Job Purpose Statement

The Technical Assurance Specialist is a technical role responsible for executing comprehensive performance testing strategies, ensuring system quality standards, and validating that banking applications meet defined performance criteria. This role focuses on hands-on performance testing, system integration testing, and quality validation across the organization's digital banking platforms and core systems. The position requires solid technical skills in performance testing tools and methodologies, with the ability to independently plan and execute testing activities for medium to high complexity systems. The role holder will coordinate testing efforts across multiple projects, analyse performance results, and provide actionable recommendations to improve system reliability and efficiency

 

Key Accountabilities (Duties and Responsibilities)
Perspective		Output
Performance Testing & Execution	45%	Plan and execute performance test scenarios including load, stress, spike, and endurance testing for banking applications. Develop performance test scripts using industry-standard tools (JMeter, LoadRunner) for web, mobile, and API interfaces. Configure and manage test environments and test data for realistic performance validation Monitor and collect performance metrics during test execution (response times, throughput, resource utilization) Identify performance bottlenecks through analysis of test results and system behaviour. Validate system performance against defined SLAs and acceptance criteria. Conduct baseline testing and comparative analysis for system upgrades and releases.
Perspective		Output
Technical Assurance Processes	25%	Execute system integration testing to validate end-to-end business processes across multiple applications Perform API testing using tools like SoapUI and Postman to ensure interface reliability. Validate data flows and transaction integrity across integrated systems. Test failover scenarios and disaster recovery procedures for critical systems. Verify system configurations and deployment settings for optimal performance. Support user acceptance testing with performance validation and issue resolution
Test Analysis & Reporting	15%	Analyse test results to identify trends, patterns, and areas of concern. Prepare detailed test reports with performance metrics, findings, and recommendations. Create performance dashboards for stakeholder visibility into system health. Document performance issues with clear reproduction steps and impact analysis incidents. Track and report testing progress against project timelines and quality goals
Testing Process & Automation	10%	Develop and maintain performance test scripts and scenarios library. Improve testing processes to increase efficiency and coverage Integrate performance tests into CI/CD pipelines for continuous validation. Maintain test documentation including test plans, cases, and procedures
Stakeholder Coordination	5%	Collaborate with development teams to understand application architecture and testing requirements.  Coordinate with infrastructure teams for test environment setup and monitoring. Work with business analysts to define performance acceptance criteria.

Job Dimensions
 

Reporting Relationships: jobs that report to this position directly and indirectly
Direct Reports	None (Individual contributor role)
Indirect Reports	Consultants from Technology Vendors

 

Stakeholder Management: key stakeholders that the position holder will need to liaise/work with to be successful in this role.
Internal Senior Manager, Technical Assurance (Direct Manager) Development Team Leads and Developers Infrastructure and Operations Teams Project Managers and Coordinators Business Analysts and Product Owners Database Administrators Security and Compliance Teams	External Application Vendors (for testing support) Third-party Integration Partners Testing Tool Vendors (for technical support)

 

Decision-Making Authority /Mandates/Constraints: the decisions the position holder is empowered to make (Indicate if it is Operational, Managerial, or Strategic). Please also highlight any budgetary control responsibility, if applicable, for the role.

Testing Decisions: Determines test scenarios, data requirements, and execution approach (OPERATIONAL/TECHNICAL) Quality Assessments: Provides pass/fail recommendations based on test results (OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL) Issue Escalation: Identifies and escalates critical performance issues (OPERATIONAL/MANAGERIAL) Tool Usage: Selects appropriate testing tools and techniques for specific requirements (TECHNICAL/MANAGERIAL) Budget Control Responsibility No direct budgetary control Provides input on testing tool requirements only

 




 

Ideal Job Specifications

Required: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or related field Preferred: ISTQB Foundation or Advanced Level certification Performance testing tool certifications (LoadRunner, JMeter) Basic cloud certifications (AWS/Azure fundamentals) Professional Experience Required: 4-6 years of experience in software testing with at least 2 years focused on performance testing. Hands-on experience with performance testing of web and mobile applications Experience testing applications in banking/financial services environment. Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple testing assignments. Experience with both manual and automated testing approaches

NCBA Bank Core Value Behaviours (Performance Drivers)

Driven. Describes people who are decisive, bold, and passionate, aiming to deliver to the highest standards of expectations with ease. We seek new challenges and appreciate different views, constantly raining the bar and exploring our full potential.  Open. Describes people who are inclusive, listening to each other and our customers. We always respect each other and hold candid interactions with honesty and transparency. Responsive. Describes proactive people who act quickly and resolutely to deliver results. We put our customer's interests at the heart of all that we do. We keep it simple and seek new ways to innovate. Trusted. Describes people who value teamwork and have high standards of integrity. We keep our word, are accountable, and believe in each other. Seek to be a trusted partner, always doing what is morally right.

 

Technical Competencies

Key Responsibilities

Performance Testing & Execution Competencies (45% alignment) Performance Test Planning & Design: Identify test scenarios and create test strategies covering load, stress, spike, and endurance testing for systems. Define performance acceptance criteria based on business requirements. Advanced Test Script Development: Develop and maintain complex performance test scripts using JMeter and LoadRunner with advanced features (correlation, parameterization, custom functions). Test Environment Management: Coordinate with infrastructure teams for environment provisioning and monitoring setup. Performance Metrics Analysis: Collect and analyze comprehensive performance metrics including response times, throughput, error rates, and resource utilization. System Integration & Quality Testing Competencies End-to-End Testing Expertise: Execute integration test scenarios across interconnected banking systems. Ensure data consistency and integrity across system boundaries. API Testing Proficiency: Design and execute API test suites using SoapUI and Postman for REST and SOAP services. Test API performance under various load conditions and network scenarios. Resilience Testing: Conduct failover and disaster recovery testing for critical banking systems. Validate high availability configurations and backup procedures. Test system behavior under failure conditions (network, database, service outages). Test Analysis & Reporting Competencies Data Analysis & Insights: Analyze test results to identify performance trends and degradation patterns. Documentation: Create test reports tailored for technical and business audiences. Testing Process & Automation Competencies Test Automation Skills: Integrate performance tests into CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins or Azure DevOps. Process Improvement: Identify and implement improvements to testing processes and methodologies. Standardize testing approaches across similar applications. Maintain test artifact libraries and knowledge repositories. Stakeholder Management Competencies Technical Communication: Effectively communicate technical findings to diverse stakeholders. Translate performance metrics into business impact. Collaborative Working: Work effectively in cross-functional Agile teams. Coordinate testing activities across multiple project streams. Provide timely status updates and escalate risks appropriately.

Behavioural Competencies

Analytical: Strong analytical skills for performance data interpretation Methodical approach to test planning and execution Attention to detail in identifying performance variations. Ability to correlate system metrics with application behaviour. Independence & Reliability: Self-directed in managing testing assignments. Reliable delivery of testing commitments Proactive in identifying and communicating risks. Consistent quality in test execution and documentation Communication Skills:  Clear written communication for test reports and documentation Ability to explain performance issues to non-technical stakeholders. Effective collaboration with distributed teams Professional interaction with vendors and partners Problem-Solving: Systematic approach to troubleshooting performance issues Creative thinking for test scenario design Practical solutions for testing challenges Quick learning of new applications and technologies