Job reference 340855
Head Of Test Automation
Competitive salary plus car allowance, healthcare, 18% annual bonus potential, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with service and a company pension scheme with highly competitive contribution rates
Permanent, Full time
3 days in London Farringdon
Head of Test Automation
Job Purpose
This role is a key enabler in allowing RMG to improve the timeliness and efficiency of software testing. The Head of Test Automation will take technical leadership for the implementation of a consistent, standardised, enterprise approach to Test Automation across the lifecycle including both System and Integration Test. The Head of Test Automation will provide a strong blend of line management expertise, software development and testing experience and communication skills to build and grow RMG’s Test Automation capability.
Key Accountabilities
- Lead in the creation, implementation and ongoing enhancement of a common strategy, approach and roadmap (including frameworks and tooling) for enterprise-wide Test Automation leveraging the latest technology and third-party expertise to create a best-in-class function.
- Implement the appropriate Test Automation practices to improve timeliness and quality and drive a culture of continuous improvement and frequent delivery at scale
- Creation and ongoing development of an environment that delivers the capabilities and culture to become a best-in-class automation engineering function
- Responsible for working with the Engineering Leadership Team to ensure consistent standards are achieved and assuring governance controls are met
- Work closely with the Head of DevOps to ensure testing best practice is included in golden paths and CI/CD pipelines and that the strategic test tooling is centrally supported
- Leadership of up-to 60, mainly third party, engineers operating in a federated structure, responsible for ensuring consistency across teams and adherence to RMG standards and creating a ‘one team spirit’
- Recruitment and retention of a team of 30+ skilled automation engineering staff, including coaching, personal development, training and timely feedback
- Ensure resources are provided that enable delivery of multiple, complex automation projects simultaneously to agreed scope, quality and timescales Reports to Director, Engineering (the role may report into the Transformation Team initially)
Key dimensions
- Recruitment and retention of a team of 30+ skilled automation engineers and team leaders.
- Creation of standard processes and automation to enable the frequent delivery of working software at scale
Key competencies
- Background in software development, with a degree in Computer Science or similar
- Experience implementing and operating a consistent, effective approach to Test Automation at scale across the lifecycle, including the use of AI.
- Experience managing and leading engineering teams of 60 or more operating consistently with a ‘one team’ mentality.
- Ability to explain technical concepts in non-technical ways, particularly for senior business stakeholders
- Experience of leading engineering teams in a multi-supplier environment delivering multiple high quality, complex large scale Products and Platforms changes
- Experience of leading engineering teams in near real-time event driven environment
Extra Benefits
Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave- Supportive and generous company sick pay
- Funded Dental – As a manager you are eligible to a level of employer funded dental insurance*
- Health Assessment – As a manager you are eligible to an employer funded health assessment every 2 years*
- Benefits Account – You will have access to your personal benefits account on our ‘My Bundle+’ platform. There are more than 800 retail offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills as well as employer provided and voluntary benefits to suit your lifestyle.
- Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life. From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice. It’s free, and it’s for everyone.
- Available only to permanent employees
Next Steps
The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions.
Trust is the foundation of Royal Mail . We aim to be transparent about the qualities we seek and what a career with us entails, building trust from the start of your journey with us.
We understand that candidates may not meet all the criteria for the role. If your experience is different, but you have relevant skills we’d love to hear from you.
Royal Mail Group is committed to inclusion and representing the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals. As a proud Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant, we especially encourage applications from the Armed Forces community, including cadet instructors and spouses/partners.
We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any adjustments to support you during the hiring process, please discuss these with your recruiter when contacted.
We are Forces family friendly and a Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.
For more information on Royal Mail Group and our values please click here: https://www.internationaldistributionsservices.com/en/about-us/
Closing Date: . 23rd July 2026 Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.
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