ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM)
professionals in Germany, matched in minutes from 15,000 CVs with the power of AI.For test strategy, risk-based planning, test control, defect management, and leading test teams across complex delivery. Get fast, precise matching with vetted freelancers who hold the ISTQB CTAL-TM.
Meet FRATCH ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany
Goran Popovic
Last position:
Test Manager & Analyst at Festo / Questax GmbH
Project goal: Carrying out system tests and validating industrial communication and control systems, including requirements definition and verification.
Responsibilities:
- Test planning, test execution
- Test strategy, test cases, and test specifications
- Requirements analysis
- Ensuring traceability between requirements, test cases, and defects
- Carrying out regression and integration tests
- Defect analysis
- Simulation and validation
- NetSniffer Wireshark
- Supporting test automation (Python, CI/CD)
- Reporting
- Stakeholder coordination and agile collaboration (Scrum / SAFe / Kanban)
- V-Model
- CI/CD automation with Python, Groovy, and frameworks (Selenium, PyTest)
Technologies:: CAN, Modbus, Ethernet, PLC, PROFINET, Codebeamer ALM, Scrum, SAFe, MS Teams, Git, CI/CD with GitLab CI and TeamCity, Windows Batch, FAS, Wireshark, Python, Enterprise Architect (EA), AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot), VS Code, Tia Portal, SCL, Python (Selenium, PyTest)
René Adam
Last position:
Test (Automation) Engineer at BWI GmbH
Introduced a unified test strategy to establish quality gates and define test activities for the 'ICaruS' subproject of the Bundeswehr
Built and implemented manual and automated tests, set up the test infrastructure, and introduced test management tools
Established KPIs and dashboards to present and distribute test metrics to project team members and stakeholders
Technologies used: Playwright, TypeScript, REST, PEGA Systems, Jira, HP ALM, GitLab Runner, Kubernetes, Git, VS Code, Angular, Scrum
Matthias Kühnlein
Last position:
Business Owner at AKM
Management of several MFA methods for central authentication within a group company. Interface between different stakeholders such as support, finance and accounting, developers, and security departments. Budget controlling and monitoring of KPIs as well as SLAs. Review of operating documentation
Yaroslav Shargorodskiy
Last position:
Senior Low-Code Consultant at Freelancer
Structured analysis and evaluation of business processes
Gathering, documenting, and prioritizing requirements
Creating business-friendly and technically executable process models
Use of Camunda tools
Deriving requirements and interfaces from BPMN diagrams
Coordination with stakeholders and business units
Translating business requirements into technical solution designs
Implementing efficient and tailored applications
Systematic collection, analysis, and documentation of requirements
Prioritizing and validating requirements in close collaboration with stakeholders
Alignment between business and development to ensure shared objectives
Creating use cases, user stories, and acceptance criteria
Continuous requirements and change management throughout the project lifecycle
Define project goals and create project plans
Delegate tasks and monitor project progress
Monitor budgets and inform stakeholders
Mendix: Architecture, development, and maintenance of custom applications (Microflows, Domain Model, Security, XPath)
Modeling Mendix workflows for process optimization
Develop scalable apps with Mendix including REST/SOAP integration with SAP, SQL, Azure & SharePoint
UI design for Mendix using Atlas UI, Fluent UI, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Develop web & mobile apps with Mendix using agile methods (Scrum, Kanban)
Implement business logic with Mendix Microflows and Nanoflows
Performance optimization and architecture improvements for Mendix applications
Conduct Mendix training
Create technical documentation and best practices for Mendix
Coaching and mentoring for low-code development with Mendix
Matthias Ottowski
Last position:
IT Project Manager at IT service provider
Implementation of anti-money laundering requirements in accordance with AMLA/KYC for an international large bank in Munich
Services provided:
- Clarification of the assignment, definition of the work package structure for the AMLA/KYC implementation project
- AI-supported project planning using my own AI workflow for project management
- Creation of the project management plan
- Resource and capacity planning
