Principal QA

Role Responsibility

What is the role?

The Principal QA is accountable for the overall Quality Architecture, Engineering and Assurance capability within Selfridges, including defining the enduring QE strategy and approach across all product and technology domains. Alongside managing the QE function, the role will work closely with IT Senior Management Team and delivery teams to champion best practice and assist them in delivering high quality production software.

The Principal Quality Architect will:

Lead the definition, implementation and evolution of the QE vision and strategy to be adopted by our teams, recognising the differences in technology, delivery and release cadence that exists across each product domain. This includes optimising the use of repeatable, comprehensive and efficient automation across the technology estate.

Establish, coach and support the QE function as it is embedded across the product domains, providing guidance to delivery teams around quality strategy and approach; including optimising the use of automation and ensuring that as new software lands, the enduring quality assets evolve at the same time.

Define and drive the adoption of the right tooling, methods and practices (e.g shift-left) across the delivery teams, leveraging technical expertise, industry best practice and emerging trends. This includes championing test automation and CI/CD practices that enable our teams to release with confidence and meet business goals.

Advise teams on development standards, frameworks and guidance to maintain consistency throughout the software development lifecycle, and continuously improve testing and QE practices.

Monitor all QE activities and provide aggregated testing and quality metrics to key stakeholders. This includes best practice metrics (e.g leakage), root cause analysis, risk and identifying areas of improvement.

Be the escalation point for all matters related to quality engineering and operate as a primary point of contact for the QE team.

The Ideal Candidate

Experienced. A strong background in QE / QA management, coaching and mentoring in a range of environments, from large project to product-orientated. This includes managing both internal and external teams. Significant experience of evolving a QE function from Level 1 to Level 4/5 maturity in terms of automation, continuous testing and broader CI/CD practices. Experience of working within a complex Omnichannel or Digital Retail business is desirable, along with a strong understanding of *aaS, testing microservices, APIs and cloud architectures.

Technical. Expert skills in functional and non-functional testing, utilising automation and manual testing, ideally in a continuous delivery environment. Excellent understanding of quality methodologies and principles such as TDD, BDD, ATDD, risk-based testing and OWASP top 10. Strong expertise in a range of testing tools (e.g. Selenium, Cypress, Cucumber, Postman etc.) accompanied with coding and development with OOP languages and containers.

Passionate and knowledgeable about QE and modern delivery practices. A champion for quality engineering, continuous testing, continuous improvement, industry recognised best practices and emerging trends.

A natural leader and dynamic team player. You have the ability to manage, influence and coach direct reports, peers and external stakeholders in an engaging and collaborative manner. This includes providing positive and inspiring development feedback when appropriate.

Consensus driving and highly organised. You will have the proven ability to bring together cross-disciplinary teams to work together to agree the strategies, align on outcomes and approaches, and embed effectively into the delivery of technology solutions.

An excellent communicator and storyteller, both verbal and written. You excel in the relationships you build with stakeholders and are adept at flexing your style to match the audience. You engage and inspire both technical teams and business stakeholders (at different levels of the organisation).

Strategic. You effectively balance the long-term vision and goals with the need to opportunity and value swiftly.

You are an inspiring leader who motivates teams, recognises great talent and brings out the best in each individual.

About the Company

Our Creative Spirit 

We are more than a shop. We are a social space where culture and commerce collide to release an energy that we call the Selfridges spirit. We are here to make our world brighter, and everyone is welcome. 

Our Awards Cabinet 

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign.  

Our Future 

Since 1909 we have been at the forefront of retail and today our stores in London, Manchester and Birmingham – alongside selfridges.com and the Selfridges App – continue to redefine the way we shop and socialise. As a Selfridges team member, you will learn what it takes to consistently drive innovation, success and amazing customer experiences. 

Everyone is welcome

We are committed to a diverse and inclusive working culture, and we see this as key to our success and our working culture. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome - irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all. We are diverse, we are inclusive, we are Selfridges.

The Fun Stuff  

There are lots of reasons to be excited about joining Team Selfridges – from our fantastic team member communities to volunteer days and behind-the-scenes Selfridges experiences throughout the year. 

Other benefits and rewards include:

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme 
• Discounted gym memberships 
• Pension contributions  
• Annual travel pass and cycle to work schemes 
• A volunteer day for all team members 
• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development

Selfridges