Lead Test Engineer

Job summary

It is an exciting time for HM Land Registry (HMLR) as we continue on a major transformation programme. HMLR's ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.

We’re looking for a Lead Test Engineer who will shape the direction of our testing practice and promote consistent, high‑quality standards across our delivery teams. You will provide supportive leadership to Test Managers, act as the escalation point for complex testing challenges, and help teams to continually improve. As we develop our Test Centre of Excellence (TCoE), you’ll play a key role in building an inclusive, collaborative, and forward‑thinking approach to quality assurance.

HM Land Registry's existing software systems and services form part of the critical national infrastructure, safeguarding land and property ownership valued at £8 trillion. This enables over £1 trillion worth of personal and commercial lending to be secured against property across England and Wales.

Job description

As Lead Test Engineer, you will:

• Provide expert technical guidance and lead improvements in test automation and architecture.
• Collaborate with technical leads to deliver consistent, high‑quality solutions and shared test components.
• Mentor Test Managers and act as the escalation point for complex technical issues.
• Line Manage a number of Test Managers and/or Senior Test Engineers and be part of the leadership team for Quality and Test Function.
• Maintain oversight of programme‑level testing, identifying risks and ensuring effective coverage.
• Develop and analyse quality and automation metrics to shape future technical strategy.
• Build strong networks across HMLR, government, and industry to stay aligned with best practice.
• Manage key risks, dependencies, and capability gaps while supporting professional development across the practice.

This role is eligible for the Government Digital and Data Pay Framework which enables us to pay you a non-pensionable allowance in addition to your annual salary.

The allowance is an annual amount that is based on an assessment of your proficiency across a range of skills that are relevant to your role. These are outlined in the Test engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

Your skills will be assessed first during the recruitment process, and again on an annual basis. Your assessed level of capability determines the value of the allowance that is payable to you.

You could expect to start at:

• Developing: £65,700
• Proficient: £74,100

(The above is made up of a non-pensionable supplement on top of a minimum salary of £61,923).

Person specification

To be successful in this role, you will be able to demonstrate that you meet the digital framework skill sets:

Test engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework

You will hold the following Technical Skills:

• ISTQB Advanced Test Manager
• Communicating between the technical and non- technical – Level Expert
• Designing and executing tests – Level Expert
• Managing, reporting and resolving defects – Level Expert
• Test Analysis – Level Expert
• Test and quality planning – Level expert
• Test Engineering – Level expert

You will be able to demonstrate the following Essential Experience:

• Expert level experience of automated testing and automated test tools
• Experience leading test automation and test architecture for complex, high risk systems
• Experience providing expert guidance to delivery teams and collaborating with technical leads to establish consistent, reusable testing approaches.
• Expert in understanding environment needs and capabilities
• Experience in all testing levels (from Unit to OAT)
• Experience testing across the full technology stack, from user interfaces through to APIs, services, and data layers.
• Experience in integration practices
• Experience in training and mentoring technical test skills
• Experience of leading testing teams in both traditional and agile methodologies
• Experience in creating and managing effective test processes

HMLR expect everyone to spend at least 60% of their working time in the office.

For more information about the role, please see the attached Job Description and candidate pack.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £65,700, HM Land Registry contributes £19,033 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

#WeAreHMLR

At HM Land Registry our vision is a world leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future. We are unique in terms of the economic and social impacts of our work, our ability to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers, our sense of mission, and our great people. They are the foundation of all we have achieved and all we aspire to in the future. We want our people to feel proud to work for HM Land Registry and able to fulfil their full potential.

We have a strong and positive culture, a commitment to inclusivity, an emphasis on continuous learning and development, and flexible ways of working. We offer competitive pay and annual leave, attractive pension options and a wide range of other benefits.

• We have integrity– we value honesty, trust and doing the right thing in the right way.
• We drive innovation– we are forward-thinking, embrace change and are continually improving our processes.
• We are professional– we value and grow our knowledge and professional expertise.
• We give assurance– we guarantee our services and provide confidence to the property market.

You can find more information on our rewards package on our website.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

You will be asked to complete the full online application form and attach your anonymised CV. You will then be invited to complete a short assessment. This assessment will be emailed to you through CS jobs. If you pass the assessments you will receive a full sift score.

Please note your anonymised CV should include your qualifications, career history, skills and experience, ensuring you cover those areas listed under the 'Essential Technical Skills and Qualification' and 'Essential Experience'.

Please review your application form before clicking ‘submit’ – once you have submitted, you will not be able to amend your application. Ensure your application form is received by the closing date for receipt of applications – this is 23:55pm on the advertised date.

The sift will take place shortly after the closing date. If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend a MS Teams interview, which will be held at the start of May 2026.

The blended interview will assess the technical, experience and behaviours listed in the Job Description. This will include a pre-prepared presentation and be held through Microsoft Teams.

Candidates may refer to notes within their interview, but they should be used as a prompt only.

You will need the right to work in the UK in order to commence employment with HMLR. Any offer of employment will be withdrawn if you do not have the right to work.

This post is subject to Security Clearance, including background checks. As a result, a minimum of five years’ UK residency is essential.

HMLR is accredited to the Disability Confidence Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum essential criteria at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview. If any candidate requires the panel to consider a reasonable adjustment or there is anything else they would like the panel to take into consideration they are asked to notify us of this at application stage where possible or during the process as soon as it becomes a requirement.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to share these values. Please ensure all examples provided throughout the recruitment process are representative of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating (including the improper use of artificial intelligence) will be investigated and, if proven, the application will be withdrawn. For more information see Artificial Intelligence in recruitment, Civil Service Careers.

You can find more information on how we use your personal data on our website.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Paul Black
• Email : Paul.Black@landregistry.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrresourcingteam2@landregistry.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance to the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email hrresourcingteam2@landregistry.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from HM Land Registry then you may take your complaint to the Civil Service Commission: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/making-complaint/

Attachments

Transformation & Technology Candidate Pack 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 2218kB)G7 Lead Test Engineer Job Description Opens in new window (pdf, 193kB)