- Development of collaboration structures between IT service provider and bank client
- Alignment of responsibilities (RACI matrix)
- Management of 5 project members (core team)
- Project control, project monitoring, project reporting
- Communication management
- Escalation management
- Stakeholder management (11 stakeholders)
- Permanent member of the steering committee
- Project representation internally and externally
- Project reporting, management of decision-making bodies
- Project volume: 506 person-days (development effort)
- Risk management
- Quality management
- Organization and running of workshops
Methods: PMI PMBOK, EVM, GWG, DORA, BAIT, KANBAN, AML, AMLR, AMLA, GWG, KYC
IT environment: JIRA, Confluence, Sharepoint, Kantata Kimble, AI LLM Copilot, ChatGPT, anti-money laundering systems (in-house developments and SMARAGD)
Stéphane Tatuebu
Last position:
Senior Test Analyst – Test Automation - Test Management
- Testing interfaces between various systems
- Planning and coordinating test activities for features/improvements
- Selecting and adapting suitable test methods and procedures based on the test strategy
- Preparing and running test sessions
- Analysis, design, implementation, and documentation of manual and automated software tests
- Creating test cases and test scenarios using systematic test case specifications
- Performing and documenting system tests, regression tests, and smoke tests
- Monitoring and analyzing the executed test cases
- Maintaining and supporting the infrastructure and test data
- Analyzing and fixing error states related to test automation
- Documenting and tracking deviations, as well as supporting root cause analysis
- Analyzing errors and error tracking
- Working closely with product management
Aiman Ragab
Last position:
Test Manager and Test Automation Engineer at Warehouse Management Company
- Introduced test management with SolMan
- Implemented test automation with TOSCA
- Analyzed, created, and automated test cases
- Built regression test portfolio
- Stakeholder meetings and alignments
- Financial management
Sven Hummel
Last position:
Process Architect (Symbio, Signavio) at IT service provider for an international premium automaker
- Analyzing, aligning and modeling business processes (BPMN 2.0) for the 'The New Retail' program in the areas of invoicing, tax, customs and accounting
- Tracking user stories and their impact on processes
- Point of contact for preparing the tool migration from Symbio to Signavio for the mentioned areas
- Power user after the introduction of Signavio, point of contact and coach for other process modelers
Bernd Swillus
Last position:
Scrum Master (Squad DZB1) at DZ Bank Brokerage
- Supporting the team split, then Scrum Master for one of the teams
- Organizing and moderating Scrum and team meetings
- Co-preparing and moderating PI Planning (squad level) (mix of SAFe and Spotify)
- Promoting continuous improvement, self-organization, and communication
Martin Moser
Last position:
Test automation for trading software at Martin Moser IT Consulting GmbH
- Set up GUI test framework for testers and developers to easily create GUI tests
- Implemented automated GUI tests with QF-Test for stock trading software and PDF file comparisons
- Created comparison runs between different versions
Used technologies: QF-Test, Java, Jython
Johannes Engel
Last position:
E2E Test Manager / Technical Project Lead at Sky Media GmbH
Iterative test planning
Providing test infrastructure
Resource planning
Test design
Coordination of test teams
Defect management
Release management
Project planning
Cohort planning
Test planning
Test execution
Trial test planning
Rollout
Business analysis
Requirements engineering
Change management
E2E test coordination
Christoph Becker
Last position:
Test Manager at TÜV Süd AG
- Corporate merger of TÜV Süd AutoPlus GmbH and TÜV Süd AutoPartner GmbH (ensuring the functionality of all production and billing processes within the scope of the merger)
- Creation of the test strategy to ensure the functional integrity of existing business processes after the merger
- Definition of test goals, test types and test phases (e.g., functional tests, integration tests, end-to-end tests, regression tests)
- Identification of critical business processes and derivation of appropriate test data and test cases
- Planning of the test environment and ensuring the availability of required test systems and test data
- Close collaboration with IT departments, business units and external service providers
- Execution of acceptance tests with the business units to ensure system stability before go-live.
