CURRICULUM VITAE

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Results-focused Software Test Engineer with extensive experience in test planning, test strategy, reporting and hands-on testing (manual & automated) of embedded devices, mobile/desktop/web applications, and software APIs in multidiscipline environments. Good understanding of software development tools and software development lifecycles. Agnostic when it comes to tools, test approaches, development and project management approaches.

Areas of expertise:

• Testing Methodologies 
• Test Management on Projects
• Process Introduction & Improvement
• Test Planning & Strategy
• Requirement Analysis 
• Requirements Gathering
• Manual and Automated Testing
• New Tool Introduction

03/2022 - 02/2024: FFE UK Ltd - Embedded Test Engineer

FFE is part of Halma plc specialising in manufacturing smoke and flame detectors designed to protect life and high-value assets. I worked in a small multidiscipline team in a hybrid multisite environment, mainly supporting the business in the sustaining engineering team, and looking at the future direction of testing and test automation within the Technical (R&D) team. Managed own workload with a high degree of autonomy on Scrum and Kanban managed projects. 

• Developed a proof-of-concept CI-Test automation system testing an existing smoke detector product that used Git-Lab pipeline, Git-Lab runner, Python with Pytest and Xray to show how automation can work on new projects.

• Demonstrated how Xray can be used on new projects, show traceability with requirements and demonstrate compliance.

• Worked with mechanical engineers and other testers to capture requirements to develop new test rigs for soak testing and speed up testing to save on test setup time.

• Ensured test was represented at the early stages of projects and any new work that came through as part of the sustaining engineering activities.

• Incorporating ideas from other team members to improve testing.

• Used a holistic approach to testing that involved other disciplines (electronics, mechanical, software) to ensure that when a BOM (bill of materials) changed for a product, risks are taken into account and testing carried out by electronic engineers, software engineers and testers is aligned and mistakes are minimised.

• Worked on a test strategy template for new product development to make all the testing visible to key stakeholders.

• Support with automation where necessary.

• Helping contribute to process changes outside of the testing domain.

• Reviewing documents using Cognidox.

11/2021 - 03/2022: Health-related break

• After getting Covid twice I had to stop working to let myself recover.

07/2021 - 11/2021: Datapath Ltd - Embedded Test Engineer

Datapath is a small company that manufactures graphics cards and video KVM switches for displays. Wrote automation scripts and framework code in Python to drive the testing of the Aligo IP video KVM system.

• Used Python to create a test framework around Pytest utilising existing scripts where needed.

• Framework code was written to interface with Quantumdata HDMI analyser and graphics capture cards.

03/2020 - 07/2021: Career break - Various activities during the pandemic

• Attended online conferences (Examples - TestBash Home, FT Global Boardroom, CogX 2020);

• Attended a Critical Thinking course via Zoom;

• Teach my nephew (14-year-old) Python basics;

• Help care for my elderly father;

• Improve my Python skills via Udemy courses.

11/2019 - 02/2020: Roku, Inc. - Senior QA Engineer

Roku manufactures media streaming players and provides a digital TV streaming platform for others to license. I worked in the TV new products team. Conducted testing of TV OS features, HbbTV browser, Wi-Fi, DVB-T/DVB-2T streams using live feeds and DekTec modulator.

• Helped a new starter to get them up to speed and contribute.

• Used TestRail to create and execute E2E tests.

08/2014 - 11/2019: Cambridge Consultants - Senior Engineer (in Test)

Cambridge Consultants is a technology consultancy. I worked within the Wireless and Digital Services division where I managed and carried out testing of cross-divisional multidiscipline projects in industrial, consumer, semiconductor, and medical industries. Oversaw and carried out testing of over 20 projects, including Bluetooth/DECT stacks, SDK/logging tool, smart inhaler, indoor location system, IoT, utilities geospatial asset tracking system, Iridium satellite projects, etc. Used test at start of projects to help deliver high-quality projects with new clients that resulted in significant repeat contracts.

• Introduced new methods of testing on projects by combining session-based exploratory testing with test cases.

• Applied test strategies to different software development approaches agile, waterfall and big bang.

• Coordinated with technical architects, project managers and other key stakeholders to evaluate timescales for contributing to statements of work. 

• Identifying the testing skillset needed for testing and seeking individuals with specific domain experience.

• Mentored Tech Scholars and Graduate engineers on projects.

• Used various testing strategies and techniques such as exploratory testing, test cases, ad-hoc and mixed techniques.

• Worked on troubled and high-pressure client projects that needed help from Cambridge Consultants.

• Created simple tools with scripting languages (Python) to support manual testing.

• Reviewed Python scripts developed by other engineers to ensure the automated scripts tested the requirements.

• Investigated utilisation of automation tools such as MonkeyTalk to test mobile applications on iOS and Android.

• Developed tests using the in-house Python test frameworks.

• Tested devices with Wi-Fi, NFC, LoRA, Bluetooth and DECT wireless technologies.

