Lead QA Engineer

Lead QA Engineer

Warrington Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the transformation of QA processes from manual to automation-first in a collaborative team.
  • Company: Join The Investigo Group, a dynamic tech coalition innovating in AI, data, and software solutions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, private medical, generous holiday, and continuous learning opportunities.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of quality engineering while mentoring others in a supportive, inclusive environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in Agile QA, automation frameworks, and strong communication skills are essential.
  • Other info: Eligibility for Security Check clearance is required; hybrid work model available.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

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Role: Lead QA Engineer

Location: Liverpool – Hybrid (2-3 days on-site preferred, flexibility for the right candidate)

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Competitive, based on experience + benefits + bonus potential

About Us

Come and be a part of The Investigo Group (TIG), a dynamic coalition of cutting-edge tech firms specialising in Platform, Software, Data, AI and other bleeding-edge technology solutions. Our innovative prowess spans the globe while proudly hailing from the United Kingdom.

The group is multi-functional with a large portfolio of B2B products and services.

Our ecosystem is made up of:

IIS, Providing secure internet access in both the public and private sectors. Its mission? To deliver world-class secure internet capabilities enhancing productivity across diverse skillsets and organisations.

Vestigo Consulting is our training and consultancy company, tailored around specialist sector-specific knowledge, and provides regular courses and CPD for our community. The Consultancy side concentrates on expert support of our customers as well as specifically assigned individual deployments.

Collaboraite is a bleeding-edge company that provides our Data and AI capability. A collaborative partner for designing user-centred secure data solutions to overcome operational hurdles, delivered through design thinking and agile coaching.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are at the heart of The Investigo Group (TIG). We\’re dedicated to creating a workplace where people from all backgrounds are not only welcome but empowered to excel. We actively seek diverse talent, promote fairness, and foster an inclusive environment where every voice matters, driving innovation and progress in our dynamic tech community.

The group provides bespoke, secure, user-centric products fuelled by deep technical knowledge advanced data and analytical skills.

We proudly stand as a global leader in this space, partnering with esteemed entities that require these advanced forward-thinking capabilities. These partnerships have been forged from our understanding of customer challenges, as well as our expertise in developing world-leading enterprise product sets.

Join us at TIG, where innovation knows no bounds, and together, we\’ll shape the future of technology solutions for a safer, more efficient world.

About You:

You\’re a hands-on QA leader with a passion for building scalable quality processes and lifting those around you. You\’ve introduced automation from scratch, improved test maturity in Agile teams, and understand how to create a culture of quality beyond just writing tests.

You enjoy mentoring others and believe that quality should be everyone\’s responsibility. You\’re confident influencing at all levels, from developers to senior leadership, and you bring clarity, energy, and technical credibility to every conversation.

You\’re also pragmatic, you know what to fix now, what to tackle later, and how to deliver value quickly without compromising on standards.

About The Team:

You\’ll be joining a collaborative and growing Testing function embedded within our Product Development team. QA and Development work closely together day-to-day, with shared involvement across planning, refinement, and delivery.

This is an exciting time for the team, as we shift from a primarily manual, reactive testing approach to a more modern, proactive quality engineering mindset. There\’s strong leadership backing to evolve how we approach quality, not just as a final gate, but as a fundamental part of how we build software.

As our new Lead QA Engineer, you\’ll play a key role in shaping this evolution. You\’ll have the opportunity to influence tooling, process, and culture, while mentoring others and building a more automation-first QA capability that scales with the business.

About The Role:

We\’re looking for a Lead QA Engineer to take our quality engineering function to the next level. This is a key strategic and hands-on role aimed at transforming our existing QA capability from reactive, manual testing to a proactive, automation-first approach that\’s embedded across the entire SDLC.

As the Lead QA Engineer, you\’ll define and implement automation frameworks, coach and mentor team members, and advocate for QA as a collaborative, continuous discipline. You\’ll play a central role in influencing our test strategy, tooling decisions, and quality posture across a suite of over 20 apps and services.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a future-focused QA practice in a fast-evolving product and engineering environment. You\’ll have the autonomy to lead change, backed by strong leadership support.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Define and own the end-to-end QA strategy, with a strong emphasis on automation
  • Build and maintain test automation frameworks (UI, API, integration)
  • Guide the shift-left approach and embed QA earlier in the SDLC
  • Mentor and upskill our Test Analysts into QA Engineers
  • Collaborate with Developers and Product to ensure testability and shared ownership
  • Champion quality practices in planning, refinement, and release
  • Integrate test automation into CI/CD pipelines
  • Establish and report on meaningful QA metrics and KPIs
  • Improve test data and environment management in partnership with Infrastructure teams
  • Help shape a simplified, more predictable release process over time

Success in This Role Looks Like

  • A test automation strategy is in place and delivering measurable improvements
  • Manual testing is reduced while confidence in releases increases
  • Test Analysts grow into QA Engineers under your guidance
  • Quality is embedded earlier in the process and owned across teams
  • Stakeholders recognise QA as a key partner in delivering high-performing, resilient products

Requirements

What We\’re Looking For:

  • Proven experience as a Lead or Senior QA Engineer in a modern Agile environment
  • Deep understanding of test automation frameworks and continuous delivery principles
  • Hands-on skills with tools like Selenium, Playwright, SpecFlow, Postman, RestSharp
  • Familiarity with .NET testing frameworks (e.g. xUnit, NUnit, MSTest)
  • Programming/scripting in C#, Python, JavaScript or similar
  • Strong knowledge of CI/CD tooling (e.g. GitHub Actions, TeamCity, Jenkins, Azure DevOps)
  • Understanding of REST APIs, SQL, mocking tools, and containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes)
  • Comfortable managing test environments and advocating for test data strategy
  • Strong communication, mentoring, and influencing skills

Bonus Points For:

  • ISTQB or Certified Agile Tester qualifications
  • Experience scaling QA across multiple products or platforms
  • Exposure to security, compliance or regulated environments

Security Clearance Requirements

Please note that holding current SC clearance is not essential at the point of application, but eligibility is required.

