Senior Test Quality Engineering Manager

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Head of Technology with accountability of the Payments testing domain. You will define how quality is embedded into the system delivery lifecycle how test execution risk is surfaced and managed and inject thought leadership with modern Quality Engineering practices at scale.

Whats the Role:

This role owns the quality system for Payments not just test execution.

As a Senior Test Quality Manager you will be accountable for programlevel testing outcomes test governance and readiness and for transforming testing from an endofbuild control into an embedded Quality Engineeringled capability across the build and delivery lifecycle.

You will act as the quality authority for Payments governing vendor testing outcomes leading testing transformation and ensuring confidence to release is earned through strong discipline early quality signals and robust governance.

The Role:

Program Test Execution Discipline & Governance

• Accountable for endtoend program testing outcomes including those delivered by strategic vendor partners.
• Own and enforce test governance including stage gates entry/exit criteria signoffs and test discipline across multiple delivery streams.
• Set clear standards and expectations for System Test Integration Test SVP OAT and Regression.
• Provide quality risk visibility readiness assessments and confidencetorelease recommendations to senior technology and business stakeholders.
• Act as the final escalation point for quality risk with the mandate to challenge delivery where standards or risk thresholds are not met.

Transform Testing from EndofBuild Control to Embedded Quality

• You will be relied upon for your experience in leading the design and implementation of a testing transformation shifting from endofbuild quality checking to quality embedded within delivery and build teams.
• Define and evolve the Quality Engineering operating model for Payments including how quality is:
  • designed & engineered in early
  • measured through meaningful signals
  • defended through governance
• Reduce reliance on latestage testing by driving shiftleft practices clearer quality signals and stronger alignment with engineering workflows.
• Govern vendor testing outcomes to ensure they align to the target Quality Engineering model and support sustainable quality outcomes

People Leadership & Capability Uplift

• Lead a small internal Quality Engineering pod providing direction prioritisation and technical leadership.
• Build a QE capability.
• Steer a blended delivery model across permanent staff and vendor partners.
• Champion a culture of engineeringled quality accountability and continuous improvement across the Payments domain.

What do I need

Essential Experience

• Demonstrated ownership of programlevel test execution discipline and governance within complex multistream delivery environments.
• Proven experience leading the transformation of testing into Quality Engineering at an operatingmodel and governance level (not just tooling or automation uplift).
• Strong background in test governance quality strategy and riskbased quality management.
• Experience governing partnerled testing models
• Sufficient technical lineage in Quality Engineering to credibly challenge automation approaches quality signals and CI/CD alignment (handson coding is not required but technical authority is).

Technical & QE Capability

• Strong understanding of Quality Engineering principles automation strategies API testing and modern engineering practices.
• Experience defining QE standards frameworks test data strategies and environment models.
• Strong grounding in CI/CD observability and quality signal design.
• Ability to translate technical quality insights into businessrelevant risk and confidence narratives.

Leadership & Seniority

• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams including onshore/offshore and vendor resources.
• Credibility to influence delivery functions
• Experience operating at a senior level reporting into HeadofTechnology or equivalent leadership roles.
• Proven capability driving organisationwide change uplift programs and operatingmodel transitions.