Payroll Metrics develops enterprise payroll software used across Australia and New Zealand. Our multi-tenant SaaS platform operates in a complex, highly regulated environment and integrates with leading HR and workforce management systems.

Payroll is mission-critical software. A payroll error is not a cosmetic bug, and quality, accuracy and reliability are fundamental to what we do.

About the role

We are looking for a Test Manager to lead our testing function.

You will lead our Test Lead and Testing Specialist team, own how testing is undertaken across the platform and provide the authoritative assessment of release readiness. Reporting to the Product Manager, you will work closely with development, product, architecture and infrastructure.

A key focus of the role is automation. We use Testim for test automation and Azure DevOps for builds and releases. We want automated testing embedded in the pipeline, with results published, trends visible and failures operating as a quality gate. Building this capability, and making it something the team trusts, is a key outcome for the role.

What you'll do

Own the test strategy across functional, regression, integration and API testing, and establish the framework supporting user acceptance testing.

Embed quality throughout the SDLC, ensuring requirements and acceptance criteria are testable and testing effort and risk are identified before development commences.

Own the release testing process and provide the authoritative recommendation on release readiness.

Drive the automation roadmap, including coverage, suite design, test data and maintainability.

Work with relevant teams to integrate automated testing into the Azure DevOps build and release pipeline and operate it as a quality gate.

Ensure appropriate non-functional testing, including performance, security, resilience and scalability.

Lead,



coach and develop the testing team and plan capacity across releases and major programmes.

Own the defect management process from triage through to closure, including appropriate root-cause analysis of significant or recurring defects.

Analyse escaped defects and production incidents to continuously improve test coverage and testing practices.

Report coverage, cycle time, defect leakage and quality metrics to the Product Manager and executive.

Ensure our testing practice meets the requirements of our certified quality and security management systems.

What you'll bring

At least seven years' software testing experience, including three or more years in test leadership or management.

Demonstrated ownership of test strategy for a commercial software product.

Hands-on experience integrating automated tests into a CI/CD pipeline, including running tests, publishing results and gating builds or releases.

Substantial experience with a modern test automation platform and maintaining a stable, trusted regression suite.

Practical knowledge of test data management and test environment readiness.

Robust risk-based planning and the judgement to prioritise when everything is urgent.

Clear communication and the confidence to recommend that a release is not ready when quality standards have not been met.

Nice to have

Experience with Testim and Azure DevOps Pipelines.

Australian or New Zealand payroll knowledge, or experience with another complex, rules-driven or regulated software domain.

Experience testing a multi-tenant, highly configurable SaaS product.

Experience testing API and webhook-based integrations.

ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager certification or equivalent.

Why you'll want this role

Real ownership. This is the senior testing role in the business. You will set the standard and shape how quality is managed.

Direct access to product, engineering and executive decision-making.

Flexible and remote working within a team that releases regularly.

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📌 Test Manager (Canberra)
🏢 Payroll Metrics
📍 Canberra