At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead testing strategies for innovative digital services in a dynamic government project.
- Company: Join Scrumconnect Consulting, a leader in delivering digital solutions to the UK government.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and relocation support.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public services while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in testing across complex digital programmes and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
About the Company
Scrumconnect Consulting delivers digital solutions to UK government departments.
Role Overview
We are looking for a Test Lead/Test Manager to own and shape the quality strategy for digital services delivered to a UK government client. The role combines hands‑on test leadership with strategic quality ownership across Java Spring Boot, AWS Serverless, Ruby on Rails with React, and legacy mainframe systems. The position is based in Swansea, South Wales, requiring three days per week on‑site in a hybrid model.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and own the overall test strategy and approach across services built in Java Spring Boot, AWS Serverless (Lambda/Node.js), Ruby on Rails with React, and Legacy Mainframe systems.
- Lead, mentor, and coach testers working within one or more multi‑disciplinary teams.
- Plan and coordinate functional, integration, regression, performance, accessibility and security testing across the delivery lifecycle.
- Establish quality metrics, reporting and dashboards to give delivery and government stakeholders clear visibility of risk.
- Drive a shift‑left approach, embedding testing into design, refinement and CI/CD pipelines.
- Own end‑to‑end test environments, test data strategy and integration testing across modern and Legacy components.
- Lead defect triage, root‑cause analysis and quality improvement initiatives.
- Contribute to release planning, go/no‑go decisions and operational acceptance criteria for live services.
- Ensure services meet WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards, GDS service standards and security assurance requirements.
- Engage with security, architecture, product and delivery leads to balance quality, risk and pace.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Strong experience leading testing across complex, multi‑team digital programmes.
- Demonstrable experience defining test strategies that span modern (microservice, serverless, web) and Legacy (mainframe, monolithic) systems.
- Hands‑on experience with test automation frameworks across API, UI and service layers (eg RestAssured, Postman/Newman, Cypress, Playwright, Selenium, JUnit, Jest).
- Experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, Azure DevOps, GitLab CI).
- Strong understanding of non‑functional testing including performance, resilience and security testing approaches.
- Solid grasp of accessibility testing (WCAG 2.2) and assistive technology validation.
- Experience with test management and defect tracking tools (eg Jira, Zephyr, TestRail, Azure DevOps).
- Experience leading testers in Agile or hybrid delivery models (Scrum, Kanban).
- Experience working in regulated, security‑conscious or high‑assurance environments.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate quality risk to senior stakeholders.
- Experience delivering testing within a UK public‑sector or government context.
- Familiarity with GDS service standards, the Technology Code of Practice and the GOV.UK Design System.
Desirable
- Experience testing Mainframe integrations or coordinating testing across Legacy modernisation programmes.
- Experience supporting services through GDS Alpha, Beta and Live assessments.
- ISTQB Advanced, ISTQB Test Manager or equivalent professional certification.
- Experience with contract testing (eg Pact) and chaos/resilience testing tooling.
- Experience building or scaling testing communities of practice.
What we offer
- Competitive salary with annual review.
- Company pension scheme.
- Generous annual leave entitlement.
- Critical illness cover.
- Relocation support of £3,000−£5,000.
- Visa sponsorship for eligible candidates.
- Access to learning and development resources.
- A supportive, inclusive working environment.
Equal Opportunities
Scrumconnect Consulting is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
Test Lead in Swansea employer: Scrumconnect Consulting
Scrumconnect Consulting is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Swansea, South Wales, where you can lead and shape quality strategies for vital digital services delivered to UK government clients. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive salaries, and generous benefits including relocation support and a commitment to inclusivity, we foster a culture that values collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for professionals seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Test Lead in Swansea
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in your industry on LinkedIn or at local meetups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to test leadership. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online platforms to get comfortable with your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a GitHub repository that highlights your testing strategies, automation frameworks, and any projects you've led. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do.
✨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 seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Test Lead in Swansea
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java Spring Boot and AWS Serverless. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:As a Test Lead, you'll be mentoring and coaching testers. Use your application to share examples of how you've led teams or projects in the past. We love seeing candidates who can inspire others!
Highlight Your Testing Experience:Be sure to detail your hands-on experience with test automation frameworks and CI/CD pipelines. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so show us what you’ve got!
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 don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scrumconnect Consulting
✨Know Your Tech Stack
Make sure you’re well-versed in the technologies mentioned in the job description, like Java Spring Boot, AWS Serverless, and Ruby on Rails. Brush up on your hands-on experience with test automation frameworks and be ready to discuss how you've applied them in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Test Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to mentor and coach testers. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, focusing on your approach to quality ownership and how you’ve driven improvements in testing processes.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills, especially around defect triage and root-cause analysis. Think of specific scenarios where you successfully identified issues and implemented solutions, and be ready to share those stories.
✨Understand Accessibility Standards
Familiarise yourself with WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards and be prepared to discuss how you’ve ensured compliance in previous roles. This will show your commitment to delivering high-quality services that meet government requirements.
