Automation Test Lead

We’re looking for an Automation Test Lead to join our Technology team here at N Brown Group!

You will define and drive the quality engineering strategy across our technology estate - spanning customer-facing websites, backend platforms, mobile applications, cloud-native services, and legacy systems. 

This role is perfect for someone passionate about quality at scale, technology diversity, and the transformative potential of AI in software delivery. You’ll report into the Head of Technology and play a key role in shaping our enterprise-wide quality posture in a fast-moving, AI-first environment.

About the role

• Help define and own the end-to-end Quality Strategy across our entire estate (web stack, mobile, backend, platforms, cloud, legacy).
• Set the vision and standards for automation, including frameworks, tooling, and best practices, while promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Work closely with delivery teams to embed quality from day one, using a shift-left mindset and a modern approach to test automation and observability.
• Influence and shape how AI and emerging tools are leveraged to deliver faster, more reliable, and higher-quality software.
• Provide technical leadership to our growing community of testers across squads and tribes, mentoring others and elevating capability.

What will you do as an Automation Test Lead at N Brown?

• Strategic Leadership: Define, evolve, and advocate for a scalable, unified test automation strategy across websites, backend APIs, platforms, mobile apps, and legacy systems.
• AI-Enabled Quality: Evaluate and implement cutting-edge AI tools and practices for test generation, fault prediction, root cause analysis, and more. You should be curious, hands-on, and excited by rapid AI advancements.
• Cross-Platform Influence: Shape quality direction across Java/Spring microservices, Python/AWS Lambdas, mainframe batch jobs, React web apps, and native mobile apps.
• Framework Ownership: Design and maintain modern automation frameworks (e.g., Cypress, Playwright, Appium, REST Assured), tailored to the needs of diverse teams.
• Community Leadership: Lead a cross-squad quality chapter/community of practice and mentor QA engineers across disciplines.
• Delivery Partnership: Collaborate with product, engineering, and platform leads to balance quality, speed, and risk – driving quality gates, test observability, and release readiness.
• Metrics & Governance: Define meaningful test/quality metrics, monitor performance, and communicate insights to senior stakeholders.

What skills and experience will you have?

• Proven experience leading test automation across complex, enterprise-scale estates.
• Familiarity with regulated environments (retail/financial services a bonus).
• A balance of strategic thinking and hands-on ability.
• Passion for learning, exploring, and applying new technologies - especially AI.
• Technology Curious: Has hands-on experience across a range of technology stacks.
• AI-First Mindset: Actively exploring or experimenting with GenAI, LLMs, or intelligent automation tools in QA.
• Hands-On Leader: Equally comfortable writing a test, coaching a team, or defining strategy.
• Collaborative Influencer: Can build strong relationships across engineering, product, and operations.
• Quality Evangelist: Brings innovation, energy, and the ability to scale quality practices across a large, complex organisation.
• Automation Architect: Deep understanding of test pyramid, CI/CD, mocking, synthetic data, and performance testing.

What Technical Skills will you have?

• Automation: Cypress, Playwright, Selenium, REST Assured, Appium
• Languages: JavaScript, Java, Python
• CI/CD: GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins
• Cloud & DevOps: AWS, Docker, Terraform (awareness beneficial)
• AI/ML Tools: ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Testim, Diffblue, CodeWhisperer, or other GenAI quality tools
• Monitoring & Reporting: Allure, TestRail, Grafana, Prometheus

What’s in it for you?

• Hybrid working  
• 24 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays)
• Annual bonus scheme 
• Enhanced maternity and adoption leave 
• Company pension with up to 8% N Brown contribution 
• Mental Health support both internally and externally, including access to our wellbeing champions and counselling services  
• A range of financial wellbeing support  
• Colleague discount across all N Brown brands 
• Onsite café with subsidised rates and local restaurant discounts! 
• Life Assurance and Private Medical Insurance 
• Paid volunteer time – all our colleagues can take a full day paid to volunteer for a charity of their choice  

N Brown – who we are and why work for us?

At N Brown, we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and creating an inclusive environment that values equality for all. Our vision is that by ‘championing inclusion, we’ll become the most loved and trusted fashion retailer’. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging are, therefore, at the heart of our culture.

We’re a forward-thinking digital retailer with a financial services proposition to be proud of. We’re customer-obsessed, serving them through three core brands: JD Williams, Simply Be, and Jacamo. We’re experienced, with over 160 years of trading under our belt. We’re inclusive, as we believe in fashion without boundaries; and we’re sustainable, striving to make as little impact on the planet as possible.

In May 2024 we were delighted to be named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. We work hard to create a happy and inclusive culture for everyone and we’re so proud to have made this list - as voted for by our very own colleagues!

Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working which varies across the business depending on the role you’re in. Our Head Office is located in the Northern Quarter in Manchester City Centre. So if you are travelling by train, tram or bus we’re perfectly located, plus we’re surrounded by cool cafes, trendy bars and the best places to eat!

Our working hours are 36.17 per week and our core working hours are between 10am - 4pm. Given we don’t have strict working hours you can find the working pattern that’s right for you.

Our promise to you:

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

What happens when you apply to a role at N Brown?

As soon as we receive your application, we’ll send you an email to let you know. We always aim to come back to you as soon as possible with an update and we really appreciate you taking the time to apply for a role with us. Good luck!