Strategy Test Manager - Bracknell, Berkshire ( 3 days a week office based) £600 per day inside IR35 via Umbrella company (12 months) Role: "Hands on" Test Manager responsible for defining and driving the overall Test Strategy, ensuring high-quality delivery of connected services and associated software. This role provides leadership and oversight across all test activities, from planning through execution to sign-off, with accountability for ensuring that solutions are robust, reliable, and fit for purpose. Must have in-depth Test strategy experience. The Test Manager will be hands-on, working at the critical intersection of software quality, system integration, and architectural integrity. Qualifications, skills and experience required: Mandatory High-level in-depth Test strategy management experience. Proven experience as a hands on Test Manager i n complex software development environments, ideally within connected services or related domains. Test experience of Multi-System Architecture API Test coverage experience Writing Test Plans Experience in running SAP test cycles Experience in managing people ie. developers, 3rd party suppliers, UAT Experience in test automation tools, frameworks, and practices. Strong understanding of software development life cycles (Agile and Waterfall) and integration into test management practices. Demonstrable experience in defining and implementing test strategies, frameworks, and governance. Understanding of API technologies and integration patterns (synchronous, asynchronous, event-driven) with hands-on experience testing distributed systems and microservices architectures. Knowledge of resilience patterns with ability to design and execute resilience testing scenarios. Working knowledge of OWASP standards, common security vulnerabilities, and experience conducting or coordinating security testing including SAST, DAST, and penetration testing. Understanding of authentication and authorization frameworks (OAuth, JWT, SAML) and familiarity with secure coding practices and threat modelling Ability to produce clear, concise, and high-quality test documentation for both technical and business stakeholders. Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate teams, vendors, and stakeholders in a matrixed environment. Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to explain technical issues to non-technical audiences. Confidence to challenge decisions and advocate for quality without being adversarial, with proven ability to push back on schedule pressure when quality standards are not met. Proactive issue, risk, and conflict management with strong decision-making capabilities. Solid understanding of IT infrastructure, application development, and systems integration. Strategy Test Manager - Bracknell, Berkshire (3 days a week office based)