Test Manager in Dorset at Flowbird UK

Test Manager 

Flowbird delivers solutions for smart cities on the move. Our Smart Transport solutions can be seen in worldclass cities including London, Edinburgh, Paris, New York, Sydney, Rome, Brussels and Toronto. Flowbird is present in 5,000 towns and cities around the world. We employ over 1,400 people creating and delivering effective, high quality solutions for our clients. 

Our market leadership is underpinned by a continuous drive to innovate and push the frontiers of what is possible in order to make our customers more successful. As a result, we are a thriving business that is investing strongly and building the team for both new opportunities and supporting existing ones. 

Location:  

Our UK headquarters is based in Poole on the Dorset coast with its bustling quay, some of the best beaches in the UK and a stunning natural harbour. There is easy access to the Dorset countryside, the New Forest and the spectacular Jurassic Coast. Our main office is 1 mile from Poole railway station with good public transport links and close to both Bournemouth and Southampton international airports.

The role offers a hybrid working structure with a requirement of three days based in the office per week.   

Summary:  

The successful candidate will be a Key Leader of the Test Team department who are responsible for all aspects in FlowBird’s testing of its integrated transport ticketing systems. The role will be attractive to experienced Test Managers who are proactive in test transformation, aspiring to an overall Test Management delivery and improvement role. They will be required to collaborate with development teams, design architects, product owners, project managers and sometimes the end users to deliver new products and enhancements. Comprehensive knowledge demonstrated across both Waterfall and Agile test methodologies is expected. Key expectations are having the capability to champion the Test Team to implement continuous process improvement to drive quality, efficiencies and speed to market; as well as assisting in the mentoring and development of the Test Team personnel’s capabilities.  

FlowBird testing is primarily focused on system, end to end and user-acceptance testing, but exploratory, automated and component level testing capabilities are also highly valued. All of which will require a proficiency in the generation of test cases, script’s and possibly test plans, integration with software components and communication skills to provide feedback to the test/project/development teams. The ability to comply with project deliverables and industry standards is highly valued. 

Core Responsibilities: 

• Reporting to the Head of Software Engineering and managing a Senior Test Leadership team responsible for around 25 Test Engineers. Working with peers in Development, Program Management and Design to evangelise quality testing benefits and promote the Test Team’s value. 
• Responsible for strategising and developing the Test Team’s continued transformation improvement across the full-lifecycle of test phases from Static Analysis to Customer Sign-off. Champion project shift-left testing improvements. 
• Ensure the delivery and quality of test documentation, progress and assets compliant with the Test Area’s standards and processes and adherence to Quality Gates. Manage compliance with the Software Engineering Test Policy and Software Quality Plan. 
• Identifying the personal development needs of the Test Team and champion their delivery
• Manage the incoming project demands against the Test Team’s resourcing and their utilisation within projects, flexing and scheduling test capabilities against the business case. Oversee availability of necessary test equipment/test environments. 
• Championing and improving the Automated Integrated System Quality Assurance for projects. 
• Ensure accurate test progress reporting, develop and maintain strategic metrics to evidence progress and develop valued KPI’s to identify potential for improvement. 
• Managing Test RAIDS 
• Contribute to a service minded and client-orientated approach 

Required Experience: 

• 4+ years of Senior Team Leadership/Test Management experience, able to articulate and demonstrate an experience of good Test Management practice as well as experienced challenges.   
• Experience of Risk Based Test Management 
• Experience of leading Static Analysis, System, User Acceptance, Non-Functional and Automation Test phases 
• Knowledge of Automated Testing. Experience of software testing, techniques, tools and practices. 
• Customer facing experience is desirable. 
• ISTQB Foundation certification (or equivalent) is preferred. 
• ISEB Intermediate or ISTQB Advanced certification is highly desirable but not necessary 
• Any additional qualifications in computing, engineering, science or testing fields would be beneficial, e.g. Network Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mathematics and Quality Assurance) 

Core Skills:  

• Knowledge of Testrail and JIRA would be advantageous, though training is provided 
• Knowledge and use of Microsoft Project in Test Planning 
• PC Literate - Very good knowledge of PCs, Windows and PC Networks, MS Windows, MS Office 
• Working knowledge of networking and associated protocols 
• Knowledge of software development, test processes and best practices 
• Analytical problem solving and passion for quality together with excellent testing aptitude 
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills 
• Ability to work in a demand-led environment showing both adaptability and problem solving skills 
• Must be prepared to work extra hours as required in order to achieve stakeholder satisfaction 
• Must strive and champion for quality through meticulous testing and attention to detail 
• Passion for engineering and software testing 
• Knowledge/experience of config management would be advantageous 
• Team Foundation Server knowledge is advantageous but not essential 
• Experience in using Sharepoint would be advantageous but training is provided 

Company Benefits:

·        25 days holiday, plus Bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell days

·        Up to 6% contributory Company pension scheme

·        Life assurance of x4 annual salary

·        Health Cash Plan

·        Discounted gym membership with a company subsidy

·        6 months Company sick pay 

·        Employee discounts

·        Employee assistance programme available 24/7

·        Flexible Benefits platform giving you the option to purchase additional benefits including critical illness cover, additional life assurance, dental insurance, health screening, cycle to work scheme, personal car leasing, breakdown cover, purchase of technology

·        Paid Employee Volunteering days

·        Hybrid working

·        Additional Maternity / Paternity leave

·        Free onsite car parking

·        Free tea/coffee