Lead Test Engineer - Department for Work and Pensions - G6

Location

This role may be located in one of the following locations; Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle or Sheffield.

Please find further information on the Corporate hub locations here.

Please note: for candidates requesting to work in Newcastle, the role will initially be based at Benton Park View. It will then move to 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle city centre by the end of 2027.

For candidates requesting to work in Sheffield King's Court, please note these roles will initially be based at King's Court and then move to 1 West Bar by early 2028.

About the job Job summary

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. For further information, please see 'Selection process details'.

We are looking for an experienced Lead Test Engineer who is confident working on data-focused products/services in a complex digital environment, where they'll be supporting major initiatives across Data and Analytics and wider supporting DWP to deliver it's 2030 Data Strategy.

This position will involve collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders across the Data and Analytics directorate and wider DWP Digital to support the delivery of solutions, creating options and recommendations and provide expert advice, oversight and assurance to drive testing decisions.

This is an exciting time to join us. You'll shape the future and support our mission to deliver exceptional Data products and services that work for everyone.

This role ensures a high standard of test engineering across all Data and Analytics solutions, both current and future, leading testing strategy, best practices and test automation.

Job description

• As Lead Test Engineer you will provide overall leadership and support to the test engineers working in agile multidisciplinary teams across the directorate to deliver our current and future Data and Analytics solutions.
• Lead the design and delivery of data solutions across data movement, storage, curation and insight, ensuring they support wider service needs and outcomes.
• Support the delivery and continuous improvement of services across multiple cloud platforms and legacy on premises environments, working with a broad range of technologies including Java, Node.js, React.js, SAS, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, GitLab CI/CD, AWS, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Kubernetes, Azure Service Bus and Power BI.
• Provide expert test engineering leadership, using appropriate principles, tools and delivery methodologies to influence strategic decisions and shape the direction of our services in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Collaborate with and influence key stakeholders and technical decision makers (Product Managers, Architects, Delivery Managers, Engineering teams, etc.) to define strategic vision for products and services.
• Identify risks and develop plans for mitigation and contingency.
• Ensure that usability, accessibility, security, stability, performance, and functional testing are embedded in the development of our services, in a consistent and standardised way.
• Collaborate with other teams in the Software Development Lifecycle to define strategic goals.
• Lead and adapt Agile and Waterfall delivery approaches, using appropriate methodologies and tools to drive successful delivery and achieve service outcomes.
• Promote engagement with continuous integration, delivery and deployment practices following standards and tooling methodologies.
• Promote technical evolution by identifying, testing and adopting emerging technologies.
• Promote the latest trends, tools, and best practices within Test Engineering.
• Identify skills gaps within the team and support recruiting talent into the organisation.
• Develop the Test Engineering capability by helping and supporting others to shape career paths.
• Contribute to recruitment activities in the practice, working with other Leads and the Head of Role to advise on recruitment strategy and lead at various stages of the assessment process.

Person specification

When giving details in your CV you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Lead criterion - Significant experience of leading testing activities across multiple teams, setting and refining strategy for both off the shelf products and open-source cloud native technologies in a data domain.
• Significant experience driving testing best practices across embedded tester, setting testing standards (e.g. test data management, coverage targets, test environment definition and management, coding standards, reporting) and auditing adherence.
• Experience leading both functional and non-functional testing strategies (e.g. accessibility testing, performance testing) for APIs, message brokers and browser and data platforms Experience of leading, recruiting and line managing test engineers, managing performance, development, training and coaching.
• Expert skills and experience managing testing engineering good practices around python and automating API checks, message queues systems and data platforms.
• Experience of implementing automated data and API testing strategies that prioritise quality early using cloud CI/CD pipelines and appropriate techniques, tools and strategies.