key for this role, prepare to talk about your hands-on experience with tools like Playwright or Cypress. Bring examples of automated test suites you've built and how they improved the testing process. This will demonstrate your technical prowess and commitment to efficiency.
✨Discuss Collaboration with Engineers
This role involves working closely with engineers, so be ready to share examples of how you've collaborated in the past. Talk about how you’ve reproduced, fixed, and verified bugs alongside developers. Highlighting your teamwork skills will show that you can bridge the gap between QA and engineering.
✨Prepare for Quality Metrics Discussion
Familiarise yourself with quality metrics and test coverage. Be prepared to discuss how you track these metrics and use them to inform your testing strategy. This will illustrate your methodical approach and detail-driven mindset, which are crucial for the role.