HM Revenue & Customs
Lead Test Engineer
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Lead Test Engineer
Lead Test Engineer
Location(s): [Office locations (see details in description)][1]
About The Job
Job Summary
Discover a purpose-driven career at HMRC. Gain insight into what it’s like to work here through employee stories on our YouTube channel and explore how you can become part of a team that shapes the future of the UK’s public services. From digital transformation to secure infrastructure, HMRC is at the heart of delivering financial support and essential services.
About HMRC Almost every UK individual and business interacts with HMRC. We collect taxes, drive economic growth, and ensure fair financial support for those in need. Our role has never been more critical—especially as we lead HMRC’s technology transformation, simplifying systems, modernising IT, and building a future-ready digital platform.
About the Chief Engineering & Platform Office (CEPO)
CEPO drives HMRC’s platform engineering evolution, consolidating applications, adopting scalable solutions, and ensuring robust, secure infrastructure. As the strategic authority for platform provision, CEPO:
- Sets the direction for digital platforms supporting HMRC’s services.
- Ensures alignment with business needs, delivery timelines, and high standards.
- Leverages partnerships with trusted tech providers to create efficient, reliable, and user-focused digital experiences.
Job Description
In this strategic Lead Test Engineer role, you will:
- Shape and embed consistent testing best practices across HMRC’s digital ecosystem.
- Advise delivery teams, influence stakeholders, and drive quality and continuous improvement.
Your Responsibilities
Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead, coach, and mentor test engineers to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with product, platform, and delivery teams to integrate testing early in agile workflows.
- Influence and engage senior stakeholders (internal and supplier) to drive quality outcomes.
Test Strategy & Implementation
- Define and implement risk-based, shift-left testing strategies across complex platforms.
- Align testing approaches with business priorities, technical architecture, and delivery timelines.
- Promote consistent standards for internal teams and third-party suppliers.
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Technical Excellence & Problem Solving
- Apply advanced testing techniques to resolve complex challenges and boost delivery confidence.
- Provide expert guidance on functional, non-functional, automation, performance, security, and accessibility testing.
- Drive innovation and efficiency in testing processes.
Tooling & Governance
- Evaluate, implement, and optimise test tooling, including AI-assisted solutions, for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).
- Establish governance frameworks for supplier-led testing activities, ensuring alignment with HMRC standards.
- Support tooling integration with platforms and services.
Quality Assurance & Risk Management
- Ensure quality is embedded from the outset by validating requirements and test coverage.
- Lead retrospectives and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance testing effectiveness.
- Produce clear, actionable insights to inform decision-making and assurance activities.
Person Specification
We seek a disciplined and technically strong test leader with hands-on expertise in:
- Platform engineering & modern automation (CI/CD, cloud-based services).
- Stakeholder management across multi-team, supplier-driven environments.
- Advocacy for DevOps and shift-left principles.
- Risk assessment, coaching, and innovation-driven practices.
Essential Criteria
✅ Strategic leadership – Proactively identify risks, challenge assumptions, and shape testing direction. ✅ Multi-team coordination – Prioritise and deliver in fast-paced Agile environments. ✅ Analytical rigor – Use data, metrics, and problem-solving to balance quality, risk, and delivery. ✅ Technical depth – Hands-on experience in:
- Automation: Python, Scala, Selenium, Playwright, Gatling.
- Security & Accessibility: ZAP, AXE.
- Orchestration & Deployment: Docker, Jenkins, AWS.
- Collaboration tools: Jira, Confluence. ✅ DevOps alignment – Design strategic test approaches while promoting continuous improvement and coaching teams.
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Location & Logistics
Key Notes:
- Applications must align with work-from preferences before submission.
- Offices in Newcastle (moving to Pilgrims Quarter) and Telford (moving to Parkside Campus) are transitional.
- Leeds applicants (current HMRC Bradford staff) may qualify for a Moves Adjustment Payment.
Benefits
- Salary: £58,541 base + £16,959 pension contribution (Civil Service Defined Benefit Scheme).
- Flexible/Hybrid Working: Up to 2 days remote work/month, tailored where applicable.
- Leave: Starts at 25 days/+1 each year up to 30 days.
- Pension: 28.97% employer contribution (Alpha scheme).
- Family-friendly & support policies: Childcare, EAP, adjustments for accessibility.
- Equipment: Laptop, software access, and professional development funds.
Selection Process
- Name-blind CV + 750-word Personal Statement (addressing the Essential Criteria above).
- Sift: Applications assessed for fit.
- Interview: Virtual, behaviour-based panel discussion.
- Disclosure: Reserve and merit lists may be created (valid for 12 months).
Attention: AI generation tool disclosures require original, truthful submissions only.
Eligibility & Security
- Nationality: UK, EEA, Commonwealth, or settled status holders.
- Check: Criminal records and baseline security clearance required.
- Health & Safety: This role does not require customer-facing English/Welsh fluency.
Diversity & Inclusion
HMRC supports: 🔹 Disability Confident Scheme (application adjustments). 🔹 Equality schemes (e.g., Veterans initiative). 🔹 Redeployment interviews for at-risk civil servants.
How to Apply: Submit via Civil Service Jobs portal with attachments. For queries, contact: ben.lovatt@hmrc.gov.uk or unitybusinessservicesrecruitmentresults@hmrc.gov.uk.
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