QA Lead​/Test Lead – Perm

Position: QA Lead / Test Lead – Perm
Job :
Birmingham, West Midlands Type:
Full Time Salary: 55000 - 65000 per annum

Posted: QA Lead / Test Lead Salary: 55, per annum

Location:

Central Birmingham (Office-Based, Full-Time) Job Type: Permanent About the Role An established and growing technology business is looking for a hands-on QA Lead / Test Lead to establish and develop its testing function from the ground up. The development team works across C#/.NET, AngularJS, Angular, MS SQL Server and .NET MAUI mobile applications. Testing is currently carried out primarily by developers through unit testing and ad hoc checks, creating an opportunity for an experienced QA professional to introduce a structured, consistent and scalable approach to software quality.

Initially, you will be the organisation’s first dedicated tester, taking ownership of defining testing standards, implementing processes and carrying out hands-on testing across the product portfolio. As the business grows, you will have the opportunity to develop the testing function, introduce automation and AI-assisted testing practices, and build a team around the processes you establish. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys combining practical testing with strategic input, influencing development practices and making a tangible difference to product quality.

You will work closely with developers and technology leadership to identify defects, assess quality risks and ensure issues are clearly documented, prioritised and retested once resolved. The environment is pragmatic and fast-moving, with requirements and scope sometimes evolving during development. You will need to be comfortable adapting your testing approach as projects progress, rather than relying on fully documented specifications before testing can begin.

Key Responsibilities Establish and Develop the Testing Function Assess existing development and testing practices, identifying quality risks and opportunities for improvement.

Develop and implement a practical test strategy covering test planning, test case design, functional testing, regression testing and release sign-off.

Establish repeatable testing processes that complement existing developer-led unit testing.

Identify and introduce appropriate tools for test management, defect tracking and future automation.

Define testing standards that can be adopted consistently across the development team.

Hands-On Testing and Quality Assurance Plan and execute functional, regression, integration and user acceptance testing across web and mobile applications.

Test applications developed using C#/.NET, AngularJS, Angular, SQL Server and .NET MAUI.Engage with development work early, developing and adapting test plans as requirements and scope become clearer.

Identify defects, assess their impact and provide clear, actionable feedback to developers.

Conduct retesting and regression testing to verify fixes and ensure changes have not introduced further issues.

Defect Management and Reporting Document defects in Git Hub Issues or an equivalent tracking system, providing clear reproduction steps, relevant environments and supporting evidence.

Prioritise defects according to severity, business impact and release risk.

Track defects through to resolution, ensuring developers retain responsibility for investigation and fixes.

Maintain visibility of outstanding issues and communicate quality risks to relevant stakeholders.

Identify recurring defect patterns and highlight areas where development practices could be improved.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management Build strong working relationships with developers and technology leadership to promote a quality-first culture.

Challenge existing practices constructively and encourage the adoption of consistent testing standards.

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