Automation Test Lead - Python

As QA Engineering Manager at FTSE Russell, you will shape the QA strategy and drive intelligent, automation-rich testing for data-centric applications. You’ll lead cross-functional teams to raise quality standards, implement AI-assisted practices, and embed testing into CI/CD. You’ll work on complex interdependent systems across cloud-based platforms, focusing on data integrity and scalable quality controls. This role offers impact by improving release confidence and product reliability in a global financial index business.

• healthcare
• retirement planning
• paid volunteering days
• wellbeing initiatives

• Define and drive the Quality Engineering vision, roadmap, and operating model across product streams
• Promote a quality-first culture and establish automation governance, release readiness, and quality metrics
• Lead adoption of AI-assisted quality engineering and intelligent automation solutions
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentorship across Quality Engineering teams
• Develop enterprise-scale automation strategies covering UI, API, database, integration and E2E testing
• Build automation frameworks using Playwright, PyTest and BDD approaches
• Integrate testing into CI/CD pipelines and quality gates
• Define testing strategies for data-intensive platforms and financial datasets
• Partner with data engineering teams on scalable quality controls
• Set technical direction for automation tooling and testing infrastructure across domains
• Collaborate with architects to improve system quality, reliability, observability, and testability
• Drive cloud-native testing strategies across AWS-based platforms
• Establish standards for API, contract, integration, and service virtualization testing
• Continuously improve QA processes to reduce cycle times and improve product quality
• Create dashboards and KPIs for automation coverage, defect leakage, and release confidence
• Collaborate with product managers and developers to align on quality objectives

• 12+ years in Quality Engineering or Testing with leadership experience
• Enterprise-scale automation strategy delivery experience
• Hands-on knowledge of Pytest, Pytest-BDD, Playwright, Cucumber, Junit or TestNG
• Programming proficiency in Python; working knowledge of JavaScript/TypeScript
• Experience with database testing (Postgres, SQL Server, Athena Iceberg) and data-centric apps
• Strong understanding of API, UI, integration and end-to-end testing
• Experience with GitLab CI/CD and integrating tests into it
• Cloud experience with AWS-based platforms; testing exposure preferred
• Knowledge of AI/ML for automation problems is advantageous
• QA or Test Automation certification (ISTQB Foundation/Advanced/Specialist)
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and stakeholders management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical, data-driven decision-making capabilities

• problem-solving
• clear communication
• leadership and mentorship
• Playwright
• PyTest
• PyTest-BDD