Test Manager in Bracknell

The Test Manager is responsible for defining and driving the overall test strategy, ensuring high-quality delivery of connected car services and associated software. This role provides leadership and oversight across all test activities, from planning through execution to sign-off, with accountability for ensuring that solutions are robust, reliable, and fit for purpose.

The Test Manager will be hands-on, working at the critical intersection of software quality, system integration, and architectural integrity. The Test Manager will engage with multiple stakeholders, manage risks, produce clear and comprehensive documentation, and act as a trusted advisor on all matters related to testing and quality assurance.

Responsibilities:

• Define, document, and own the test strategy, approach, and governance framework across projects and releases.
• Develop and maintain detailed test plans, schedules, and resourcing models, ensuring alignment with overall delivery and release objectives.
• Establish and enforce testing standards, frameworks, methodologies, and tools, including test automation where appropriate.
• Manage all phases of testing (unit, integration, system, UAT, performance, security, regression, etc.) across multiple domains.
• Ensure clear entry/exit criteria are agreed and adhered to for all test phases; provide go/no-go recommendations based on results and risk.
• Lead risk-based testing, identifying, managing, and mitigating quality risks throughout the lifecycle.

KPIs:

• Test coverage metrics (requirements coverage, functional/non-functional coverage).
• Defect detection rate, defect leakage into production, and defect turnaround time.
• Automation coverage and efficiency improvements.
• Test execution progress against plan and timely reporting.
• Quality of test documentation and stakeholder feedback.
• Reduction in production incidents caused by insufficient testing.
• Environment availability and utilization for test activities.
• Adherence to release and test schedules.
• Minimal defect leakage to hardware/vehicle testing phases.
• Timely identification of architectural risks and requirement gaps.
• Successful security audit outcomes with no critical vulnerabilities in production.

Qualifications, skills and experience required:

• Proven experience as a Test Manager in complex software development environments, ideally within connected car services or related domains.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles (Agile and Waterfall) and integration into test management practices.
• Demonstrable experience in defining and implementing test strategies, frameworks, and governance.
• Understanding of API technologies and integration patterns (synchronous, asynchronous, event-driven) with hands-on experience testing distributed systems and microservices architectures.
• Knowledge of resilience patterns with ability to design and execute resilience testing scenarios.
• Working knowledge of OWASP standards, common security vulnerabilities, and experience conducting or coordinating security testing including SAST, DAST, and penetration testing.
• Understanding of authentication and authorization frameworks (OAuth, JWT, SAML) and familiarity with secure coding practices and threat modelling.
• Experience in connected vehicle ecosystems, IoT, or automotive software testing.
• Knowledge of security, performance, and compliance testing.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, multicultural, and multi-vendor environment.
• Proficiency in modern test management and reporting tools.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience in customer-facing roles.

The role is for 12 months and is inside IR35-£600 per day via an umbrella company. 3 days a week onsite at Head Office near Reading and 2 days working from home. 35 hr week and early finish at 1pm on a Friday!