Principal Software Validation Engineer

Testing 

• Coordinates and manages planning of the system and/or acceptance tests including software security testing, within a development or integration project or programme.  

• Takes responsibility for integrity of testing and acceptance activities and coordinates the execution of these activities.  

• Provides advice, guidance and coaching on any aspect of test planning and execution.  

• Defines and communicates the test strategy for the project.  

• Manages all test processes, including test plans, resources, costs, timescales, test deliverables and traceability. 

• Manages client relationships with respect to testing matters. Identifies process improvements and contributes to corporate testing standards and definition of best practice. 

Relationship Management 

• Leads the development and Implements of comprehensive stakeholder management strategies and plans.  

• Translates communications / stakeholder engagement strategies into specific activities and deliverables 

• Builds long-term, strategic relationships with senior stakeholders (internal and external). 

• Facilitates the engagement of stakeholders and delivery of services and change projects, acting as a single point of contact for senior stakeholders, facilitating relationships between them. 

• Negotiates to ensure that stakeholders understand and agree what will meet their needs, and that appropriate agreements are defined. 

• Oversees monitoring of relationships including lessons learned and appropriate feedback. 

• Leads actions to improve relations and open communications with and between stakeholders.  

• Deals with problems and issues, managing resolutions, corrective actions, lessons learned and the collection and dissemination of relevant information. 

Methods and Tools 

• Provides advice and guidance to support adoption of methods and tools and adherence to policies and standards.  

• Tailors processes in line with agreed standards and evaluation of methods and tools.  

• Reviews and improves usage and application of methods and tools. 

Problem Management 

• Initiates and monitors actions to investigate and resolve problems in systems, processes and services.  

• Determines problem fixes/remedies.  

• Assists with the implementation of agreed remedies and preventative measures. 

Quality Assurance 

• Plans, organises and conducts formal independent audits of complex projects, major programmes or functional areas.  

• Evaluates, appraises and identifies non-compliances with organisational standards, and determines whether appropriate quality control has been applied.  

• Prepares and reports audit findings and determines the risks associated with those findings and ensures that corrective actions are carried out. 

• Reviews and analyses audit reports to identify common areas of non-compliance and identifies opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisational control mechanisms.  

• Performs audits throughout the supply chain.  

• Plans and oversees the assurance activities of others.   

Knowledge 

• Is fully familiar with recognised industry bodies of knowledge both generic and specific.  

• Actively seeks out new knowledge for own personal development and the mentoring or coaching of others. 

• Develops a wider breadth of knowledge across the industry or business. 

• Applies knowledge to help to define the standards on which others will apply. 

• Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry 

Influence 

• Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialisms.  

• Builds appropriate and effective business relationships.  

• Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, I.e. results, deadlines and budget.  

• Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments.  

• Leads on user/ customer collaboration throughout all stages of work. 

• Ensures users' needs are met consistently through each works stage.  

Autonomy 

• Works under broad direction.  

• Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and / or project/ supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and / or responsibilities.  

Complexity 

• Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/ or professional work activities.  

• Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts, understands the relationship between own specialisms and wider customer / organisations requirements  

Business Skills 

• Able to indirectly lead and positively influence teams. 

• Facilitate collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives to reach an agreed concensus on the path forward. 

• Analyses, designs plan, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets.  

• Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement.  

• Takes all requirements into account when making proposals. # 

• Demonstrates creativity, innovation and ethical think in applying solutions forth benefit of the customer/ stakeholder. 

• Advises on available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialisms and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. 

• Mentors colleagues to ensure that their knowledge, skills and ability increase.  

• Assesses and evaluates risk.  

• Proactively ensures security is appropriately addressed with their area by self and others. 

• Engages or works with security specialists as necessary.  

• Contributes to the security culture of the organisation.  

Other 

Skills: 

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills 

• A flexible attitude with respect to work assignments and new learning 

• Ability to manage multiple and varied tasks with enthusiasm and prioritize workload with attention to detail 

• Ability to effectively delegate work to team members 

• Must have the ability to work methodically in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment 

• Demonstratable ability to apply critical thinking to problems and tasks 

• Builds and maintains an in-depth knowledge of testing and validation within the life sciences industry and how they affect customers adopting our products 

• Ability to identify and plan testing activities to meet testing / validation goals 

• Ability to identify tests suitable for automation 

• Ability to create automated test scripts that meet the testing objectives or can instruct others to implement the automation approach 

• Proactively participates in skills improvement training 

• Ability to coach and mentor colleagues in the test team 

• Maintains an up-to-date awareness of trends, tools, technology, techniques and processes that affect testing and technology within the Life sciences domain 

• A self-starter and able to work under own initiative 

Knowledge and Experience:  

• Proven experience leading or mentoring colleagues in a software testing / validation team 

• Experience using tools to communicate progress to Stakeholders 

• Experience of regulated environments (GxP, Financial, etc…) or relevant testing experience from another domain that is transferable 

• Experience of coaching and mentoring a range of junior colleagues and cross functional peers 

• ISTQB Foundation or equivalent 

• Extensive experience in the same or very similar role 

• Experience of working in and knowledge of the life sciences sector 

• Bachelor's Degree in a technical discipline (Maths, Science, Engineering, Computing, etc.) or a related study, or equivalent project-related experience 

• English: Fluent