Technical Lead Automation Testing – Brisbane, Australia

Technical Lead Automation Testing – Brisbane, Australia

Rio Tinto is building a world-class software engineering capability.

Within our company wide Information Systems & Technology function, we are building an internal software development and delivery team focusing on high value and strategic products for the digital transformation of Rio Tinto. We are building this capability and capacity with the support of a strategic partnership with Endava, one of the world’s leading software engineering companies. 

We are recruiting for junior, experienced and leadership roles to establish this capability for scaling as we shift our technology landscape to products and platforms. We are building a culture that is value driven, diverse and inclusive, innovative and fun with challenging problems and opportunities to solve. 

About the role

• The Technical Lead Automation Testing is an individual contributor that plays a crucial role in providing advice, assistance, and guidance in areas associated with the Testing Strategy and Testing Management for our product portfolio. This position requires a deep understanding of automation testing methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• As our preferred applicant you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful implementation and execution of automation testing processes.
• By working closely with agile teams and multiple stakeholders, you will aim to ensure that testing activities are seamlessly integrated into the agile development process. This involves collaborating with agile team members, such as developers, product owners and scrum masters to collectively drive quality and deliver software that meets customer expectations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, providing guidance and support to agile teams in implementing effective automation testing practices, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, and promoting a continuous improvement mindset.
• Through regular interactions and open communication channels, you build strong working relationships, enabling effective collaboration, feedback exchange and the successful delivery of high-quality software.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive Testing Strategy and Testing Management for the functions’ product portfolio, with a strong focus on automation testing.
• Provide expert guidance and assistance in selecting appropriate automation testing tools, frameworks, and technologies based on project requirements.
• Collaborate with stakeholders, including development teams, business analysts, and delivery managers, to identify testing needs and define test objectives, scope, and strategies.
• Advise on the creation and maintenance of automation testing frameworks, test scripts, and test data management processes.
• Assist in the identification and setup of suitable automation testing frameworks, tools, and infrastructure that align with the agile teams' requirements and preferences.
• Provide hands-on assistance in developing and maintaining automation test scripts, ensuring they are robust, maintainable, and reusable. Help agile teams integrate automated tests into the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline.
• Conduct thorough analysis of existing testing processes and workflows, identifying areas for improvement and proposing solutions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Define key performance metrics and establish monitoring mechanisms to track and report on the progress and success of automation testing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Stay up to date with industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices related to automation testing, and recommend their adoption as appropriate.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing sessions and training workshops for agile team members to enhance their understanding of automation testing concepts, best practices, and tool usage.
• Collaborate with external vendors or consultants when necessary, ensuring effective coordination and management of outsourced testing activities.
• Assist in the resolution of complex technical issues related to automation testing, troubleshooting problems, and recommending solutions. Continuously monitor and assess the effectiveness of automation testing efforts within the agile teams, identify bottlenecks or areas for improvement, and propose corrective actions.
• Foster a culture of quality within the agile teams by promoting test automation, advocating for early and frequent testing, and emphasizing the importance of test-driven development (TDD) and behavior-driven development (BDD) practices.

About you

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Relevant certifications [e.g., ISTQB, CSTE, MCSA, MCSD, OCA (IZO-1808), OCP (any of 1Z0-809, 1Z0-819, 1Z0-829) MCSA, MTA] are a nice to have.
• Proven experience (+5 years) as an Automation Test Consultant or in a similar role, with a strong background in automation testing methodologies and tools.
• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with automation testing frameworks and tools commonly used.
• Proficient in scripting and programming languages based on OOP.
• Strong understanding of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban, with the ability to effectively integrate testing activities within agile teams.
• Familiarity with different, frameworks, and libraries commonly used in the organization's product portfolio, ideally .Net technologies.
• Solid understanding of continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and using different tools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically, troubleshoot issues, and propose innovative solutions to complex testing challenges.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional agile teams and present technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team, with a strong sense of accountability and ownership, while considering the specific needs and requirements of multiple products.

Working At Rio Tinto

Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress. Our benefits for permanent Rio Tinto employees include:

• Your base salary reflects your skills, experience and impact in the role you are performing in. Our salary ranges are reviewed annually to ensure they remain fair internally and externally.
• Health & Wellbeing. We care about your health. We offer flexible, comprehensive medical benefits to look after your total health and wellbeing to suit your needs and life stages. This includes subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family.
• Flexible Work Arrangements. We have a hybrid work model (in-office & from home), with our office always open to balancing flexibility and connection.
• Supportive Leave Policies. We enable leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation, sick, paid parental). Our inclusive parental leave policy supports all parents and carers throughout their parenting and caring journey.
• Growth & Development. We will support you to pursue growth and development opportunities aligned with your career aspirations.
• Employee Discount & Offers. We have established partnerships with several providers who offer access to exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, car, retail and more).
• Superannuation & Shares. Extensive salary sacrifice and salary packing options. Plus, we offer an award-winning employee share plan – myShare.

Every Voice Matters

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

 We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

 Apply today if you want to work with the latest technology and innovation, in an environment where we challenge you to drive positive change.

 Please note, in order to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.

  “Rio Tinto reserves the right to remove job postings prior to the stated closing date, therefore, if you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please submit your application as soon as possible.”