CTE QA Architect

Role: Testing Strategy & QA Governance Consultant (Cyber)
Location: Sheffield, UK (Hybrid role, require 2-3 days a week onsite)

Big Bank Funding. FinTech Thinking

Our technology teams work closely with HSBC’s global businesses to help design and build digital services that allow our millions of customers around the world, to bank quickly, simply and securely. We also run and manage our IT infrastructure, data centres and core banking systems that power the world’s leading international bank.

Our multi-disciplined teams include DevOps engineers, IT architects, front and back-end developers, infrastructure specialists, cyber experts, as well as project and programme managers.

Following extensive investment across our Technology and Digital domains and with plans for continued expansion throughout 2025 and beyond, we are currently seeking a QA Architect who will be able to define the Testing Strategy and standards across Cyber as part of a central Professional Testing Practise. This is a delivery-focused role with clear outcomes: you’ll be accountable for defining and embedding Cyber-wide testing strategy, QA maturity assessment and an actionable remediation roadmap.

Business area overview

Cybersecurity Technology & Engineering is responsible for fielding solutions that help defend HSBC against a wide range of threats to the business as well as its customers, clients, partners, and staff. The team works in concert, with partner teams across HSBC, to implement novel defensive capabilities that are effective and adaptable against a constantly evolving threat landscape. The function operates under the vision: “Enabling HSBC to be safely successful everywhere the Firm chooses to do business”.

What you will be doing

The role will report to the Cyber QA Practice lead and will be responsible for supporting the establishment and development of Cyber's Professional Testing Practise, contributing to its strategic direction and helping to drive improvements across all facets of testing across Cyber. The role will involve working closely with a wide range of stakeholders including Cybersecurity project teams, Control Owners, and the business. The role is outcome-driven and will be measured on delivery of agreed artefacts and adoption across Cyber teams.

The role will:

• Define and deliver, with guidance from the Cyber QA Practice Lead, the Testing Strategy, QA Maturity Framework and QA standards to be used across Cyber, including the frameworks, processes, methodologies and tooling that should be used and adopted by the Cyber teams.
• Lead on the Maturity Framework assessment and definition of the remediation plan needed to meet the agreed framework levels. This includes driving the adoption of automated test practices across Cyber and assisting teams in determining the correct level of performance and stress testing to be performed. This will cover both in-house developed applications and third-party applications that are supported and maintained by the Cyber teams.

• Provide support and assistance to the Cyber QA Practice Lead and help ensure their vision is effectively developed and implemented across the Cyber delivery teams.
• Define and deliver appropriate training for the Testing Practice members and QA professionals within the Cyber teams and monitor adoption and usage of QA tools within the existing environments.
• Provide standards and guidance for testing evidence suitable for audit review in our Regulated business environment and ensure that teams are following these guidelines and provide metrics and dashboards to support adoption tracking.
• Work with the Cyber QA Practice Lead to establish clear KPIs and OKRs for the Cyber QA Team, tracking delivery performance, quality improvements, and process efficiency.
• Cyber Testing Strategy (incl. governance, tooling, metrics and adoption plan).
• QA Maturity Assessment report + remediation roadmap (priorities, milestones, ownership).
• Audit-ready testing evidence standards (templates, traceability expectations, minimum evidence set).
• KPIs/OKRs and dashboards to track quality, efficiency and adoption.

What you will bring to the role

• Proven experience defining and delivering departmental Testing Strategies and governance frameworks including best practices across multiple teams and regions
• Proven experience in aligning testing strategy with business goals. 6+ years of QA experience, 2+ years in a QA Manager or QA Architect Lead role;
• Proven experience supporting QA/audit readiness in regulated environments (evidence, traceability, controls)
• Participation in internal/external QA audits or working with Control Owners / Risk & Compliance
• Relevant training/certifications (e.g. ISTQB Advanced/Test Manager, audit/quality governance courses)
• Strong stakeholder management experience and the ability to influence and build partnership across Teams and Departments in order to conduct data analysis and present raw data in a simplified manner displaying trend analysis and highlighting outliers/exceptions;
• Familiar with Agile software development and DevSecOps delivery processes (burndown metrics, backlog tracking, velocity, task definition, retrospectives and defect management) and supporting tools, e.g., JIRA, Confluence, GIT, etc.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English, including experience of managing workshops and writing best practice documentation;
• Able to work in a fast-paced, team-focused environment with a proven track record of delivering and completing assigned tasks as an individual and as team;
• Demonstrates a strategic leadership, change management, continuous improvement mindset with a willingness to continuously learn and share learnings with others.

Come Power a Business that Defines How to Power the World

As a business operating in markets all around the world, we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers, our business and our people. This is why HSBC UK is committed to being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of background, circumstances, age, disability, gender identity, ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.

As an HSBC employee in the UK, you will have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees, enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work, and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.

Personal data held by the Bank relating to employment applications will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available on our website.

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