Test Automation Lead

N Consulting Limited; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A tech consultancy is looking for a Lead Automation Test Architect in Sheffield. This role requires strong expertise in Identity and Access Management (IAM) and significant experience in automation framework development. Candidates should have a solid foundation in programming languages such as Java and Python, and a good understanding of cloud testing methodologies. The successful individual will lead a team, develop testing strategies, and engage with various stakeholders to ensure quality delivery.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in lead automation role with coding experience.
• Strong expertise in Identity and Access Management.
• Experience in creating test strategies within Agile methodology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain automated test frameworks.
• Lead and mentor engineers in the team.
• Create testing strategies focusing on automation first.

Skills

Identity and Access Management

Automation frameworks

Java

Python

Typescript

API testing

DevOps

Cloud testing (GCP)

Tools

Postman

JIRA

Job description

LocationSheffield, United Kingdom# Test Automation Lead at N Consulting LtdLocationSheffield, United KingdomSalary£250 - £300 /dayJob TypeContractDate PostedDecember 23rd, 2025Apply NowJob Title: Lead Automation Test Architect Job Location: Sheffield Work Mode: HybridRole SummaryWe are looking for a highly skilled Lead Automation Test Architect with strong expertise Identity and Access management (IAM), skilled in identity orchestration, API testing, data ingestion and transformation, and event-driven (Pub/Sub) architectures. This role focuses on testing secure, scalable identity and access workflows across Google Cloud Platform, integrating identity services with custom APIs, Pub/Sub pipelines, and cloud-native applications.Using an automation first approach, you will collaborate closely with tech leads, Cloud Security, DevOps, and Application Engineering teams to thoroughly test robust IAM, identity lifecycle workflows, and secure service integrations that support enterprise-level cloud and Identity operations.Key Responsibilities· Create an overall testing strategy where the focus is Automation First with minimal manual effort required.· Plan, develop, execute, maintain and improve Automated Test Framework and Automated Test Scripts for Web and Graph Database applications· Jenkins pipeline creation and management for running automated tests, generating reports and notifying team about test results to streamline the CI/CD process.· Lead, mentor, and manage other engineers within the team· Able to develop and execute test plans, test cases, test data, test scenarios, and other testing related plans and documentation based on the requirements and technical specifications· Test data generation· Accurately report and track testing related defects and issues, by writing or automating, effective and thorough bug reports, attend triage meetings and verify bug fixes· Identify process and application issues and provide suggestions to improve· Learn new technologies and adapt to them as needed· Communicate progress regularly to senior stakeholders and programme leads, understanding the level of information relevant to the recipient· Generate regulatory evidence as needed· FR / NFR traceability· Identification and collating test entry and exit criteria· Test case review/QA for coverage and traceability to requirements/design· Liaison with business areas/technical leads re SIT/OAT/UAT scenario definitions as required· Analysis of design and other documents for testability· Testing functions and decision points "As Code", such as Policy as code· Strong technical leadership and process improvement - Establish automation testing standards, best practices, and governance frameworks across the organizationSkills required:· Extensive experience within Identity and Access Management· Solid experience of at least 5 years in a lead automation role, skilled in creating frameworks with strong coding experience e.g Java, Playwright, Python, Typescript, Cypher, Scala and API tooling (such as Insomnia, Apidog or Postman)· Deep IAM domain knowledge· Testing functions and decision points "As Code", such as Policy as code· Graph and event-driven validation· Automation-first test experience· Layered test architecture· Risk-based test prioritisation· RBAC / ABAC / ReBAC / PBAC· OPA / Rego policy testing· Policy explainability validation· REST API automation, API Gateway testing, Batch ETL testing· Consumer-driven contract testing· Idempotency testing· Replay and reprocessing testing· Graph data validation (Neo4j)· Containerised test execution· Excellent verbal and written communications skills and stakeholder engagement at all levels· Experience of using a range of automation tools and experience of test tool selection/recommendations based on assessment of the environment/landscape.· Experience in creating an overall test strategy that fully defines the approach, environment, scope, risks and resources required.· Experience of delivering within an Agile methodology.· Cloud testing approaches and methodology, especially GCP, but also AWS, Azure, Entra, Ali Cloud and other systems such as ServiceNow, AD, ADLDS· Some knowledge of JMeter, Gatling, LoadRunner, NeoLoad or similar tools for load, stress, and volume testing including any licensing requirements, configuration, dashboards and reporting· Experience of testing graph database management systems (GDBMS) Graph platform engineering, Neo4j Basics· GDBMS Performance Analysis· Extensive experience using JIRA and Xephyr tooling· Good experience of executing defined test plans including coordination, tracking and reporting· Positive team player working as part of the overall test team,· Any exposure to SailPoint IdentityIQ, Identity warehousing, and working with protocols and formats for data ingestion such as SCIM, REST API, LDAP, OIDC and CSV· Team Leadership & Management - Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage other engineers within the team· DevOps & CI/CD Integration - Experience of GitOps Repos. Ability to integrate automation tests into GitLab CI/CD pipelines and implement shift-left testing practices· Pub Sub and MQ