Lead Test Engineer
Posted 6 days ago by InvitISE Ltd
£640 Per day
Inside
Onsite
Manchester Area, United Kingdom
Summary: The Lead Test Engineer role involves leading a transformation from monolithic systems to distributed microservices architecture for a public sector client. The position requires a hands-on technical leader with expertise in Java and automation, responsible for designing and implementing test strategies and driving automation efforts. The role demands significant office attendance and requires SC clearance.
Key Responsibilities:
- Drive and support transformation from monolithic to distributed microservices architectures in a Java environment.
- Design and implement end-to-end test strategies for microservices environments.
- Conduct test automation using Java, Selenium, and Rest Assured across various test levels.
- Perform API testing, contract testing, and asynchronous messaging including Kafka.
- Manage CI/CD pipelines and work with Spring Boot-based application environments.
- Utilize contract testing tools such as Pactflow or Spring Cloud Contract.
- Conduct performance testing using tools like Gatling or K6.
- Work with cloud environments, specifically AWS, and non-relational databases like MongoDB.
- Influence stakeholders and coach engineers across multiple teams at a Lead or Principal level.
- Utilize tools such as Serenity BDD, Playwright, Docker, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, and observability tools like Grafana, Prometheus, or Splunk.
Key Skills:
- Hands-on experience with Java and automation-first mindset.
- Proven experience in transforming monolithic to microservices architectures.
- Expertise in designing end-to-end test strategies.
- Experience with test automation frameworks like Selenium and Rest Assured.
- Knowledge of API testing and contract testing.
- Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and Spring Boot.
- Experience with performance testing tools such as Gatling or K6.
- Proficiency in AWS and non-relational databases like MongoDB.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and coach engineers.
- Familiarity with Serenity BDD, Playwright, Docker, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, Grafana, Prometheus, or Splunk is desirable.
Salary (Rate): £640 daily
City: Manchester
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: on-site
IR35 Status: inside IR35
Seniority Level: Senior
Industry: IT
We're looking for a Lead Test Engineer for our public sector client with locations across Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle on an initial 12-month contract, paying up to £640 per day (Inside IR35). This role requires 60% office attendance per week. The successful Lead Test Engineer will be a hands-on technical leader with a genuine automation-first mindset, comfortable both setting direction and rolling up their sleeves to deliver. A key part of this role is actively supporting and driving a large-scale transformation from monolithic systems to distributed microservices architecture, so direct experience of this journey in a Java environment is essential, not just familiarity with microservices in isolation. You will need proven experience working with the following:
- Hands-on experience driving or supporting transformation from monolithic to distributed microservices architectures, specifically in Java
- Designing and implementing end-to-end test strategies for microservices environments
- Test automation using Java, Selenium and Rest Assured across unit, integration, contract, system and end-to-end test levels
- API testing, contract testing and asynchronous messaging including Kafka
- CI/CD pipelines and Spring Boot-based application environments
- Contract testing tools such as Pactflow or Spring Cloud Contract
- Performance testing using tools such as Gatling or K6
- Cloud environments, specifically AWS
- Non-relational databases including MongoDB
- Operating at Lead or Principal level, influencing stakeholders and coaching engineers across multiple teams
Experience with Serenity BDD, Playwright, Docker, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins and observability tools such as Grafana, Prometheus or Splunk would be highly desirable. You will need to hold or be able to pass SC clearance for this role. Interested? Please apply below. Lead Test Engineer, Principal SDET, Test Automation, Java, Selenium, Rest Assured, API Testing, Contract Testing, Pactflow, Kafka, Microservices, Monolith to Microservices, Architecture Transformation, CI/CD, AWS, Serenity BDD, Playwright, Performance Testing, Gatling, K6, MongoDB, Public Sector, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, SC Clearance