This role requires the successful candidate to be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. To meet this requirement, applicants must:

  • Have the right to work in the UK
  • Have lived in the UK continuously for the past 5 years
  • Not have spent more than 6 months outside the UK in total during that period
  • Be willing to undergo security vetting as part of the onboarding process

Benefits

  • Flexible Working: We offer a hybrid working model.
  • Private Medical
  • Inclusive Culture: Enjoy an inclusive culture and environment
  • Flexible Benefits: A flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
  • Holiday: Generous holiday allowance
  • Learning: Access to continuous learning and development opportunities
  • Bonus Potential: Bonus potential based on performance and business-related factors
  • Discounts: Discounts on a wide range of products and services
  • Pension: Pension scheme contributions with Government Top-Up
  • EV Car Scheme
  • More Benefits: Explore additional benefits on our career site.

Please note that the talent acquisition team is managing this vacancy directly and we do not require agency support.

Candidates who are successful will be required to undergo relevant security checks.

Our Process

Our talent acquisition team will be in touch if you\’re successful, the team will arrange a short screening call (max 30 minutes) to learn more about you, and what you are looking for and answer any questions you may have. If all goes well, the team will share your profile with the hiring manager for review. Our interview process is tailored to each role but typically the first half of the process is run remotely with a final stage on-site.

For this position, you can expect a two-stage interview process:

1st stage – An informal 30-minute video call with the hiring team to discuss your skills and relevant experience. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the role and ask any questions.

2nd Stage – A 60-90-minute formal interview where you can anticipate competency and technical questions.

As an inclusive employer, please inform us if you require any reasonable adjustments.

Equal Opportunities

Here at TIG we are committed to equal opportunities and value diversity, equity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

As a Group, we seek to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive reasonable accommodation throughout the hiring process and ultimately within the job itself. Please contact us to request any accommodations.

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Mid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Information Technology

  • Industries

    IT Services and IT Consulting

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Lead QA Engineer employer: The Investigo Group

The Investigo Group (TIG) is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and inclusivity, making it a prime choice for professionals seeking to thrive in the tech industry. With a hybrid working model, generous benefits, and a strong focus on employee development, TIG fosters a collaborative culture where quality assurance is integral to the software development lifecycle. Join us in Liverpool, where you can lead transformative QA initiatives while enjoying a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives and continuous learning.
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Contact Detail:

The Investigo Group Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Lead QA Engineer

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the specific tools and technologies mentioned in the job description, such as Selenium, Playwright, and CI/CD tooling like GitHub Actions. Having hands-on experience or even personal projects showcasing these skills can set you apart during discussions.

✨Tip Number 2

Demonstrate your leadership qualities by preparing examples of how you've successfully mentored team members or led QA initiatives in previous roles. This will resonate well with the hiring team, as they are looking for someone to shape their QA culture.

✨Tip Number 3

Research The Investigo Group and its various companies to understand their products and services. Being able to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission and values during the interview will show your genuine interest in the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your approach to implementing automation frameworks and how you've successfully transitioned teams from manual to automated testing. Highlighting your strategic thinking in this area will be crucial for the Lead QA Engineer position.

We think you need these skills to ace Lead QA Engineer

Test Automation Frameworks
Agile Methodologies
Selenium
Playwright
SpecFlow
Postman
RestSharp
.NET Testing Frameworks (xUnit, NUnit, MSTest)
C# Programming
Python Scripting
JavaScript Proficiency
CI/CD Tooling (GitHub Actions, TeamCity, Jenkins, Azure DevOps)
REST API Understanding
SQL Knowledge
Containerisation (Docker/Kubernetes)
Test Environment Management
Mentoring and Coaching Skills
Strong Communication Skills
Influencing Skills
Quality Assurance Best Practices

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Lead QA Engineer. Focus on your hands-on skills with automation frameworks, Agile methodologies, and any mentoring roles you've undertaken.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for quality assurance and how you can contribute to transforming the QA function at The Investigo Group. Mention specific examples of how you've implemented automation and improved testing processes in previous roles.

Showcase Relevant Skills: Clearly list your technical skills that align with the job requirements, such as experience with Selenium, CI/CD tools, and programming languages like C# or Python. This will help demonstrate your fit for the role.

Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions related to your experience in leading QA teams and implementing automation strategies. Be ready to discuss your approach to mentoring and how you advocate for quality across teams.

How to prepare for a job interview at The Investigo Group

✨Showcase Your Automation Experience

Be prepared to discuss your hands-on experience with automation frameworks. Highlight specific tools you've used, such as Selenium or Playwright, and share examples of how you've implemented these in previous roles.

✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills

Since the role involves working closely with developers and product teams, demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively. Share instances where you’ve successfully influenced team decisions or improved processes through teamwork.

✨Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect technical questions related to CI/CD practices and test automation. Brush up on your knowledge of tools like GitHub Actions or Jenkins, and be ready to explain how you would integrate test automation into a CI/CD pipeline.

✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentoring

As a Lead QA Engineer, you'll be expected to mentor others. Prepare to discuss your mentoring style and provide examples of how you've helped junior team members grow into more skilled QA Engineers.

Lead QA Engineer
The Investigo Group
Location: Warrington

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