Lead Automation Tester (SC Cleared) – Contract | Outside IR35
Location: Somerset, England (1–2 days onsite per week)
Rate: £Depending on Experience (Outside IR35)
Contract Length: 6 months +
Start Date: ASAP
Clearance: Active SC Clearance (ESSENTIAL)


The Opportunity
We’re looking for an experienced Lead Automation Tester / Test Lead to drive a modern, outcome-focused quality engineering strategy within Azure-hosted enterprise systems in a secure, regulated UK environment.


Key Responsibilities
*Lead a risk-based automation strategy across functional, integration, and performance testing
*Align quality practices to DORA metrics (Lead Time, Deployment Frequency, Change Failure Rate, MTTR)
*Design scalable automation frameworks using Playwright and K6
*Embed fast, reliable automation into Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines
*Promote test pyramid best practices and minimise brittle UI automation
*Define meaningful quality metrics beyond code coverage
*Drive continuous improvement through data-driven insights


Required Experience
*Proven experience leading automation strategy in enterprise environments
*Strong knowledge of modern test automation principles (CI-first, test pyramid, contract testing)
*Hands-on experience with Playwright and K6
*Strong experience with Azure DevOps CI/CD
*Clear understanding of DORA metrics
*Experience working in secure or regulated environments
*Active SC Clearance (mandatory)


Why Join?
*High-impact role on critical enterprise platforms
*Opportunity to shape quality strategy and delivery outcomes
*Work alongside mature engineering and DevOps teams
*Long-term, stable programme in a regulated environment


Apply now or reach out directly to discuss further – interviews happening immediately.