HM Revenue & Customs
Lead Test Engineer
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Lead Test Engineer
Lead Test Engineer
About the Role
Job Summary
Discover a challenging and fulfilling technical leadership role at HMRC, where you’ll shape testing best practices and drive digital transformation for one of the UK’s largest, most dynamic government departments.
Hear firsthand from current employees about the purpose, growth, and sense of belonging this organisation fosters—explore our YouTube channel to see the job in action.
About HMRC
Almost every UK individual and business interacts with HMRC, as we fund public services and deliver vital financial support. Our role has never been more critical, and our Chief Engineering and Platform Office (CEPO) is leading technology modernisation—simplifying legacy systems, adopting scalable solutions, and building a future-proof digital infrastructure.
CEPO ensures HMRC’s mission—efficiency, security, and user-focused digital experiences—is delivered through robust, agile software platforms. You’ll join a team guiding governance, technical strategy, and end-to-end compliance for millions of customers.
Job Description
In this role, you will strategically lead testing across HMRC’s multi-product digital ecosystem, ensuring reliable, secure, and high-quality solutions for citizens and businesses.
Your Responsibilities Will Include
Leadership & Collaboration
- Coach and mentor test engineers across programmes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
- Collaborate closely with product, platform, and delivery teams to embed testing early in Agile workflows.
- Influence and engage senior stakeholders (across both HMRC and third-party suppliers) to drive data-driven quality outcomes.
Test Strategy & Implementation
- Design and implement risk-based, shift-left testing strategies tailored to complex ecosystems.
- Align testing with business objectives, technical architecture, and delivery deadlines.
- Enforce consistent standards throughout internal teams and supplier-led testing.
Technical Excellence & Problem Solving
- Apply advanced testing techniques (functional, non-functional, and AI-assisted automation) to resolve critical technical challenges.
- Provide expertise in:
- Performance (e.g., Gatling)
- Security (e.g., ZAP)
- Accessibility (e.g., Axe)
- CI/CD integration (e.g., Jenkins, Docker)
- Identify innovations and efficiencies in testing workflows.
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Tooling & Governance
- Evaluate, implement, and optimise testing tooling, including AI-driven solutions for CI/CD pipelines.
- Establish governance frameworks for supplier-owned testing, ensuring compliance and HMRC-wide alignment.
- Support integration with platforms and services (e.g., Python/Scala, AWS, Confluence/Jira).
Quality Assurance & Risk Management
- Embed quality early by validating requirements and test coverage throughout the lifecycle.
- Lead retrospectives and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance test effectiveness and reduce delivery risk.
- Produce actionable insights and reports that inform assurance and decision-making.
Person Specification
We are seeking a disciplined, strategic test leader with:
- Hands-on technical expertise in:
- Automation (Selenium, Playwright)
- CI/CD & cloud (Jenkins, AWS, Kubernetes)
- Security and accessibility testing (ZAP, Axe)
- DevOps principles expertise, ensuring early shift-left testing alignment.
- Influence and stakeholder engagement—ability to translate technical challenges into clear, persuasive strategies.
- Proactive risk management, with a focus on test efficiency and innovation.
Location & Flexibility
HMRC operates hybrid and flexible working policies, with 60% office presence required (supporting community and collaboration). Applicants should indicate preferred locations upfront . If your site is transitional (e.g., Telford or Newcastle), you’ll be relocated as per HMRC’s long-term office strategy.
- Leeds offers: Moves Adjustment Payment for current HMRC employees based in Bradford.
- Flexible working arrangements are considered where feasible (/up to 2 days remote per week, averaged monthly).
Benefits & Support
Financial & Pensions
- Base salary: £58,541 (plus £16,959 matching pension contribution to the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension).
- Competitive retirement benefits (equal to 28.97% salary).
- 25+ days paid leave (increases by 1 day annually up to 30 days).
Work-Life Balance & Development
- Family-friendly policies and personal support.
- Free coaching & development opportunities.
Selection Process
Required Content in Your Application
✿ Name-blind CV (detailed history, technical expertise). ✿ 750-word Personal Statement: Highlight how your skills/experience meet the Essential Criteria and Person Specification.
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Next Steps
- Initial sift on your Personal Statement (high-volume roles may quick-filter candidates).
- Full sift: Panel reviews CV + statement and invites virtual interviews (via video link).
- Interview focus: Assessment of behavioural fit and applied expertise.
Merit list: A single list is created post-interview (based on location choices). Reserve list may apply for 12 months.
Eligibility & Guarantees
✔ Minimum criteria: Must meet equity-of-access rules (e.g., nationality, UK/EU residency, tier 2/5 visas with work rights valid until selection finalised). ✔ DBS checks mandatory for all candidates selected. ✔ Baseline personnel security checks (gov.uk/security).
UK Winter Artists Benefit Scheme: Eligible creatives may apply via their PAYE deduction notices.
Inclusivity & Adjustments
We commit to removing barriers to access:
- Disability Confident Scheme: Candidates with disabilities meeting minimum criteria are supported.
- Pre-employment adjustments: Please notify (ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk) if you need assistance during the process (e.g., interpreters, time extensions).
Additional Information
⚠ Criminal Record Offences:
- Any dismissed candidates with fraud/dishonesty records (5-year lookback period).
⚠ Plagiarism Warning: All written evidence must be original. Use of AI-generated text or false claims may invalidate eligibility.
Final Notes
- Establishment misconduct: Applications from candidates dismissed due to internal fraud against the government are ineligible.
- Interview recordings: Only recorded with explicit consent per UK GDPR.
📌 Before applying, verify contact information: 📩 Ben Lovatt (Technical Query): ben.lovatt@hmrc.gov.uk 📩 Recruitment Team: unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk
Civil Service Commitments
- Core values: Honesty, integrity, and merit-based selection.
- Diversity and Inclusion Plan at [Gov.uk](opens in new window) .
- Redeployment Scheme for at-risk HMRC Civil Servants.
Additional Resources
- Working for HMRC: Inspector’s Insights on GOV.UK
- NatSec checks: Mandatory [link](opens in new window).
- [Technical Support](opens in new window).
- Veterans’ Support Programme: Great Place to Work .
Created Apr 2025 (Updated as needed).
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