Senior Test Consultant

Senior Test Consultant Location: Hampshire (Onsite) Duration: 18 Months Clearance: DV Clearance required (Active) Rate: £530 to £570 per day - Outside IR35 Overview We are seeking a Senior Test & Trials Consultant to provide specialist oversight and assurance across a highly secure government IT infrastructure programme. This role will focus on shaping, governing, and assuring test and trial activity, ensuring that infrastructure capabilities are validated, risks are identified early, and delivery remains aligned to operational requirements. The successful candidate will act as a trusted adviser to programme leadership, providing independent challenge, structured guidance, and leadership across complex test environments. Key Responsibilities Provide strategic oversight and assurance of Test & Trials activity across the programme Review and shape Test & Trials Strategies, Plans, and governance frameworks Advise programme leadership on test readiness, risks, and delivery confidence Provide independent challenge to ensure robust validation and assurance practices Support planning and execution of system integration, acceptance, and operational trials Engage with engineering, cyber, and operational stakeholders to ensure coordinated test delivery Produce high-level assurance reporting and readiness assessments Identify delivery risks and recommend mitigation strategies Support transition into service and operational acceptance activities Essential Skills & Experience Active DV Clearance (mandatory) Strong experience delivering Test & Trials consultancy or leadership within secure government or defence environments Demonstrable experience shaping test governance, strategy, and assurance frameworks Background working on secure IT infrastructure or complex systems programmes Experience advising senior stakeholders on test readiness and delivery risk Strong understanding of integration, system, and operational testing principles Ability to operate effectively within highly controlled, security-sensitive environments Desirable Experience Experience supporting MOD, Defence, or National Security programmes Familiarity with secure networks or infrastructure-based delivery environments Experience providing independent assurance or programme-level consultancy Knowledge of structured delivery methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, ITIL, Agile)