Principal Quality Engineering Lead | Data & Analytics | Azure | Financial Services | London (Hybrid)
Eligibility: Only candidates with senior-level Banking and/or Financial Services experience and enterprise Data & Analytics platform exposure will be considered.
Rate: £455 p/d Outside IR35
Required Sector Experience: Banking / Financial Services
Working Model: Hybrid – 2–3 days per week onsite in London
Must-Have Expertise: Quality Engineering leadership, Data & Analytics testing, automation strategy, non-functional testing, Azure data platforms
🚨 Strict Requirements – Please Read Before Applying - Only apply if you meet all the following:
✅ Familiar with NIST cybersecurity framework (CSF) and EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA)
✅ ETL testing with Azure Data Factory and advanced proficiency in SQL
✅ Experienced in advanced AI/ML approaches for improving quality efficiency
✅ Senior QE / QA leadership experience within Banking or Financial Services
✅ Proven ownership of enterprise quality strategy (not just delivery)
✅ Strong experience across Data & Analytics platforms
✅ Hands-on background in automation, performance, and non-functional testing
✅ Experience embedding quality into Agile / DevOps at scale
✅ Comfortable operating at capability leadership and stakeholder level
✅ Able to be hands-on when required, but primarily operating strategically
🚨 If you do not tick every box above, this role is not the right fit.
The Opportunity
Optimal have partnered with a major financial services organisation undergoing significant transformation across its Data & Analytics capability.
They are seeking a Principal Quality Engineering Lead to define, govern, and continuously improve quality across data platforms consumed by technology teams and the wider business.
This is a capability-level leadership role, responsible for setting standards, strategy, tooling, and assurance, while remaining hands-on where required.
Core Focus Areas
Quality Strategy & Capability Leadership
• Define and own the end-to-end Quality Engineering strategy for Data & Analytics
• Embed quality across functional and non-functional domains
• Ensure predictable outcomes and reduction of defects into live environments
• Act as a key member of the Capability Leadership team
Automation, Performance & Non-Functional Assurance
• Drive adoption of automation-first testing strategies
• Oversee performance, resilience, and scalability testing
• Champion modern QE approaches including shift-left / shift-right
• Identify and introduce tools, frameworks, and emerging technologies to maximise ROI
Data & Analytics Platform Quality
• Lead testing strategy for enterprise data platforms
• Oversee ETL testing, data validation, and quality controls
• Strong understanding of data models, data pipelines, and reporting layers
• Ensure quality across dashboards, reports, and semantic models
Governance, Risk & Stakeholder Management
• Establish and govern QA standards, policies, and assurance processes
• Review and approve test strategies, plans, and outcomes
• Perform risk assessments covering functional and non-functional threats
• Communicate quality metrics, risks, and progress to senior stakeholders
Delivery Oversight & Operational Management
• Oversee test planning and execution across multiple squads
• Manage QA resourcing, suppliers, and operational budget
• Ensure defects are managed, prioritised, and resolved consistently
• Align QA activities with ITSM processes and service continuity expectations
Ideal Background
• Senior QE / QA leadership experience in banking or regulated environments
• Strong background in Data & Analytics testing
• Experience with Azure data ecosystem (Fabric, Synapse, Databricks, ADLS)
• Proven expertise in automation, performance, and resilience testing
• Comfortable operating across engineering, DevOps, architecture, and leadership teams
• Strong understanding of Agile delivery and enterprise governance
• ISTQB Advanced, ITIL, or equivalent experience highly desirable
Working Model
Hybrid: 2–3 days per week onsite in London
Senior, collaborative technology function with a strong focus on quality, resilience, and predictable delivery at scale.
If this opportunity aligns with your background and you meet all the criteria above, reach out to Optimal for an immediate and confidential conversation.