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
Daniel S.
Last position:
Business and IT analysis as well as implementation consulting for an e-invoicing project (eInvoicing) for a state-owned bank
Business and IT analysis as well as implementation consulting for an e-invoicing project (eInvoicing) for a state-owned bank
- Professional management and coordination of the external service provider
- Business support for the introduction and integration of an e-invoicing solution into existing system landscapes
- Design and validation of electronic invoice formats (XRechnung, ZUGFeRD), including business terms and business rules
- Definition and coordination of business validation logic, mandatory fields, and tax requirements
- Analysis and coordination of business edge cases together with business departments and the tax department
- Support with connecting invoice-generating systems as well as with integration and mapping processes
- Translation of business requirements into technical implementation requirements
Anagha D.
Last position:
Project Manager at Heidelberg Engineering
- Streamlined project activities for R&D projects, ensuring seamless collaboration among cross-functional teams.
- Proactively identified and mitigated potential project risks, maintaining smooth progress and adherence to timelines.
- Effectively managed and optimized project resources to maximize efficiency and minimize waste.
- Maintained thorough and accurate project documentation to enhance clarity and transparency throughout project lifecycles.
- Initiated projects with comprehensive kick-off meetings, aligning team members and setting clear objectives for successful project execution.
- Facilitated issue board meetings to address and resolve project-related issues promptly, ensuring minimal disruptions.
- Conducted regular stakeholder meetings to ensure alignment and collaboration, fostering a supportive project environment.
- Delivered detailed progress reports to the leadership team, ensuring transparency and accountability in project outcomes.
Alexander K.
Last position:
Software Tester at Buhl Tax Service GmbH
- AI-assisted creation of test cases and test data
- Creation of test cases based on requirements
- Execution of manual tests
- Defect documentation, retesting and tracking
Technologies & Tools: SCRUM, Jira, Confluence, Zephyr Scale
René A.
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
Leonard H.
Last position:
Senior Test Manager at LBBW
- Senior Test Manager for multiple strategic banking programs and large migration projects
- Responsibility for test and release management of central data integration platforms with over 40 data provider systems and 50 consumer IT systems
- Conducting acceptance reviews and management reporting
Michael S.
Last position:
Head of IT Project Management and Software Development DACH at Webhelp Holding Germany GmbH
- Established and developed the IT organization in the DACH region (including Poland and the Balkans)
- Directly reporting to the CTO, handling various special tasks (e.g., GDPR, communication with the works council, data protection support and CISO)
- 9 years of disciplinary and technical leadership of project management teams (internal and external clients) and software development in the DACH region
- 4 years of disciplinary and technical leadership of the IT Service Desk for the DACH region (1st level)
- Defined strategy and developed roadmaps in collaboration with the CTO (infrastructure renewal, digitalization, security, BCM)
- Derived projects from the roadmap, prioritized, planned and executed them
- Team leadership (managing project teams up to 50 people; disciplinary and technical leadership of 12 people)
- Data center build/relocation (one build, three relocations/mergers)
- GDPR implementation (initial registration, maintenance process, procedure directories)
- Managed ISO27001 initial certification and two recertifications (ITSM, IT processes, hardware and software inventory, development guidelines)
- Established and took responsibility for IT requirements management
- Responsible as system owner for in-house developments (automation platform, tracking and security tools)
- Process analysis (gathering, alignment, analysis, improvement, design)
- 6 months as interim CTO (due to the CTO's illness)
Artem Z.
Last position:
Test Manager, Senior Tester, Agile Senior Tester at Self-employed
Holger G.
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
Stefan G.
Last position:
Senior Project Manager at Self-employed Project Manager and Consultant
Program and project management for IT projects with a focus on energy supply, process & system harmonization (SAP IS-U)
Project Health Check, Preventive Healthcare for IT projects, Turn Around Management
Strategy consulting in IT governance and IT strategy with a focus on process & system harmonization
Adem S.
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
Goran P.
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)
Christian T.
Last position:
Senior Consultant / Lead Auditor at Syngenity GmbH / TÜV Süd
- Support companies to fulfil requirements and to implement following management systems: ISO 9001, ISO 22301, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, TISAX
- Carrying out internal and external audits regarding the following standards: ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, TISAX
Sebastian C.
Last position:
Public institution responsible for educational institutions in NRW
- Consulting on processes and execution of load tests, performance tests and technical tests of various applications: web portal, file cloud, email, video conferencing, learning/course platform
- Creating the load test framework
- Programming test scripts (JMeter, Selenium)
- Developing batches to support the evaluation
- Executing load tests and evaluating results, including clear reporting, recommendations for action, and bottleneck analysis
- Managing tasks and collaboration to achieve meaningful load test results
Paul D.
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.
Frank G.
Last position:
Test Manager in the HORIZON Program at Independent Consultant
- Cross-program test status reporting for the HORIZON program
- Maintenance of the central ALM test repository for HORIZON
- Conducting test sessions
- Defect management
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
22 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
63%
Doctorate
14%
Certifications per freelancer
7
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
92%
Based on our profile pool as of 15 Nov 2026.
Daily rate distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of experts holding this certification in Germany are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows the share of experts charging 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 15 Nov 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Information Technology (96%)
- Banking and Finance (79%)
- Professional Services (55%)
- Transportation (42%)
- Manufacturing (42%)
- Automotive (36%)
- Healthcare (36%)
- Insurance (36%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
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 101 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 808 € 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, 63% hold at least a Master's degree, and 14% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers with ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level – Test Manager (CTAL-TM) in Germany have 22 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 (21%).
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 (79%), and Professional Services (55%).
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 (85%).
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