CTE QA Architect
Job Summary
Role: Testing Strategy & QA Governance Consultant (Cyber)
Location: Sheffield UK (Hybrid role require 2-3 days a week onsite)
Big Bank Funding. FinTech Thinking
Our technology teams work closely with HSBCs global businesses to help design and build digital services that allow our millions of customers around the world to bank quickly simply and securely. We also run and manage our IT infrastructure data centres and core banking systems that power the worlds leading international bank.
Our multi-disciplined teams include DevOps engineers IT architects front and back-end developers infrastructure specialists cyber experts as well as project and programme managers.
Following extensive investment across our Technology and Digital domains and with plans for continued expansion throughout 2025 and beyond we are currently seeking a QA Architect who will be able to define the Testing Strategy and standards across Cyber as part of a central Professional Testing Practise. This is a delivery-focused role with clear outcomes: youll be accountable for defining and embedding Cyber-wide testing strategy QA maturity assessment and an actionable remediation roadmap.
Business area overview
Cybersecurity Technology & Engineering is responsible for fielding solutions that help defend HSBC against a wide range of threats to the business as well as its customers clients partners and staff. The team works in concert with partner teams across HSBC to implement novel defensive capabilities that are effective and adaptable against a constantly evolving threat landscape. The function operates under the vision: Enabling HSBC to be safely successful everywhere the Firm chooses to do business.
What you will be doing
The role will report to the Cyber QA Practice lead and will be responsible for supporting the establishment and development of Cybers Professional Testing Practise contributing to its strategic direction and helping to drive improvements across all facets of testing across Cyber. The role will involve working closely with a wide range of stakeholders including Cybersecurity project teams Control Owners and the business. The role is outcome-driven and will be measured on delivery of agreed artefacts and adoption across Cyber teams.
The role will:
- Define and deliver with guidance from the Cyber QA Practice Lead the Testing Strategy QA Maturity Framework and QA standards to be used across Cyber including the frameworks processes methodologies and tooling that should be used and adopted by the Cyber teams.
- Lead on the Maturity Framework assessment and definition of the remediation plan needed to meet the agreed framework levels. This includes driving the adoption of automated test practices across Cyber and assisting teams in determining the correct level of performance and stress testing to be performed. This will cover both in-house developed applications and third-party applications that are supported and maintained by the Cyber teams.
Provide support and assistance to the Cyber QA Practice Lead and help ensure their vision is effectively developed and implemented across the Cyber delivery teams.
- Define and deliver appropriate training for the Testing Practice members and QA professionals within the Cyber teams and monitor adoption and usage of QA tools within the existing environments.
- Provide standards and guidance for testing evidence suitable for audit review in our Regulated business environment and ensure that teams are following these guidelines and provide metrics and dashboards to support adoption tracking.
Work with the Cyber QA Practice Lead to establish clear KPIs and OKRs for the Cyber QA Team tracking delivery performance quality improvements and process efficiency.
Key deliverables (examples):
Cyber Testing Strategy (incl. governance tooling metrics and adoption plan).
QA Maturity Assessment report remediation roadmap (priorities milestones ownership).
Audit-ready testing evidence standards (templates traceability expectations minimum evidence set).
KPIs/OKRs and dashboards to track quality efficiency and adoption.
What you will bring to the role
- Proven experience defining and delivering departmental Testing Strategies and governance frameworks including best practices across multiple teams and regions
Proven experience in aligning testing strategy with business goals. 6 years of QA experience 2 years in a QA Manager or QA Architect Lead role;
Proven experience supporting QA/audit readiness in regulated environments (evidence traceability controls)
Participation in internal/external QA audits or working with Control Owners / Risk & Compliance
Relevant training/certifications (e.g. ISTQB Advanced/Test Manager audit/quality governance courses)
Strong stakeholder management experience and the ability to influence and build partnership across Teams and Departments in order to conduct data analysis and present raw data in a simplified manner displaying trend analysis and highlighting outliers/exceptions;
- Familiar with Agile software development and DevSecOps delivery processes (burndown metrics backlog tracking velocity task definition retrospectives and defect management) and supporting tools e.g. JIRA Confluence GIT etc.
- Good verbal and written communication skills in English including experience of managing workshops and writing best practice documentation;
- Able to work in a fast-paced team-focused environment with a proven track record of delivering and completing assigned tasks as an individual and as team;
- Demonstrates a strategic leadership change management continuous improvement mindset with a willingness to continuously learn and share learnings with others.
Come Power a Business that Defines How to Power the World
As a business operating in markets all around the world we believe diversity brings benefits for our customers our business and our people. This is why HSBC UK is committed to being an inclusive employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified applicants irrespective of background circumstances age disability gender identity ethnicity religion or belief and sexual orientation.
We want everyone to be able to fulfil their potential which is why we provide a range of flexible working arrangements and family friendly policies.
As an HSBC employee in the UK you will have access to tailored professional development opportunities and a competitive pay and benefits package. This includes private healthcare for all UK-based employees enhanced maternity and adoption pay and support when you return to work and a contributory pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.
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