• Utilised logging tools such as Fiddler, Wireshark, Postman, and bespoke loggers to aid testing and fault finding.

Example of a project (publicly disclosed) where I was the project test lead: [https://www.cambridgeconsultants.com/case-studies/accesso-smart-wearable]

Quote from the link above:
"We handed Prism over and it simply worked – we didn’t even need to be there."

04/2008 - 03/2014: Imagination Technologies (Pure) – Design Assurance Engineer

Pure was a consumer electronics division of Imagination Technologies that manufactured DAB radios, internet-connected radios, wireless multi-room speaker systems, in-car aftermarket DAB radios, Apple docks and an STB PVR. In addition, we provided our own web portal and music streaming service mobile app. The team was multidisciplined, spread across 3 countries. The position required adaptability as Pure expanded with new product categories and markets.

• Identified and help resolve various issues reported by testers, external consumers, and internal beta testers through coordinating with the development group.

• Collaborated with software, hardware, sales/marketing, and customer support team to achieve objectives.

• Applied various testing strategies to test multi-room wireless speakers, mobile/tablet apps, DAB connected radios and in-car aftermarket, Apple dock, and connected STB PVR products.

• Transitioned testing from a single site to a multi-site environment in support of business growth.

• Carried out ad-hoc, exploratory, performance, feature, system, and product testing.

• Managed testing of software for a product and gained excellent reviews in the press.

• Introduced test case management tool TestLink to the existing workflow for projects within Pure to aid testing across a multi-site development environment.

• Deployed in-house tools to automate testing tasks.

• Run E2E test packs for BBC iPlayer and YouTube for Pure Avalon STB.

• Carried out interoperability tests including, UPnP servers, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth products. 

• Delegated test work to teams in the UK, China, and India and monitored progress to ensure test activity and meet deadlines.

Example of a project where I was the project test lead: 

[https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/pure-highway-300di]

01/2007 - 03/2008: Motorola Cambridge (Motorola, Inc.) (ex TTPCom Ltd) – Test Developer/Test Engineer

I worked in the wireless system division of what was Motorola TTPCom. The division's purpose was to deliver IP to mobile device manufacturers. My main work was on testing a 3G dual-mode protocol stack running on new silicon.

• Prepared system-level test cases and implemented manual tests

• Focused on test cases for acceptance criteria to release software to an external client of TTPCom.

• Automated manual test cases by utilising an in-house tool based on C language syntax to write scripts.

• Delegate work to other test engineers.

• Carry out field testing of the protocol stack.

• Coordinated with a new team to create new processes.

My main project was to test a 3G dual-mode protocol stack:

[https://www.sunplus.com/press/press.asp?id=04F3DD4E40256]

09/2004 - 01/2007: Nokia (R&D) UK Ltd – Software Test Engineer

Worked on Series 40 software including embedded apps used in feature phones, used by millions of people globally, requiring high standards of testing and quality control. I worked in the Middleware Applications and UI department focused on call logs, call handling and the phonebook applications.

• Used my skills as a tester to question the functional design that resulted in changes in an application's architecture.

• Carried out peer reviews, inspections and walkthroughs on test specification changes, automated scripts, design proposals and UI specification changes.

• Used the Anite SAS network simulator to test call handling features of the phone and speed up testing by getting the simulator to semi-automate manual testing.

• Wrote automated test scripts in Python to test the phone software.

• Made suggestions for improving the user interface were some of the ideas were included in the final design.

• Support software engineers by reproducing and tracing errors raised by various teams within Nokia.

09/2003 - 07/2004: Sendo Mobiles Ltd (acquired by Motorola) - Contract Software Tester

Sendo was a British mobile phone manufacturer that was later acquired by Motorola Inc. I worked in the Validation department, testing the Sendo X smartphone. It was a very fast-paced and challenging environment in a small company challenging the dominance of larger players in the smartphone space.

• Creating new test cases and carrying out software testing using prewritten test cases to test the software against its specification.

• Carried out smoke testing, acceptance testing and field testing.

• Analysed failures and produced detailed steps to reproduce them.

• Wrote reports and produced statistics for management reporting on validation status.

• Delegated test tasks, providing support and training new team members.

My main project was to test the Sendo X smartphone:

[http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/reviews/item/Sendo_X.php]

07/2000 - 06/2001: Consort Securities Systems Ltd (later Dion Global Solutions) - Analyst Programmer/Tester (University placement)

Consort was a small software house that developed share dealing systems and related software. I worked on share dealing systems developed for Windows and DOS. I was an integral part of the development team managing source control in COOL:Plex, writing SQL to perform queries in Crystal Reports, creating installation routines for server and client installation and C++ development.

• Developed skills in Borland C/C++, Visual C++, COOL:Plex, Crystal Reports, Wise InstallManager, Visual Source Safe and software testing.

• Performed impact analysis on changes to requirements on own responsible areas of development.

1997 - 2002: Coventry University 

• BSc (Hons) Computer Systems - Awarded 2:1 (including industrial placement)                       

• HND Computing - Awarded HND