Head of Software Quality Assurance

TL;DR

Head of Software Quality Assurance (QA): Leading the transformation and management of quality engineering for digital assessment products underpinning GCSEs and A-levels with an accent on shift-left practices, automation-first culture, and scalable QA across diverse teams. Focus on defining pragmatic quality standards, driving continuous testing, establishing data-driven metrics, and embedding quality early in agile delivery lifecycles.

Location: Hybrid (2–3 days per week in the office) in Manchester or Milton Keynes, UK

Salary: Manchester: £71,700 – £87,400; Milton Keynes: £74,740 - £91,000

Company

hirify.global is the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, marking over 10 million exam papers yearly and modernising technology for digital assessment.

What you will do

• Lead and develop a scalable quality engineering practice across multiple delivery teams and product portfolios.
• Drive automation-first culture with shift-left practices, continuous testing, and modern workflows.
• Partner with Product, Architecture, and Delivery leaders to define adaptable quality standards based on risk and maturity.
• Establish data-driven quality metrics like automation coverage, defect trends, and cycle time for decision-making.
• Build QA capabilities across internal teams and partners, making quality a shared responsibility.

Requirements

• Must be able to work hybrid 2–3 days per week in Manchester or Milton Keynes office
• Proven experience leading large QA or quality engineering function across multiple teams
• Strong understanding of shift-left testing, test automation frameworks, test pyramids, and continuous testing
• Experience in varied agile models like SAFe, Scrumban, or hybrids
• Track record developing QA professionals, coaching Test Managers
• Excellent communication and influencing skills for non-technical stakeholders

Nice to have

• Delivery framework experience with SAFe/Scrumban
• Hands-on with automation frameworks, API/performance/security testing
• Cloud architectures and testing challenges
• Experience with regionally dispersed teams and offshore partners

Culture & Benefits

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30, plus bank holidays and Christmas closures
• 35-hour working week with flexible arrangements
• Contributory pension (6%–11.5%), life assurance, BUPA PMI, health cash plan
• Enhanced maternity/paternity schemes
• Smart working model with office presence
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional development

Hiring process

• Submit CV and application through careers site
• Closing date: Wednesday 6th May