Lead Test Engineer

AQA – Lead Test Engineer (Contract)

Company: AQA – the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, marking over 10million exam papers each year.

Location:

Manchester. Salary: £57,400 to £64,700. Working arrangements:
Hybrid – 2 days a week in office.

As a Lead Test Engineer you will combine hands‑on technical expertise with leadership to embed quality and automation into all AQA software products. You will mentor peers, shape automation strategy, and drive the adoption of modern testing practices across multiple products.

• Design, develop and maintain automated test frameworks using C#, Spec Flow, Playwright and other modern testing tools.
• Provide technical leadership in automation, API testing and quality engineering to agile delivery teams, helping them make informed decisions on quality and risk.
• Drive continuous improvement in automation practices, mentor colleagues and embed a culture of quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Build strong relationships with developers, analysts and product teams to ensure solutions are secure, scalable and fit for purpose.
• Assist in the transition to cloud‑based technologies and an agile delivery model, continuously improving the technology stack for changing business needs.

• Degree level qualification in Software Engineering or equivalent, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong commercial experience developing automated tests and frameworks in C#/.NET environments.
• Experience with Playwright, Selenium, Spec Flow, Gherkin and other modern test automation frameworks.
• Experience in API testing, including design and execution of automated API tests within development pipelines.
• Deep understanding of Agile software delivery, testing methodologies, quality engineering principles and test‑automation best practices.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to explain technical concepts to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Awareness of AI tools and their application to test preparation and productivity.

• Opportunity to lead automation engineering practices and influence technical direction across multiple products.
• Exposure to modern cloud technologies, continuous delivery pipelines and evolving development practices.
• Flexible working arrangements that support work‑life balance.
• Collaborative, supportive and inclusive team culture.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities to grow technical and leadership skills.

At AQA we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

If you require reasonable adjustments for the application, interview or prospective job, contact Faye Harrison (she/her) at  or .

Permanent and fixed‑term opportunities: