QA Lead

Role: QA Lead
Location: Manchester
Working arrangement: hybrid - 2 days a week in the office
Salary: up to £75k
About the role
This is a role for someone who cares about building reliable software and wants to shape how quality is handled across an entire platform.
You will take ownership of how testing is approached across a complex product set, from core systems to AI-driven features. The focus is on making quality part of everyday development, not something checked at the end.
You will still be hands-on. That means working with automation, exploring edge cases, supporting releases, and helping teams understand where risks sit and how to reduce them. You will also guide how AI-based features are tested in a way that is practical and safe.
You will work closely with engineers, product managers, and platform teams to make sure releases are steady, predictable, and based on clear evidence.
What you will do
* Set the direction for testing across the platform, from planning through to production monitoring
* Build and improve automated test coverage using tools such as C#, xUnit, Selenium and Playwright
* Support teams with test design, risk awareness, and release readiness
* Put in place clear processes for defect handling and release validation
* Help teams test both traditional systems and AI-driven features in a consistent way
What we are looking for
You are someone who understands software quality in practice, not just in theory. You have worked with automation and know where it adds value and where it does not. You are comfortable getting into the detail when needed, but also able to step back and improve how teams work overall.
You can work with engineers as a peer, guiding rather than directing. You are able to explain trade-offs clearly and make decisions based on risk and impact.
Experience with AI-based systems is useful, but what matters more is your approach to testing complex and less predictable behaviour.
What you can expect
You will have the space to shape how quality is done, not just maintain what is already there. The work will be varied, covering both established systems and newer AI features.
The team environment is collaborative, with a focus on solving problems and improving how things are done over time.
If you are looking for a role where you can influence how software is built and released, while staying close to the technical work, this is worth exploring.
We welcome diverse applicants and are dedicated to treating all applicants with dignity and respect, regardless of background