QAt Lead

Job title: QAT Lead

Location: Edinburgh / Hybrid

Role type: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

**Who are 2i?**

We are a leading software testing and quality assurance consultancy. Since our inception in 2005, we have matured into a thought-leading business that can, and does, support organisations of any sector or size. We have over 200 colleagues across the UK, we work hybrid and have offices across Edinburgh (our Head Office), Glasgow, the Midlands and London.

We provide a combination of high-level consultancy services that identify software delivery risks for clients across different sectors and size. We implement the processes, tools and skills to deliver projects that focus on providing the client with certainty of delivery.

**What will your day job look like?**

The QAT Lead role is a pivotal role here at 2i, responsible for leading QAT Teams and ensuring exemplary test delivery for clients. In this capacity, the QAT Lead holds accountability for both the work and line management of QAT team members. Moreover, the role entails spearheading initiatives, offering guidance and coaching, setting and upholding high standards, and cultivating an environment conducive to continuous improvement and innovation within the team.

**Your Responsibilities**
- Lead the testing function in line with the Test Framework, Test Policy and Test Strategy.
- Lead a dedicated QAT team or as work as an effective member of a cross-functional team.
- Actively and enthusiastically participate in Agile ceremonies, including Stand Ups, Retrospectives and Sprint Planning.
- Define, walkthrough and acquire appropriate approvals of the Test Plans for test activities to implement the Test Strategy and deliver the test requirements.
- Define, walkthrough and acquire appropriate approvals of the Test Completion Reports for test activities to summarise the outcome of testing.
- Promote a culture of collective responsibility for quality and testability in design.
- Allocation and oversight of testing tasks to QAT team members.
- Undertake line management responsibility for Junior QAT Analysts and QAT Analysts, including performing 1:1s, appraisals, personal development plans and performance management where required.
- Coaching and mentoring the QAT team in test approach, test techniques, domain knowledge, skills and behaviours/competencies required for these roles.
- Provide input to test estimation for delivery workstreams.
- Produce regular test progress and status reporting to ensure testing is visible and transparent.
- Lead defect triage calls and implement the defect management process for delivery workstreams.
- Lead Quality Gate decision meetings to ensure test activities commence with appropriate approvals and the risk position is articulated and understood.
- Embrace change and encourage others to embrace a culture of continuous improvement and change within the delivery workstreams.
- Review CVs and conduct interviews for recruitment of QAT vacancies.

**About You**
- Experience working closely with the Development Team, i.e. co-location, multi-role team based development lifecycle
- Experience in defining/implementing improvements to products in order to improve testability, maintainability and reliability
- Experience in Session Based Test Management for Exploratory Testing, Context Driven Testing and Risk Based Testing and the ability to drive improvements in this area.
- A thorough understanding of complex multi-tier systems architecture
- Experience working with clients to understand quality objectives and business drivers for change to inform test plans and implementation
- Experience defining successful test processes and approaches that lead to better quality
- Experience leading teams to deliver test requirements within cost, scope and quality thresholds
- Experience of DevOps and continuous testing approaches and principles
- Understanding of the automation pyramid and strong experience identifying potential test execution and process automation opportunities
- Excellent knowledge of the differences between on premise and cloud hosted architectures and testing considerations of each type of architecture

**What if you are a partial fit?**

We value team players who are keen to develop and play their part in an ambitious and growing company. We can offer meaningful learning and development opportunities to match ambition and align skills more closely with the job description.

**What is it like to work for us?**

We are a professional business, so we treat people as professionals and give them the autonomy to do their job. If something isn't working tell us; we empower our people to drive change.

Our core values are: inclusivity, learning, openness and sharing and we nurture these in our day-to-day.

We are passionate about Diversity and Inclusion. We celebrate difference and believe it is key to our success.

**What we offer you**
- We unlock our people's full potential._ We do this by fostering trust, inves