> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/82884-lead-sdet](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/82884-lead-sdet). 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 SDET - **Company:** Merlin Entertainments - **Location:** London, UK - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** JavaScript (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Amazon Web Services, Automation of Tests, Microsoft Azure, Continuous Integration, Github, Load Testing, Next.js, Software Engineering, Systems Integration, Strategies of Testing, TypeScript, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Web Application Frameworks, Web Platforms, Web Usability, Datadog, Circleci, Cloud Platform System, Performance Testing, Postman, ReactJS, Delivery Pipeline, Grafana, Cypress (Programming Language), Gatling, ReadyAPI, Playwright, Front End Software Development, Dynatrace, SDET, Jenkins - **Published:** May 24, 2026 - **Apply:** https://uk.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=6c730a5d564952e5 ## About the Role * 6+ years of experience in SDET, Software Engineering in Test, or Quality Engineering roles, with at least 2 years in a lead or principal capacity. * Hands-on expertise with modern test automation frameworks, particularly Playwright or Cypress, with strong proficiency in TypeScript or JavaScript. * Proven experience designing and scaling test automation across UI, API, and integration layers for modern frontend frameworks such as React or Next.js. * Demonstrable experience integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines (e.g. GitHub Actions, CircleCI, or Jenkins) within cloud environments such as AWS, GCP, or Azure. * Experience with API testing tools such as Postman, RestAssured, or Pact, including contract testing and consumer-driven contract strategies. * Practical experience with performance and load testing tools such as k6, Gatling, or Artillery, including integration into CI pipelines and interpretation of results against SLOs. * Hands-on experience with observability and monitoring platforms such as Datadog, Dynatrace, or Grafana, including synthetic monitoring, alerting, and production quality insights. * Experience defining and enforcing Core Web Vitals performance budgets and working with teams to improve Lighthouse scores and real-user metrics. * Track record of establishing or maturing quality engineering functions, including the introduction of quality metrics, dashboards, and engineering-wide quality standards. * Familiarity with accessibility testing standards (WCAG 2.1/2.2) and tools such as axe-core or Deque Axe, with experience embedding accessibility checks into automated pipelines. * Experience in e-commerce, ticketing, or high-traffic consumer digital platforms, with an understanding of the quality implications of booking and payments journeys, is highly desirable. ## Description We're hiring a Lead SDET to lead quality engineering across Merlin Technology, driving automation strategy and embedding quality throughout the software development lifecycle. You will work across engineering, product, and platform teams to scale test automation, integrate quality into CI/CD, improve reliability and performance, and coach teams on engineering best practice., * Lead and evolve an automation-first test strategy aligned to engineering and business goals. * Build and scale automated testing across UI, API, and integration layers. * Embed quality early in the software development lifecycle through shift-left testing and strong engineering practices. * Own and improve test frameworks to ensure they are modern, maintainable, and effective. * Integrate automated and performance testing into CI/CD pipelines to support fast, reliable releases. * Use observability, monitoring, and telemetry to identify issues and improve user journeys. * Set and drive standards for performance, reliability, and frontend quality. * Coach engineers and promote a culture of shared quality ownership across teams. * Partner with engineering, product, and platform teams to improve testability and prevent defects. * Use metrics, continuous improvement, and secure testing practices to raise overall quality standards. ## Related Videos - [Measure and improve frontend performance by using test automation](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/719-measure-and-improve-frontend-performance-by-using-test-automation) - [The Road to MLOps: How Verivox Transitioned to AWS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1050-the-road-to-mlops-how-verivox-transitioned-to-aws) - [Innovating Developer Tools with AI: Insights from GitHub Next](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1268-innovating-developer-tools-with-ai-insights-from-github-next) - [Watch Tests Go Brrrr! : Getting Started with Cypress in ReactJS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/282-watch-tests-go-brrrr-getting-started-with-cypress-in-reactjs) - [Our GitOps approach for deploying an Identity Provider and an API Gateway in a SaaS company](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/776-our-gitops-approach-for-deploying-an-identity-provider-and-an-api-gateway-in-a-saas-company) - [Bringing AI Model Testing and Prompt Management to Your Codebase with GitHub Models](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1536-bringing-ai-model-testing-and-prompt-management-to-your-codebase-with-github-models) ## Related Articles - [The 8 Best Code Testing Tools](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/402-the-8-best-code-testing-tools) - [Dev Digest 133 - Back to Front](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/474-dev-digest-133-back-to-front) - [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers) - [Dev Digest 119 - ❤️ === ❤️](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/454-dev-digest-119) - [Dev Digest 113 - Debugging above the cloud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/422-dev-digest-113-debugging-above-the-cloud) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)