Overview
Lead Test Engineer role at Companies House. You will be part of the lead tester group, coaching and mentoring other testers and leading the test automation, functional and non-functional areas of software testing. You will oversee the testing journey with management responsibilities and act as an advocate for quality and behaviour driven development. This is an exciting opportunity in the Digital Services team, joining during a transformation to shape the future of the department. We use Agile methodologies and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
This role offers the chance to help the test community thrive by exploring new tools and approaches and to help the organisation deliver better services. It also provides an opportunity to contribute to the success of existing and future services provided by Companies House.
We offer a flexible and welcoming culture with a focus on wellbeing and work-life balance, including flexible working with no core hours, 30 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day, and Civil Service Pension Scheme membership with a contribution rate averaging 28%.
Responsibilities
* Lead test efforts in your squad with a focus on quality assurance, mentoring junior testers, and driving continuous improvement across the QA process.
* Identify and implement test frameworks to improve confidence in testing (we are migrating from a bespoke Selenium/Java solution to Playwright & TypeScript).
* Support the broader testing practice by contributing to cross-team releases and actively driving improvements in testing processes.
* Design and execute non-functional test cases using standard testing techniques.
* Advise on up-to-date functional testing techniques and peer-review the work of others.
* Be proficient in a range of coding languages (specialist in one or more).
* Line manage junior testers to foster growth, support their development, and build team capability.
Person specification / Qualifications
* Professional certification: Hold a relevant certification (e.g., ISTQB, ISEB) or demonstrate equivalent practical experience in functional and non-functional testing.
* Automation testing expertise: Proven ability in test automation using modern technologies, with experience in frameworks such as Java, Selenium, or Cucumber. Experience with Playwright and TypeScript is particularly desirable.
* Coaching and mentoring: Strong track record of supporting and developing Test Engineers, especially in automation skills.
* Agile experience: Certified Agile Tester or substantial hands-on experience in Agile methodologies.
* Non-functional testing: Experience in security, performance and accessibility testing.
* Has working knowledge of a minimum of 5 of the following: API, AWS, Burp, Concourse/Jenkins, Docker, JMeter, Karate/Rest API, MongoDB, Kafka, Oracle, Playwright, Postman/SOAP UI, SQL, TypeScript, Unix-based systems, Git, XML.
Salary and benefits
Salary: £41,571 plus employer contribution of £12,043 to the Civil Service Pension scheme. Find out what benefits the Civil Service Pension provides.
* 30 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays and 1 privilege day
* Enrollment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme with a contribution rate averaging 28%
* Recognition schemes including instant awards
* Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
* Great work-life balance with flexible and mobile working where available
* Proactive wellbeing program and Investors in People platinum accreditation
* Online financial support and advice
* Seasonal flu jabs
* Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave allowances
* Focus on career development and progression
* Inclusive networks, sports and social activities
* Cycle to work scheme
Next Steps
Click \'Apply Now\' to be taken to our main Civil Service Jobs advert where you can see more details about the role, benefits, and working at Companies House.
If you have questions about the role or process, please contact kjones6@companieshouse.gov.uk.
This role closes on 12 October 2025.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Information Technology, Engineering, and Other
Industries
Government Administration
Note: This description has been refined for clarity and structure while preserving the original content.
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