Exclusive Role! Lead QA Engineer- Automation-Focused Belfast (Hybrid), up to £80,000! Are you ready to shape the future of QA in a growing engineering team? We're partnering with our client looking for a Lead QA Engineer to drive automation strategy, mentor an established team, and build out a modern testing roadmap with plenty of influence and ownership from day one. This is a brand-new role, ideal for someone who's passionate about testing, experienced in automation, and excited to leave their mark on both strategy and execution. The Opportunity: Define a comprehensive test strategy Set priorities for the testing roadmap Introduce and scale automated testing, especially on the backend Review and evolve the current TypeScript-based test framework and tools Influence team structure and long-term QA vision Collaborate with architects and leadership on QA maturity and scale-up planning Provide mentorship What We're Looking For: Strong background in test automation Experience building or scaling test frameworks and strategies Confident mentoring others and influencing QA direction Comfortable working across both frontend and backend testing Someone who can hit the ground running and enjoys taking ownership Why Join? You'll have real influence, this is your chance to put your stamp on the QA function Clear career progression, whether you're aiming for Principal QA or a management pathway The team is open, respectful, and genuinely excited to improve Engineering leadership is open to ideas, feedback, and change A rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up in an established and successful business To discuss this opportunity confidentially, contact Rachel McAllister, Specialist Recruitment Consultant at MCS Group, at or email. Even if this position isn't a perfect fit, we may have other roles that match your skills. Visit MCS Group to explore a wide range of current and exclusive. Skills: Lead Software Tester QA Automation Cypress Typescript Quality Assurance