Adem Susam
Last position:
IT Consultant (Test Manager) & CEO at Trikolon Consulting GmbH
- Development and implementation of test concepts for complex, multi-layered systems
- Creation of regular management reports and presentations for stakeholders and clients
- Technical and disciplinary leadership of international test teams (coordination, coaching, resource planning)
- Responsibility for quality assurance across multiple test levels (unit, integration, system, and acceptance tests)
- Design of test cases and test plans in Azure DevOps; ensuring traceability and coverage
- Use of BDD approaches (Gherkin/Cucumber) to prepare test automation
- Building a test automation architecture with Playwright and integrating new tests into CI/CD pipelines
- Performing API tests (REST) and tests for mobile/PWA applications
- Setup and maintenance of test environments across multiple stages (integration, QA, UAT, pre-production)
- Test data management (synthetic and production-like data), ensuring consistency and reproducibility
- Collaboration with DevOps teams for containerization (Docker/OpenShift) and CI/CD integration
- Working under SAFe & Scrum, closely coordinating with product owners and DevOps teams
- Active participation in PI plannings, sprint reviews, and retrospectives
- Promoting an agile QA culture through coaching and knowledge sharing
- Introducing scalable test automation with Playwright → significant reduction of manual testing efforts
- Increasing test transparency through clean defect and reporting management in Azure DevOps
- Improved release quality through an end-to-end QA strategy and automated regression tests
- Strategic leadership of Trikolon Consulting GmbH and responsibility for finance, personnel, and business development
Holger Guschigk
Last position:
Test Automation Engineer, Quality Assurance Consultant at T-Systems
- Poliks – State Police System for information, communication, and case management and other state variants (ViVa, Bravo, customs)
- Developed a test framework for test automation to replace an existing proprietary test client for new developments, focusing on easy maintenance and simple extensibility for new technologies
- Designed the architecture
- Implemented the architecture
- Created a proof of concept by migrating existing test cases into the new test framework
- Platform: C#, .NET, Jira, XRay, Confluence, Playwright, Selenium, UI Automation, Appium, HTML, Git, VMWare, Windows 11, Linux
Paul Dragos
Last position:
Test manager in a transformation project for a large client in the logistics sector at Deutsche Bahn
- Effective leadership and coordination of agile test teams with a focus on MaKo and MaBiS.
- Development, implementation, and optimization of test strategies and concepts.
- Conducting risk analyses and quality management for MaKo/MaBiS.
- Central coordination of test phases and transparent test closure reports.
- Systematic defect and process optimization, initiation of test automation.
- Setup and consulting for complex test data management (Editor, XML Spy).
- Application of agile test methods (TDD, BDD, exploratory testing).
- Clarification of contract tests, SIT, UAT, penetration tests, LPT, FAT, E2E, and market partner tests.
- Coordination with development teams (GISA, KISTERS) for risk addressing.
- Creation of training materials and knowledge sharing on JIRA/Xray and XML Spy.
- Close alignment with stakeholders and interdisciplinary strategy development.
- Mentoring junior testers and introducing new test tools.
- In-depth knowledge of project management and ITIL V3 / ITIL 2011.
- Experience with Omnitracker, JIRA/Xray, and XML Spy.
- Fluent in German and business-level English.
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
21 years
Position duration
2.3 years
Positions per freelancer
14
Top business areas
Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Project Management
Top industries
Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Professional Services
Certification focus areas
Quality Assurance, Information Technology, Project Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
94%
Master's degree or higher
59%
Doctorate
16%
Certifications per freelancer
7
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
92%
Based on our profile pool as of 26 Aug 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers holding this certification in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.
Average rates for ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 26 Aug 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the certification
What CTAL-TM means
The ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) is an advanced software testing certification for people who lead test work, not just execute it. It shows that a professional can shape the test approach, manage test activities, and keep quality under control across a project or product stream.
Typical holder profile
CTAL-TM is usually held by test managers, QA leads, test coordinators, and senior testers who move into planning and governance. It also fits consultants who are brought into a delivery to improve the way testing is organized, reported, and steered.
Skills it validates
- Test strategy and test planning for different project contexts
- Risk-based testing and prioritization
- Estimation, monitoring, reporting, and control of test work
- Defect management and collaboration with development and business teams
- Team leadership, stakeholder communication, and test process improvement
- Test metrics, reviews, and quality assessment for management decisions
Knowledge areas behind it
The certification covers how to build a test plan that fits the delivery model, how to manage resources and schedules, and how to react when scope, risk, or defects change. It also reflects knowledge of test organization, incident and defect workflows, test tools, and how to make testing useful for project leadership.
Why companies look for it in Germany
In Germany, CTAL-TM is relevant when teams need structured test management, clear communication, and disciplined release support. It is useful in regulated environments, enterprise IT, and projects with many dependencies, where test leadership must work well with both local and remote teams.
What it tells you about a freelancer
A freelancer with the ISTQB CTAL-TM usually brings a management view of quality, not only hands-on test execution. You can expect someone who can set direction, organize people and work, and explain testing in business terms. That makes the certification a strong signal when you need a test manager who can take ownership quickly and fit into an existing delivery setup.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM)? Start with the answers below.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) validates the ability to plan, lead, and control testing at a management level. It focuses on strategy, risk, reporting, team coordination, and the practical decisions that keep test work aligned with project goals. It is not mainly about doing test cases yourself, but about managing how testing is organized and delivered.
The Foundation Level covers core testing terms, principles, and basic techniques. CTAL-TM goes further into leadership and control: how to build a test approach, manage risk, steer a team, and report quality to stakeholders. In short, it is aimed at people who are responsible for the test effort, not only for test execution.
The CTAL-TM is a strong fit for test managers, QA leads, and senior testers who coordinate test work across a team or project. It is also relevant for consultants who are brought in to stabilize test processes or improve release readiness. Companies usually look for it when testing needs structure, ownership, and clear communication.
A holder of the ISTQB Advanced Level Test Manager certification is typically involved in test planning, resource coordination, progress tracking, defect handling, and stakeholder reporting. They often work across requirements, development, and business teams to keep testing focused on risk and release goals. The role is especially useful when many people contribute to quality but no one owns the overall test direction.
Before preparing for ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM), a professional should already be comfortable with practical testing work and the vocabulary of software quality. The syllabus assumes experience with test planning, estimation, and team collaboration, so it is best suited to people who have already worked in real projects. Preparation usually means studying the syllabus carefully and connecting it to day-to-day test management situations.
For the ISTQB CTAL-TM, renewal depends on the current rules of the issuing body and the local certification scheme. Companies and candidates should always check the latest ISTQB and national board guidance before relying on an old assumption. The important point is that the certificate is tied to professional testing knowledge and should be kept current with modern test management practice.
The ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager is useful in enterprise software, finance, insurance, public-sector IT, telecom, and other projects with many stakeholders or strict quality expectations. In Germany, it also matters in mixed teams where communication across business, development, and external suppliers is key. It is a good sign when the project needs disciplined test control rather than informal coordination.
When you hire someone with the ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM), you get a signal that the person can take responsibility for the test process, not just individual tests. That matters when you need someone to organize the team, explain risks, and keep releases moving. It helps reduce guesswork about whether the freelancer can operate at a leadership level.
The average hourly rate for freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany is 100 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 803 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany, 94% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 59% hold at least a Master's degree, and 16% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany have 21 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 2.3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany are German (100%), English (92%), and French (18%).
The most common industries among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany are Information Technology (96%), Banking and Finance (80%), and Professional Services (51%).
The most common business areas among freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany are Information Technology (98%), Quality Assurance (96%), and Project Management (84%).
FRATCH ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg 
Munich Request a free demo
Get in touch with the FRATCH team and we will get back to you within 4 hours.
Would you rather directly get in touch?
We always have the time for a call or email!
Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
