Test Manager

Senior Test Manager (Digital Euro Programme)

Duration: Initial contract until end of pilot phase (extension possible)

Workload: Full time hours

Setup: Freelance (Daily Rate / Limited Company / Umbrella / Sole Trader)

Sponsorship: Not Provided

Location: Remote / Vienna, Austria

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Test Manager to lead and coordinate all testing activities for a complex Digital Euro programme involving multiple banking entities, technology partners, and ECB stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and own the overall Test Strategy, Test Concept, governance model, and integrated test plan.
• Coordinate end-to-end testing across banks, vendors, payment platforms, APIs, and external Digital Euro components.
• Lead ECB/DESP testing activities, technical validation, readiness assessments, and evidence management.
• Manage cross-entity test execution, defect triage, quality gates, and phase-exit recommendations.
• Ensure requirements traceability, test coverage, non-functional testing, and operational readiness.
• Present testing status, risks, and go-live recommendations to senior stakeholders and programme boards.

Must-Have Skills:

• Extensive Test Management experience within banking, payments, or financial services environments.
• Strong Digital Euro, CBDC, digital wallet, or payment ecosystem knowledge.
• Previous experience working on ECB testing initiatives or Digital Euro programmes.
• Enterprise-level Test Strategy, SIT, UAT, E2E, regression, and operational readiness testing expertise.
• Strong API, payment platform, core banking, integration, and transaction-processing testing experience.
• Expertise in defect management, quality governance, test reporting, and stakeholder management.
• Fluent English communication skills.

Nice-to-Have:

• Experience with central bank programmes, scheme certification, or regulatory validation activities.
• Knowledge of DESP frameworks and multi-entity banking organisations.
• Experience with high-availability, real-time payment systems and non-functional testing.
• German language skills.