Test Analyst Lead needed at Rand Merchant Bank

• In this role, you will be required to serve as the deep subject matter expert (SME) in software quality assurance, guiding the testing team and the broader organisation in best-, next-, and emerging testing practices.
• Guide the testing strategy definition, and continuously evolve the testing strategy, ensuring the effective integration of functional, automated, and performance testing into software development lifecycles. 
• Provide expert-level insights, drives innovation in testing methodologies, and ensure that the testing function remains at the forefront of industry advancements. 
• Champion test optimisation, automation scalability, and performance engineering to enhance software quality, speed, and resilience.

Are You Someone Who Can:

• Establish and refine the test strategy by incorporating best practices in functional, automation, and performance testing, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s technology and business objectives.
• Act as a trusted SME and thought leader in the testing domain, providing expert guidance on new and emerging testing methodologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Develop a future-ready test capability by researching, evaluating, and implementing advanced testing approaches, including AI-driven test automation, predictive defect analysis, and continuous testing in DevOps environments.
• Oversee the adoption and scaling of automation and performance testing frameworks, ensuring their optimal integration into CI/CD pipelines for continuous quality assurance.
• Mentor and coach the testing team by providing hands-on leadership, technical direction, and knowledge-sharing sessions to upskill team members.
• Define, monitor, and refine quality metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of functional, automated, and performance testing efforts.
• Collaborate with architects and engineering teams to incorporate testing principles into system design, ensuring testability and performance are built into solutions from the outset.
• Lead the continuous evolution of test environments and tooling, ensuring they remain cutting-edge and fit for purpose in a cloud-native, API-driven, and microservices architecture landscape.
• Conduct deep-dive reviews of complex test scenarios and defect patterns, identifying systemic issues and recommending long-term fixes to improve software resilience.
• Champion shift-left and shift-right testing practices, embedding testing earlier in the development lifecycle while ensuring robust monitoring and validation in production environments.
• Engage with industry forums and networks, bringing insights into emerging trends such as autonomous testing, synthetic test data generation, and chaos engineering.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration with developers, DevOps engineers, and business stakeholders to optimize testing efficiencies and minimise time-to-market.
• Ensure effective risk-based testing approaches, prioritising test coverage for high-impact business functionalities and mission-critical applications.
• Advocate for and secure investment in advanced testing technologies, ensuring the organisation remains competitive in delivering high-quality software solutions.
• Act as the final point of escalation for complex testing challenges, resolving critical issues and guiding the team toward data-driven testing improvements.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science. A Bachelor of Science with Honours will be advantageous.
• 6 to 8 years’ experience in IT Testing.
• Familiarity with Swift ISO 20022 payment messaging standards is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of payment systems and ISO standards will be an advantage.