At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead assessments and improve QA processes in a dynamic tech environment.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking enterprise focused on quality engineering.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive pay, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and improvement.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on software quality and delivery practices.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in QA, automation, and software delivery leadership.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Our client is seeking an experienced Principal QA Engineer / Quality Engineering Consultant to support a strategic review of Quality Assurance, software delivery, and engineering quality practices within a large-scale enterprise technology environment. This engagement will assess the current QA operating model, testing maturity, automation capability, SDLC processes, governance structures, and engineering quality practices across multiple product and technology teams. The successful candidate will work closely with technical teams, delivery leadership, and stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement and help define a practical future-state Quality Engineering approach aligned to organisational goals and delivery realities.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct structured assessments across multiple engineering and product teams.
- Review current QA processes, SDLC practices, testing approaches, automation maturity, tooling, and delivery workflows.
- Assess how QA integrates into Agile, DevOps, and CI/CD delivery models.
- Identify operational, organisational, and technical factors impacting software quality and delivery effectiveness.
- Evaluate current regression, automation, test management, and release practices.
Quality Engineering & SDLC Review
- Assess current-state testing maturity and automation capability across varied technology stacks and legacy platforms.
- Review governance, accountability, and ownership models relating to quality and release management.
- Evaluate feasibility and suitability of automation approaches within different teams and systems.
- Analyse opportunities for improving shift-left testing, quality practices, and engineering collaboration.
- Assess non-functional testing capability including performance, security, and resilience testing approaches.
Strategic Recommendations
- Contribute to defining a practical future-state QA / Quality Engineering operating model.
- Support development of recommendations relating to QA governance, automation strategy, SDLC process improvement, CI/CD quality integration, engineering quality standards, QA metrics and reporting, team structure and capability models.
- Help define a prioritised roadmap for incremental QA and engineering maturity improvement.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Facilitate workshops and discussions with QA, engineering, product, and delivery stakeholders.
- Gather insights from technical and non-technical teams.
- Present findings, observations, and recommendations clearly to leadership and delivery teams.
- Build collaborative relationships across federated product and engineering environments.
Required Experience
- Significant experience in QA, Quality Engineering, Test Architecture, or software delivery leadership roles.
- Proven experience working across complex enterprise delivery environments.
- Strong understanding of SDLC, Agile delivery, DevOps, and CI/CD practices.
- Experience implementing or improving test automation strategies and engineering quality practices.
- Experience influencing QA processes, delivery standards, and engineering ways of working.
- Strong understanding of test automation, regression strategy, and quality governance.
- Experience collaborating closely with software engineers, product teams, and delivery leadership.
- Ability to assess both technical and organisational factors impacting software quality.
Ideal Experience
- Experience in one or more of the following would be highly beneficial: QA maturity assessments, enterprise QA or Quality Engineering initiatives, test automation strategy and framework implementation, DevOps and CI/CD integration, federated or multi-team delivery environments, regulated industries such as Energy, Utilities, Financial Services, or Government, large-scale legacy or enterprise technology landscapes, shift-left testing and continuous quality practices, governance and operating model improvement initiatives.
Technical Understanding
- Strong understanding of areas such as UI, API, integration, and end-to-end testing.
- Automation frameworks and tooling.
- CI/CD pipelines and DevOps workflows.
- Test management and defect management processes.
- Cloud and enterprise application environments.
- Performance and non-functional testing approaches.
- Jira / Confluence / Azure DevOps / GitHub or equivalent tooling.
Hands-on expertise in all technologies is not essential; however, the successful candidate should be capable of engaging credibly with engineering and QA teams across varying technical environments.
Principle QA Engineer in Portsmouth employer: Vallum Associates
As a Principal QA Engineer with our client, you will join a forward-thinking organisation that values innovation and quality in software delivery. The company fosters a collaborative work culture, offering remote flexibility alongside opportunities for ad hoc travel, ensuring a dynamic and engaging work environment. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have the chance to influence strategic improvements in QA practices while working closely with diverse teams across a large-scale enterprise technology landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principle QA Engineer in Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the QA and engineering space. Attend meetups or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a portfolio or a blog where you share insights on QA practices, automation strategies, or case studies from your past experiences. This not only showcases your skills but also helps you stand out in interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company’s current QA processes and think about how you can add value. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've improved QA practices in previous roles. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might just be the perfect fit for you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you a leg up in the hiring process.
We think you need these skills to ace Principle QA Engineer in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal QA Engineer role. Highlight your experience in QA, automation strategies, and SDLC practices. We want to see how your background aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past experiences that relate to the strategic recommendations and stakeholder engagement aspects of the position.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t forget to mention your technical skills! Whether it's your understanding of CI/CD pipelines or your experience with test automation frameworks, we want to know how you can contribute to our engineering quality practices.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vallum Associates
✨Know Your QA Fundamentals
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of QA processes, SDLC practices, and automation strategies. Be ready to discuss how you've influenced these areas in past roles, as this will show your depth of experience and understanding.
✨Prepare for Technical Discussions
Since the role involves engaging with technical teams, be prepared to talk about specific tools and frameworks you've used. Familiarise yourself with common automation tools and CI/CD pipelines, so you can speak confidently about your hands-on experience.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Think about how you would approach assessing and improving QA practices within a large-scale environment. Prepare examples of how you've contributed to strategic recommendations in previous roles, especially around governance and quality integration.
✨Engage Stakeholders Effectively
This role requires collaboration with various stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've facilitated workshops or discussions in the past, and think of ways to demonstrate your ability to build relationships across different teams.
