> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2019657-lead-software-engineer-in-test](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2019657-lead-software-engineer-in-test). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Software Engineer in Test - **Company:** Ocho People - **Location:** Belfast, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** £60,000.0 - £75,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), JavaScript (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Agile Methodology, Artificial Intelligence, Automation of Tests, Unit Testing, Code Review, Distributed Systems, Apache JMeter, Load Testing, Scaled Agile Framework, Selenium, Strategies of Testing, Performance Testing, Delivery Pipeline, Cypress (Programming Language), Gitlab, Testcomplete, Playwright, Teamcity, Cucumber (Software), Selenium Webdriver, GPT, SDET, Jenkins, Programming Languages - **Published:** August 11, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.adzuna.co.uk/jobs/details/5835920723 ## About the Role If you are a senior QA engineer who wants to work somewhere where your work genuinely matters, where quality engineering is taken seriously at every level, and where the organisation around you has the scale and ambition to match your ability, this is worth your attention., * Extensive experience in QA automation within Agile environments * Strong automation experience using Selenium, Cypress, Playwright or TestComplete * Proficiency in Java, JavaScript or similar programming and scripting languages * Proven ability to design and maintain scalable automation frameworks, ideally with Playwright or WebDriverIO * Experience integrating automation within CI and CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab, TeamCity or similar * Hands on experience with BDD frameworks such as Cucumber * Experience using AI tools to design and optimise test automation * Strong experience in API, functional and end to end testing * Working knowledge of non functional testing including performance, load and stress testing with K6 or JMeter * Experience working in Agile or SAFe environments with distributed teams ## Description This is a Lead SDET position at the heart of a high performing Agile engineering team. You will lead on test strategy, own automation frameworks and drive quality from the earliest stages of development through to production. The role is genuinely senior in scope, not just in title. What makes this role stand out for your career is threefold. First, AI assisted testing is a core expectation here, not a future aspiration. You will be working with tools like Copilot, ChatGPT and Amazon Q day to day, building and refining automation workflows in ways that most QA engineers are still reading about. That experience will be invaluable and transferable. Second, the mentoring remit is real. You will be growing the QA capability of the engineers around you, which means your influence extends well beyond your own output. Third, the complexity of the systems you will be testing is significant. Distributed, cloud native platforms processing global transaction volumes. That kind of experience at this depth is rare and it shows on a CV. The stack is Playwright, BDD with Cucumber, CI and CD pipeline integration across Jenkins and GitLab, performance and load testing with K6 and JMeter, and API and end to end testing across complex distributed systems. You will collaborate with global BA, Development and QA teams and contribute to the evolution of scalable, self healing automation frameworks., * Lead test strategy across the Agile team, balancing manual, automated and performance testing with a strong shift left and API first emphasis * Design, develop and maintain automated and functional tests within CI and CD pipelines * Build and maintain scalable, self healing automation frameworks using Playwright or WebDriverIO * Leverage AI tools including Copilot, ChatGPT and Amazon Q to optimise testing efficiency and automation workflows * Champion quality across the Agile team, promoting best practices including unit testing and code reviews * Identify performance bottlenecks and provide actionable recommendations * Mentor and coach team members to elevate QA standards across the engineering function * Collaborate with global BA, Development and QA teams to design and coordinate effective test strategies ## Related Videos - [ Evaluating AI models for code comprehension](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1462-evaluating-ai-models-for-code-comprehension) - [WeAreDevelopers LIVE - Modern DevOps for IoT Devices and More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1805-wearedevelopers-live-modern-devops-for-iot-devices-and-more) - [Continuous testing - run automated tests for every change!](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/190-continuous-testing-run-automated-tests-for-every-change) - [Enabling automated 1-click customer deployments with built-in quality and security](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/83-enabling-automated-1-click-customer-deployments-with-built-in-quality-and-security) - [Speak, Code, Deploy: Transforming Developer Experience with Voice Commands](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1159-speak-code-deploy-transforming-developer-experience-with-voice-commands) - [Testing .NET applications a Tool box for every developer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/704-testing-net-applications-a-tool-box-for-every-developer) ## Related Articles - [The 8 Best Code Testing Tools](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/402-the-8-best-code-testing-tools) - [The 12 Best Jobs for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/401-the-12-best-jobs-for-software-engineers) - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline) - [Where To Find Software Engineering Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/396-where-to-find-software-engineering-jobs) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated)