Non Functional & Performance Test Architect (Contract)

Key Details... Job Type: Contract (6 months) Location: London or Cirencester Working Style: Hybrid (2-3 days onsite a week) Day rate: £600-750 Why this role exists… We're working with a leading wealth management client to strengthen how non-functional quality is embedded across their technology estate Rather than treating performance, resilience, security, and operational readiness as activities that happen towards the end of delivery, we're building a proactive, shift-left approach where these considerations are built into solutions from the start. We are looking for a Test Architect who will sit within the central technology teams and be responsible for defining and implementing the enterprise-wide Performance Engineering and Non-Functional Testing strategy. What you'll be doing... You'll play a central role in shaping how non-functional quality is approached across an entire organisation, helping teams deliver technology that is performant, resilient, scalable, and operationally ready from day one. Your responsibilities will include: Establishing the standards, frameworks, tooling, governance and best practices for non-functional and performance testing Providing leadership and guidance on performance engineering and non-functional testing practices Embedding a shift-left approach to performance, resilience, reliability, security, availability, and recoverability across the delivery lifecycle Defining and governing tooling and frameworks that support enterprise-wide adoption Working closely with Engineering, Architecture, Product, DevOps, Cloud Operations, and Delivery teams to drive consistent approaches Defining metrics, reporting, and quality measures to improve visibility and decision-making Driving continuous improvement across non-functional testing and performance engineering capabilities In your first 3-6 months, success might look like: Establishing a clear Performance Engineering and Non-Functional Testing strategy and roadmap Defining enterprise standards, governance processes, and tooling recommendations Building strong relationships across technology teams and suppliers What you'll need to succeed... We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking, technical expertise, and strong stakeholder management skills. You might be a great fit if you have: Significant experience in Performance Engineering and Non-Functional Testing within large-scale technology environments Background in the financial services industry and working with Snowflake and SQL Strong knowledge of performance, scalability, resilience, reliability, security, availability, and recoverability testing Experience defining enterprise standards, frameworks, and governance models An understanding of modern software engineering, cloud platforms, DevOps, and CI/CD practices Experience selecting and implementing non-functional testing tools and frameworks The ability to influence senior stakeholders and technical teams without direct authority Experience working collaboratively with third-party suppliers and partners This role might not be the right fit if you're looking for: A project-based delivery role focused primarily on test execution A role limited to a single application or programme Minimal stakeholder engagement or strategic responsibility