Test Assurance Lead

We are Smart DCC
Together we're building a greener tomorrow

Connecting every home and business to a single, secure smart meter network is a huge undertaking. So you can imagine the scale - and variety - and opportunities for the people who'll help us do it.

The role

Test Assurance Lead with Smart DCC

Based in Manchester

Competitive Salary plus benefits

Role

We’re looking for a Test Delivery Lead in the DCC Testing Services team under the CTO area who is responsible for overseeing, support and coordination of the testing undertaken by Customers in the User Integration testing environment they seek to integrate their devices and systems with the central DCC systems.

Managing and working with service providers and service users to establish what testing is required and how it will be assessed and reported against the DCC & Smart Energy Code (SEC) requirements.

Assuring that DCC systems, including those of our service providers, have been thoroughly tested and are ready for live operation, as they integrate their devices and systems with the central DCC systems in support of their rollout plans following government 2020 direction.

Establishing and administering the processes by which prospective service users prove they can interface with the DCC service.

Providing facilities for customers, meter manufacturers and other categories of test participants to test the interaction of their meters and back-office systems against the DCC service.

Delivery of analytical information and reports to ensure regulatory obligation is being met by DCC and in support of any decisions made for DCC new services or releases to be deployed in UIT environment. Collate and produce information on the progress and test issues encountered by Customers, ensuring you are knowledgeable on the issues (on a regular and ad hoc basis).

What will you be doing?
- Define the requirements for testing within the context of each release / delivery.
- Support the Test Delivery Manager in development and approval of test governance documentation including Test Approach Documents
- Supporting the test analyst effort for any given engagement
- Producing deliverables plan to bring a new product to customers for Testing.
- Producing a training plan to train Testing Services Team members to support customers with new product.
- Transition and management of the system changes and enhancements (current status and future developments) promoted from the DCC Programme/CTO to Testing Services: customers and internal members.
- Oversight over new releases and enhancements to the solution acting as a gatekeeper for the platform following gating principles established in DCC.
- Attendance at SI Operations Board and being a key stakeholder to ensure Testing Services and delivery of a new product to customers is protected so they have a release that is of quality to test.
- Manage the development of all testing products required by Service Users and DCC Testing Services team members and the transition of these into operational use.
- Scheduling and delivery of ongoing activities being undertaken by the Test Delivery team.
- Support to the Test Delivery Manager in planning how to meet future mandatory and Device & System User testing needs.
- Preparation and presentation of materials explaining any new processes/documents required to effect transition within Testing Services.
- Production and management of the process documents governing Test Delivery activity.

What are we looking for?
- Customer management - Strong stakeholder management skills and hands on in driving and resolving issues related to customers.
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of test artefacts, test execution, test reporting and test issue resolution. Has awareness of Quality Assurance methodology.
- Testing expert - Experience in managing or leading testing activities - demonstrates a clear understanding of test artefacts, test execution, test reporting and test issue resolution.
- Expert in Delivery and Transition - for effective transition of releases from projects to implementation into Testing Services Team to rollout delivery of new release to customers.
- strong understanding of the DUIS specification
- understanding of the GBCS specification
- strong understanding of how Service Reference Variants are used by DCC Users in creating business sequences.
- IT background
- Experience of testing of components of the smart metering solution or a similarly complex communications enabled system.
- Knowledge of project management and overall development lifecycle.
- Process Mapping and Planning.
- Ability to report on progress internally and to wider stakeholders externally.
- Strong communications skills - written and verbal - with an ability to explain complex technical requirements and review the work of others.
- Approachable, with strong interpersonal skills, and a desire to deliver a good customer service to service users - experienced and capable in addressing business throug