Lead Test Engineer (Cloud/AWS)

Are You a Hands-On Lead Test Engineer Passionate About AWS Cloud?

Join an award-winning team at the Home Office and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of test engineering. We’re looking for an experienced Lead Test Engineer to set the strategic direction for our test engineering approach, driving innovation, and embedding DevSecOps best practices into our portfolio’s cutting-edge AWS cloud platform.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead test engineering for the Police and Public Protection Technology (PPPT) portfolio, which leverages modern digital technologies to build and scale advanced cloud platforms.

Our Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) team has earned global recognition, including:

🏆Testing Team of the Year 2024 at the European Software Testing Awards.

🌍 Achieving TMMi Level 5 Certification with the highest global score.

What You’ll Do

• Shape Strategy: Define the team’s test engineering direction, implementing innovative approaches for a strategic AWS-based cloud platform that prioritises security, scalability, and efficiency.
• Lead and Coach: Manage and mentor a team of around 10 test engineers, solving technical challenges, driving convergence, and fostering a data-driven approach to test engineering.
• Integrate Testing by Design: Collaborate with engineering and delivery teams to embed Infrastructure as Code (IaC) test engineering frameworks and implement all levels of a modern test pyramid within CI/CD pipelines.
• Optimise Infrastructure: Manage test infrastructure, orchestrating distributed and scalable tests using containers and cloud technologies while optimising costs.
• Promote AWS Best Practices: Advocate for AWS best practices across security, IAM, code quality, accessibility, and observability.
• Build Community: Actively participate in the QAT Test Engineering community and contribute to recruitment efforts to grow our talent pool.

What You’ll Bring

• Advanced Programming Skills: Proficiency in Java and Python for developing secure, reusable, and maintainable automated tests. Knowledge of threading, resource management, and scripting with Bash or PowerShell.
• Testing Tools Expertise: Experience with tools like Terratest, Pytest, Selenium, RestAssured, Serenity BDD, and build tools such as Maven or Gradle. Solid understanding of IaC, UI, and API testing protocols.
• Framework Design: Familiarity with test design patterns, SOLID principles, coding standards, and the use of unit test frameworks (PyUnit, JUnit) and assertion libraries.
• CI/CD and Containerisation: Extensive experience with CI/CD tools, Docker, and Kubernetes, with a strong grasp of release pipeline concepts.
• Performance Engineering: Ability to engage with performance engineers, identify resilience bottlenecks, and interpret performance reports effectively.

Technologies You’ll Work With

At the Home Office, we embrace a diverse range of tools and technologies, including:

• Cloud: AWS (primary) and Azure.
• Test Frameworks: Terratest, Pytest, Serenity BDD, Playwright, and bespoke solutions.
• DevOps Tools: AWS LZA, GitLab, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform.
• Performance Testing: Locust, JMeter.
• Other Tools: AWS FIS, Chekov, ZAP, SonarQube.
• Monitoring & Observability: ELK, Grafana, Prometheus, Dynatrace

Why Join Us?

• Exceptional pension: Employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Generous leave: 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service), 8 public holidays, and 1 day for the King’s Birthday.
• Flexible working: Options include full-time, part-time, compressed hours, job sharing, and a hybrid model (minimum 60% on-site).
• Learning and development: Access to training, technical accreditations, and funded qualifications (subject to approval).
• Recognition and inclusion: A culture that champions diversity, enhanced parental leave schemes, annual bonuses, and recognition awards.

Learn more about our benefits: Benefits - Home Office Careers

Additional Information

This role requires SC clearance. To meet national security vetting requirements, you must typically have been resident in the UK for at least five years.

Ready to lead, innovate, and make an impact? Click "Apply" to explore the full job description and salary details.