Test Lead

Test Lead

Temporary 60750 - 74250 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
T

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and coordinate quality assurance activities across innovative transport projects.
  • Company: Transport for Wales, transforming sustainable travel in the region.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and support for learning Welsh.
  • Other info: Join a diverse team committed to innovation and sustainability in transport.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of transport while leading a dynamic testing team.
  • Qualifications: Degree in IT or related field, with experience in leading test teams and automation.

The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.

Please note: this is a 24 month fixed-term contract

The Role

The successful candidate will lead, plan, and coordinate all quality assurance activities across the UNO, CRM (D365), and Middleware Projects.

The role is responsible for establishing clear testing approaches designing and maintaining an effective automation framework and ensuring thorough manual and automated test coverage across all components and integrations.

The role includes managing Test Analysts, coordinating the team's day to day activities and promoting consistent testing standards, documentation, and processes across the UNO project, ensuring alignment with the wider test team.

They will be responsible for maintaining reliable test data and regression packs, ensuring that automated and manual testing meets the project requirements.

  • Role responsibilities
  • Lead the development and implementation of the annual testing plan for the UNO programme, ensuring that test strategy, scope, and methods align with wider organisational priorities and long‑term digital transformation objectives.
  • Define and govern programme‑wide testing standards, procedures, and automation frameworks, ensuring consistency, quality, and compliance across manual, automated, performance, and non‑functional testing activities.
  • Provide specialist technical leadership across CRM (D365), middleware, web, mobile, data migration and API testing, advising senior stakeholders and supporting qualified professionals in resolving complex, multi‑system quality challenges.
  • Diagnose and resolve complex testing issues that require advanced analysis, engineering judgement, or innovation, ensuring that cross‑system defects are addressed effectively where no precedent exists.
  • Influence senior project stakeholders, product teams, and supplier partners on critical testing decisions, including test scope, risk acceptance, release readiness, and defect resolution priorities.
  • Manage the testing discipline for the UNO programme, setting performance expectations, allocating work, developing capability, and supporting recruitment and succession planning for Test Analysts.
  • Oversee and optimise the use of testing resources, including test environments, tooling, data sets, automation assets, and budgetary allocations, providing expert advice on resource investment and utilisation to support programme delivery.
  • Timely and accurate reporting of testing progress, risks, metrics, and quality outcomes to programme leadership, enabling informed decision‑making and proactive risk management.
  • Build robust collaborative relationships with Business Analysts, Solution Architects, Developers, Project Managers, and Product Owners to ensure requirements are testable, technically sound, and aligned with agreed programme outcomes.
  • Drive continuous improvement of Tf W's testing capability by identifying opportunities to enhance tooling, automation throughput, performance testing maturity, and testing governance across the Digital Services directorate.

Who we are looking for

  • A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related IT discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
  • Experience Leading test teams in IT/Digital/Systems- planning and delivery, including functional and end user testing.
  • Experience of working in software development life cycles such as Waterfall, Agile.
  • Experience in writing test artefacts such as test case and defects.
  • Experience with testing tools.
  • A high standard of written and verbal communication, and the ability to collaborate and build effective working relations with people at all levels across the organisation and outside.
  • Excellent planning and organisation skills, (e. g. project planning and/or dealing with delays or blockers).
  • Proven analytical skills and the ability to demonstrate good attention to detail through work.
  • Experience in implementing Automation and performance testing.
  • Welsh Language Skills

While not essential for this role, Welsh language skills would make a great addition to your application.

Tf W support anyone who wants to learn Welsh or improve their skills. We offer online learning, classroom courses and funding attendance at local community courses.

We're changing the way the transport industry looks.

By celebrating and embracing differences, we're building a workforce that represents Wales.

We need talented people from all backgrounds and cultures to bring their perspectives and experiences.

Diverse teams make better decisions and drive innovation.

Join us in transforming the way Wales travels.

Who we are

Transport for Wales is changing the way Wales travels, making sustainable transport the first choice.

We're building a multimodal integrated transport network called the T Network, making it easier for people to travel by train, bus, walking, wheeling and cycling.

We're a Disability Confident Leader. Let us know about any reasonable adjustments you may need in the recruitment process and as part of the role if you are successful.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Test Lead employer: TfW Business Daily Group

Transport for Wales is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment that reflects the communities we serve. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development, including support for learning Welsh, and a commitment to continuous improvement in our testing capabilities. Join us in transforming the transport landscape of Wales while enjoying a collaborative culture that values innovation and teamwork.

T

Contact Details:

TfW Business Daily Group Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Test Lead

Get Involved in Open-Source Projects

Diving into open-source projects is a brilliant way to showcase your skills and connect with other developers in the community. Not only will you beef up your GitHub profile but you might also catch the eye of someone at TfW Business Daily Group who values hands-on experience over just theory.

Attend Local Tech Meetups

Tech meetups are gold mines for networking and discovering job opportunities, especially in the fast-paced world of software engineering. Check out local listings for events in your area and don’t shy away from introducing yourself. This could lead directly to a temporary position at TfW Business Daily Group!

Showcase Your Work Online

With temporary roles, it’s all about standing out in a short space of time. Create a portfolio website where you highlight your projects and skills. Talk about your code, and provide links to your GitHub repositories. This will not only demonstrate your abilities but will also make it easier for recruiters at TfW Business Daily Group to see what you bring to the table.

Leverage Temporary Job Boards

Don’t forget to check specialised job boards for temporary software development roles. Websites like We Work Remotely or Remote OK often list short-term gigs that can be a perfect fit. Apply directly through our website as well, making sure your application is sharp—temporary roles can move fast!

We think you need these skills to ace Test Lead

Quality Assurance
Test Planning
Automation Framework Design
Manual Testing
Automated Testing
Performance Testing
API Testing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Tech Skills:Make sure your CV highlights your tech stack and any programming languages you’re proficient in. Include specifics about any frameworks or technologies you’ve worked with; they can make you stand out in the sea of applicants. It’s all about showing that you have the chops we need at TfW Business Daily Group!

Portfolio 2.0:Since you’re applying for a temporary gig, it’s super important to showcase a portfolio that highlights your best projects. Include links to GitHub or any personal projects that demonstrate what you can do in a real-world environment. This gives us a taste of your style and your problem-solving approach!

Keep It Brief and Relevant:With a temporary position, we want to see your ability to hit the ground running. Be concise in your CV and cover letter; stick to experiences that directly relate to the role. Highlight any previous temporary roles or freelance gigs that show your adaptability and quick learning!

Tailor Your Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic cover letter. Personalise it for Test Lead at TfW Business Daily Group! Mention why this temporary role excites you and how you see yourself contributing in the short run. Show us what you've got and why you're the one for this quick turn-around!

How to prepare for a job interview at TfW Business Daily Group

Nail the Technical Skills

For a software engineering role, you'll likely face technical questions or coding tasks during your interview. Brush up on the relevant programming languages and frameworks that TfW Business Daily Group uses, and don’t forget to practice some coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. Showing your coding prowess can really make you stand out!

Prepare for System Design Questions

Even for a temporary role, having a grasp of system design principles can be crucial. Be ready to discuss how you would architect a software solution, including discussing trade-offs, scalability, and performance considerations. Having examples from previous projects can really show off your analytical thinking.

Demonstrate Your Adaptability

Since this is a temporary role, you'll want to emphasise your ability to hit the ground running. Highlight experiences where you quickly adapted to new technologies or teams. Let’s make it clear to the interviewers at TfW Business Daily Group that you can learn on the job and deliver results in a short timeframe!

Show Off Your Portfolio

Make sure to have a portfolio or GitHub ready showcasing your projects. Having tangible evidence of what you've done—be it personal projects, contributions to open-source, or previous work—can convey how capable you are. Tailor this for what might interest TfW Business Daily Group, so it's relevant and sparks conversation during your interview.