Head of QA and Test Automation in London
Head of QA and Test Automation

Head of QA and Test Automation in London

London Full-Time 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead QA and Test Automation strategy to enhance digital experiences.
  • Company: Join Collinson, a leader in customer loyalty and experience.
  • Benefits: Flexible working, generous parental leave, and career development opportunities.
  • Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Shape quality standards and drive innovation in a collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: Strong QA and Test Automation experience, leadership skills, and coding expertise.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 ÂŁ per year.

At Collinson, we help brands inspire loyalty and create better customer experiences. For over 30 years, we’ve partnered with some of the world’s best-known names in travel, financial services, and retail. We’re now looking for a Head of QA and Test Automation, a leader who believes quality is everyone’s responsibility, not just a final step in the process.

The Opportunity

This role is pivotal to shaping how Collinson designs, builds, and delivers world-class digital experiences. You’ll lead our global Quality Engineering and Test Automation strategy, building a high‑performing QA function that enables confidence, scalability, and innovation across our products and platforms. As an experienced leader, you’ll coach teams, embed quality standards at every stage of delivery, and champion automation as a key enabler of speed and excellence. Your voice will influence major architectural and strategic decisions, ensuring that quality is baked into every product we release.

What you will do:

  • Define and lead Collinson’s end‑to‑end QA and Test Automation strategy.
  • Build and grow a talented, diverse team of SDETs and QA professionals.
  • Partner with Engineering, Product, and Delivery to design for quality from day one.
  • Shape automation frameworks across front‑end, API, and end‑to‑end layers.
  • Provide meaningful insight on release readiness, risk, and quality metrics.
  • Develop a thriving community of practice that promotes learning and inclusion.
  • Transform our testing culture — from gatekeeping to enablement.

What you will bring:

  • Strong experience in QA and Test Automation, especially at a senior or head‑of‑function level.
  • Hands‑on expertise with modern frameworks (Playwright, Cypress, contract or API testing).
  • Comfort coding in TypeScript or similar languages.
  • Experience creating scalable test strategies for complex, multi‑team delivery environments.
  • A track record of building inclusive, high‑performing technical teams.
  • Strong communication and influencing skills — both technical and non‑technical.
  • Knowledge of performance and reliability testing (e.g. k6, JMeter) is desirable.

Who you are:

  • A coach and mentor who brings out the best in others.
  • A collaborator who values diverse opinions and voices.
  • Passionate about continuous improvement and automation excellence.
  • Committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces where every team member can thrive.

We know that a person’s potential is more than the sum of their past experiences. If you meet most but not all these points, we still encourage you to apply; your unique perspective could make the difference.

What Collinson Offers:

  • Flexible and hybrid working options.
  • Work from anywhere – 8 weeks a year.
  • Generous parental leave and family‑friendly policies.
  • Career development, mentorship, and training.
  • A supportive, inclusive culture with employee resource groups and diversity initiatives.

Collinson is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes differences in all their forms including: colour, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, family status, age, individuals with disabilities and people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences as we strongly believe this contributes to our on‑going success. We are focused on continually evolving our purpose‑driven, high‑performing culture, providing an environment where our people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and do interesting and meaningful work.

Our company values are: Take Action, Do the right thing, One team and Be insight‑led. These help guide everything we do internally in terms of how we think, act and interact, right through to how we deliver value to our customers and clients.

In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). If you need any extra support throughout the interview process, then please email us.

Head of QA and Test Automation in London employer: Priority Pass

Collinson is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement, making it an ideal place for the Head of QA and Test Automation role. With flexible working options, generous parental leave, and a commitment to employee development, you will thrive in an environment that values diverse perspectives and fosters innovation. Join us in shaping world-class digital experiences while being part of a supportive team that believes quality is a shared responsibility.
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Contact Detail:

Priority Pass Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of QA and Test Automation in London

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at Collinson or similar companies. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for the interview by researching Collinson’s values and recent projects. Show us how your experience aligns with their mission to create better customer experiences. Tailor your examples to highlight your leadership in QA and Test Automation.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how you would transform the testing culture at Collinson. We want to hear about your vision for embedding quality throughout the development process and how you’d build a high-performing team.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our mission of making every journey more rewarding.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of QA and Test Automation in London

QA and Test Automation
Leadership
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)
Automation Frameworks (Playwright, Cypress)
API Testing
TypeScript or similar languages
Scalable Test Strategies
Communication Skills
Influencing Skills
Performance Testing (k6, JMeter)
Mentoring
Collaboration
Continuous Improvement
Inclusive Team Building

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Quality: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for quality assurance and test automation. Share specific examples of how you've championed quality in your previous roles, as this aligns perfectly with our belief that quality is everyone's responsibility.

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the job description. Highlight your experience with modern frameworks like Playwright or Cypress, and don’t forget to mention your coding skills in TypeScript or similar languages. We love seeing how your background fits with what we’re looking for!

Be Authentic: We want to know the real you! Don’t hesitate to share your unique perspective and experiences. If you meet most of the requirements but not all, still apply! Your individuality could be just what we need to enhance our diverse team.

Apply Through Our Website: For a smooth application process, make sure to apply through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and get back to you quicker. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at Collinson!

How to prepare for a job interview at Priority Pass

✨Know Your QA and Automation Inside Out

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of QA and Test Automation frameworks like Playwright and Cypress. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in past roles, as well as your approach to building scalable test strategies.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Head of QA, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor teams. Prepare examples of how you've built high-performing teams and fostered an inclusive culture. Highlight your coaching style and how you bring out the best in others.

✨Communicate Clearly and Effectively

Collinson values strong communication skills, both technical and non-technical. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, and be prepared to discuss how you’ve influenced architectural decisions in previous roles.

✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement

Be ready to talk about your passion for continuous improvement and automation excellence. Share specific instances where you've transformed testing cultures or processes, moving from gatekeeping to enablement, and how that benefited the team and the product.

Head of QA and Test Automation in London
Priority Pass
Location: London

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