Senior Test Analyst (Contract)

About the position

Our client is seeking a highly skilled Senior Test Analyst to lead testing activities across complex initiatives, ensuring high quality software delivery and continuous improvement within the quality engineering function. This role combines hands on testing with leadership, planning, stakeholder engagement, and mentorship.

Key Responsibilities (Bullet Points) Test Leadership & Planning

• Lead the creation and execution of test strategies, plans, and approaches.
• Analyse complex business and technical requirements to define comprehensive test coverage.
• Estimate testing effort, identify risks, and support overall delivery planning.
• Ensure all testing adheres to organisational quality standards and best practices.

Test Design & Execution

• Design, review, and maintain well?structured test scenarios, test cases, and test data.
• Execute and oversee functional, integration, system, regression, and end?to?end testing.
• Support test automation by identifying automation opportunities and guiding automation teams.
• Ensure non?functional testing requirements (performance, security, usability) are considered and validated.

Defect & Quality Management

• Manage the full defect lifecycle, including logging, triage, prioritisation, and resolution tracking.
• Conduct root cause analysis and recommend quality improvements.
• Provide clear go/no?go recommendations based on test results, risks, and business impact.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Business Analysts, Developers, Product Owners, and Project Managers.
• Communicate testing risks, progress, and quality insights in a clear, business?friendly manner.
• Support and coordinate User Acceptance Testing (UAT) activities.

Mentorship & Continuous Improvement

• Mentor Test Analysts and Junior QA team members.
• Review test artefacts and provide constructive feedback.
• Champion continuous improvement of testing processes, tools, and best practices.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of SDLC, STLC, quality assurance practices, and testing methodologies.
• Excellent analytical and problem?solving abilities.
• Ability to lead testing activities across multiple projects or workstreams.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• High attention to detail, with a strategic and quality?driven mindset.

Technical Skills

• Test management tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, TestRail, Zephyr).
• Manual testing expertise with exposure to automation frameworks (Selenium, Cypress, etc.).
• API testing using tools like Postman.
• SQL for data validation and analysis.
• Experience working in CI/CD and Agile environments (Scrum/SAFe).

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Degree in IT, Computer Science, or equivalent.
• 5+ years’ experience in software testing, including at least 2 years in a senior or lead role.
• ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst or related certification (advantageous).

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, accountable, and delivery?focused.
• Confident in assessing and challenging quality risks.
• Strong collaborator and mentor.
• Comfortable working in complex, fast?paced environments.

Desired Skills:

• Agile
• CI/CD
• Quality Assurance Testing (QA)
• Selenium
• Software Quality Assurance (QA)
• SQL
• Testing