Lead Test Engineer - HMRC - G7

Location

Birmingham, Bristol, East Kilbride, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester Regional Centre - Three New Bailey Newcastle -upon Tyne , Stratford Telford - Plaza 1 and 2, Worthing

Please note that due to workforce controls Newcastle -upon - Tyne, Liverpool and Stratford are only available to existing HMRC staff in these locations. HMRC staff based in Reading can also apply to move to Stratford in line with Migration path. HMRC staff based in 100PS can also apply to move to Stratford.

About the job

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.   

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

Shape the Future of HMRC’s Technology Platforms. 

About HMRC

Almost every individual and business in the UK is a direct customer of HMRC, as we collect the money that pays for the UK’s public services and gives people who need it vital financial support. Over recent and coming years, our work never has been, nor will be, more critical as we rebuild and secure our nation’s future. With these demands in mind, and as one of the largest and most digitally focussed organisations in the UK, sits the Chief Engineering and Platform Office (CEPO).  

About CEPO 

CEPO is leading HMRC’s technology transformation - simplifying systems, modernising IT delivery, and creating a future-ready digital landscape. Our mission is to reduce complexity by consolidating applications and adopting scalable, service-based solutions from trusted commercial partners.

As the strategic authority for platform provision, CEPO ensures HMRC’s business groups, products, and services are supported by robust, secure, and innovative infrastructure. We set the direction, lead governance, and guarantee that every live service meets the highest standards - enabling efficient, reliable, and user-focused digital experiences for millions of customers.

Job description

In this role, you will work across multiple programmes and platforms, providing strategic test leadership, supporting delivery teams, and influencing senior stakeholders to embed best practice and continuous improvement.

As a Lead Test Engineer, you will play a strategic role in shaping and embedding consistent testing best practices across HMRC’s complex digital ecosystem.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, coach, and mentor test engineers across programmes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Collaborate with product, platform, and delivery teams to ensure testing is integrated early and effectively within agile workflows.
• Influence and engage with senior stakeholders across HMRC and supplier organisations to drive quality outcomes.

Test Strategy & Implementation

• Define and implement risk-based, shift-left testing strategies across diverse platforms (e.g., ServiceNow, SAP, Pega).
• Ensure testing approaches align with business priorities, technical architecture, and delivery timelines.
• Promote consistent standards and practices across internal teams and third party suppliers.

Technical Excellence & Problem Solving

• Apply advanced testing techniques to solve complex technical challenges and improve delivery confidence.
• Provide expert guidance on functional, non-functional, and automation testing, including performance, security, and accessibility.
• Identify and drive opportunities for innovation and efficiency in testing processes.

Tooling & Governance

• Evaluate, implement, and optimise test tooling, including AI-assisted solutions, to support continuous integration and delivery.
• Establish governance frameworks for supplier-led testing activities, ensuring alignment with HMRC standards and compliance requirements.
• Support tooling integration with platforms such as ServiceNow and CI/CD pipelines.

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Ensure quality is built in from the outset by validating requirements and test coverage across the lifecycle.
• Lead retrospectives and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance test effectiveness and reduce delivery risk.
• Produce clear, actionable test reports and insights to inform decision-making and assurance activities.

Person specification

We’re looking for a disciplined and dynamic test leader with proven experience in strategic test engineering. You’ll bring strong analytical skills to guide testers and developers, shaping test direction that aligns with delivery goals. You must be confident engaging and reporting across all levels of stakeholders and third-party partners, with a clear ability to influence and drive quality outcomes.

Essential Criteria 

You must have experience and understanding of:

• Leading complex, multi‑team testing initiatives, coordinating delivery across diverse platforms, suppliers, and project portfolios while prioritising effectively in fast‑paced agile environments.
• Building high‑performing teams through coaching, mentoring and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and quality excellence.
• Influencing and collaborating confidently across organisational boundaries, engaging senior stakeholders and cross‑functional teams to drive strategic quality outcomes and embed best practice.
• Communicating with clarity and impact, tailoring technical and non‑technical messages, and presenting test strategies, risks, insights, and recommendations persuasively.
• Applying strong analytical and risk‑based decision‑making, using data, metrics, and structured problem‑solving to balance quality, risk, and delivery while continually improving testing processes. 

Desirable Criteria 

Ideally you will also have experience and understanding of:.

• A range of tools e.g. Zephyr, JIRA, SOAP UI, Selenium, Bruno, JMeter, Cucumber, Tosca, Neoload.
• Working knowledge of ITIL 4.
• ISTQB testing qualification(s)

Transitional Sites Information

If your location preference is for one of the following sites, it’s important to note that these are not long-term sites for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations (opens in a new window)

These sites are:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle
• Telford Plaza, Telford - moving to Parkside Court, Telford

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Leeds Locations  

Moves Adjustment Payment will be available for this role, provided the successful applicant is a current HMRC colleague in Bradford and meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the HMRC’s Moves Adjustment Payment guidance.