Quality Engineering Lead/Test Lead

In a partnership with one of the global consulting enterprises, we are looking for an experienced Quality Engineering Lead (Test Lead) to play a pivotal role in managing and coordinating end-to-end testing activities across multiple test phases and teams. You will be responsible for orchestrating test execution, ensuring quality assurance standards are met, and driving continuous improvement across Agile digital delivery programs.

This role requires strong leadership, cross-functional coordination, and a deep understanding of modern testing practices, automation, and delivery pipelines. The client is a UK-based telecommunication company.

Key Responsibilities

Test Strategy & Planning

• Develop and own the end-to-end Test Plan, ensuring iterative and comprehensive testing from Development through to Production.
• Lead and coordinate multiple test phases across diverse client teams (including Auto Test, SIT, PAT, Pen, UAT, and Production Testing).
• Define testing scope, strategy, and objectives aligned with project timelines and delivery goals.

Leadership & Coordination

• Act as the central point of coordination across Test Teams, SREs, and Developers, ensuring effective communication and alignment.
• Facilitate test case design, test data preparation, and environment readiness across teams.
• Identify and remove blockers impacting test execution and delivery schedules.

Test Execution & Quality Assurance

• Oversee execution of test cycles and manage defect reporting, triage, and resolution processes.
• Ensure test results are well-documented, traceable, and compliant with quality standards.
• Drive continuous improvement in testing processes, automation, and reporting.

Agile Delivery & Continuous Improvement

• Champion Agile and iterative testing practices, supporting delivery in short, value-driven increments.
• Collaborate with Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Engineering teams to embed quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Promote test automation, BDD/TDD, and “automation-first” testing mindsets within teams.

Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Test Lead / QA Lead within Agile or SAFe-based digital programs.
• Strong understanding of Agile testing principles (BDD, TDD, exploratory testing, automation-first).
• In-depth knowledge of test execution and defect management best practices.
• Solid understanding of test phases including SIT, PAT, Penetration Testing, and UAT.
• Hands-on experience with test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Cypress, Appium, RestAssured, Playwright).
• Familiarity with CI/CD tools such as Jenkins, GitLab, Azure DevOps, or Bitbucket.
• Experience testing across digital channels — web, mobile, APIs, and microservices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk management abilities.