At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead automation testing strategies and develop innovative test frameworks for IAM applications.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on AI and automation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous learning and career advancement.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI testing and make a significant impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in automation testing with strong Python skills and IAM experience.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
- Test Architecture, Strategy and Governance (Hands-on + Strategic)
- Define and maintain an overall test strategy that describes the approach, environment, scope, risks, and required resources.
- Establish test strategies that cover deterministic and non-deterministic AI behaviours
- Define and maintain test entry and exit criteria .
- Perform test case reviews/QA to ensure coverage and traceability to requirements/design.
- Establish automation testing standards , best practices, and governance frameworks across the organisation.
- Liaise with business areas and technical leads on scenario definition across
SIT/OAT/UAT and the wider testing lifecycle, as required.
- Generate regulatory evidence as needed.
- Automation Engineering and CI/CD
- Plan, develop, execute, maintain, and continuously improve automated test frameworks and automated test scripts for IAM applications.
- Build automation frameworks that integrate AI capabilities for test generation, analysis, failure triage, self-healing, and intelligent reporting
(supporting capability).
- Validate
AI workflows , orchestration engines, and event-driven systems (Pub/Sub, queues, etc.).
- Create and manage
CI/CD pipelines to run automated tests, generate reports, and notify teams of test results.
- Test and validate functions and decision logic defined
“as code” , including policy-as-code.
- Generate synthetic and anonymised test data .
- Test Delivery, Defects and Stakeholder Management
- Develop and execute test plans, test cases, test data, test scenarios , and associated testing documentation aligned to requirements and technical specifications.
- Report and track defects and issues by writing (or automating) clear and thorough bug reports; attend triage meetings and verify fixes.
- Identify process and application issues and provide suggestions for improvement.
- Communicate progress regularly to senior stakeholders and programme leads, tailoring the level of detail to the audience.
- Technical Leadership (Non-line management)
- Provide technical leadership by leading and mentoring engineers within the team .
- Collaborate effectively within the wider test team.
- Ability to continuously learn and adapt to new technologies/tools (e. g., AI tools and agentic AI).
- Deliver within an Agile methodology.
Required Skills
- Extensive experience in
Identity and Access Management (IAM) .
- Strong backend automation experience using
- Python and Pytest , with
5+ years leading automation projects .
- Proven experience testing functions and decision logic defined
“as code” , including policy-as-code.
- Experience validating event-driven platforms (Pub/Sub, queues, Kafka, etc.) and batch processing.
- Experience with identity warehousing and protocols/formats for data ingestion including
SCIM, REST API, LDAP, OIDC, and CSV .
- Experience with policy-based testing
(RBAC / ABAC / Re BAC / PBAC).
- Experience in consumer-driven contract testing .
- Experience in risk-based test prioritisation .
- Dev Ops & CI/CD integration experience, including integrating automation tests into
Git Hub and CI/CD pipelines and implementing shift-left testing practices.
- Strong experience in cloud testing approaches and methodology , especially
GCP ; additional exposure to AWS, Azure, Entra, Ali Cloud, and systems such as Service Now, AD, and ADLDS.
- Extensive experience using
- JIRA and Zephyr
(mandatory).
- Experience executing defined test plans including coordination, tracking, and reporting .
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven stakeholder engagement at all levels .
- Proven ability to lead and mentor engineers
(technical leadership).
- Desired Skills
- Knowledge of AI governance, model evaluation, explainability, and responsible AI principles.
- Exposure to orchestration tools like n8n .
- Exposure to
Gen AI tool integrations into Quality Engineering.
- Experience testing solutions built on
Graph DB (Neo4j) .
- Exposure to containerised test execution .
- Knowledge of
- JMeter, Gatling, Load Runner, Neo Load
(or similar) for load/stress/volume testing, including licensing requirements, configuration, dashboards, and reporting.
GDBMS performance analysis.
- Exposure to
Sail Point Identity IQ .
- Exposure to
Git Ops repos .
- Exposure to testing
Hashi Corp Vault solutions.
- Experience in testing
SPIFFE/SPIRE .
- Exposure to testing session management services .
- Experience testing governance and auditing controls .
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Automation Test Lead in Sheffield employer: Vallum Associates
Vallum Associates is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Necton that prioritises safety and efficiency in major infrastructure projects. With a strong focus on employee growth, we provide opportunities for professional development and training in the electrical sector, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and supports your career advancement in a vital industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Test Lead in Sheffield
✨Get Involved in Local Automation Meetups
We can’t stress this enough – getting your face out there in the automation and control systems community can really set you apart. Look for local meetups or workshops where you can chat with industry professionals, learn about what’s trending, and even discover hidden job gems. Who knows, you might meet someone from a company like Vallum Associates!
✨Show Off Your Projects
Make sure you have a portfolio of your work ready to roll. Whether it’s academic projects, internships or personal experiments, showcase how you’ve tackled automation challenges. When you apply for the Automation Test Lead position at Vallum Associates, linking your portfolio gives your application that extra oomph and demonstrates your practical knowledge.
✨Leverage Your Uni Career Services
If you’re fresh out of uni, don’t forget about your career services! Many universities have established connections with companies in the automation field. They may know when Vallum Associates is looking for fresh talent or even have internships that lead to full-time positions. So, hit them up!
✨Keep an Eye on Industry Certifications
While hunting for roles, consider getting certified in relevant automation technologies. It shows dedication and gives you a leg up in the job market. Plus, many organisations offer job boards or networking events to certified professionals. This might just lead you to that coveted Automation Test Lead role at Vallum Associates!
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Test Lead in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Skills:When applying for an automation-control-systems role, it’s crucial to highlight your technical skills. Whether it's your proficiency in programming languages like Python or understanding control systems, make sure your CV showcases these prominently. Don't forget to mention any specific software or tools you're experienced with – that’s music to the ears of hiring managers!
Tailor Your Projects to Automation:If you've worked on any relevant projects, especially those involving automation or control systems, make them stand out in your CV. Use a dedicated section to highlight these projects, explaining your role and the impact of your contributions. This could be the difference between getting noticed and getting overlooked!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tell us why you’re passionate about automation-control-systems! Discuss specific experiences that sparked your interest in this field. Maybe it's a university project or a previous job that truly got you hooked. We love seeing that spark! Make sure to reference how you can contribute to Vallum Associates and its goals.
Quantify Your Achievements:In the world of automation, results matter. When listing your experiences, quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you improve system efficiency by a percentage? Did you reduce downtime? Putting numbers to your successes not only demonstrates your impact but also lets us see the tangible outcomes of your efforts. It makes your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vallum Associates
✨Master Your Technical Knowledge
In the automation control systems field, you need to brush up on your technical know-how. Be prepared to talk about specific control systems you’ve worked with, such as PLCs or SCADA systems, and expect technical questions or even hands-on problem-solving scenarios during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Whether it's freelance projects or your academic work, come ready to showcase your portfolio of automation projects. Bring along any diagrams, code samples, or automation solutions you’ve implemented—these can really set you apart and demonstrate your applied skills to Vallum Associates.
✨Understand Industry Trends
Stay updated on the latest trends in automation technologies and methodologies, like Industry 4.0 or IIoT. We'll want to discuss how these concepts may affect the role and future projects at Vallum Associates, so showing that you're knowledgeable about current and emerging technologies can give you an edge.
✨Commit to Continuous Learning
As this is a full-time role, it's essential to express your eagerness for continuous improvement and learning. Share how you plan to enhance your skills and keep pace with the evolution of automation in the workforce – companies love candidates who are committed to growth and adaptability.
