|
Akien MacIain |
|
|
QA Test
Automation Architect |
Prefer to be contacted by email |
|
Specializing
in high reusability and fast implementation |
Located in |
|
test
automation frameworks |
Cell 510 418 5793 |
What I Will Do For
Your Organization
I architect QA Test Automation
Systems (and sometimes continuous integration build systems) that enable your
QA automation team to build lots of tests very quickly, and keep them running
in dynamic environments with minimal maintenance. This is accomplished by
careful segmentation of the automation into components, using an n-tier type
approach. I will analyze your specific needs, design these systems, get them
implemented, get the people who will write the tests trained, and oversee
initial implementation. These projects take from 6 months to 2 years to
complete.
My Core Competencies
·
Strategic QA
Test Automation Design: Since 1991. Designing
high reusability/fast implementation QA test automation architecture, with HP
Quick Test Pro and Borland SilkTest.
·
SilkTest: Since 1992. Experience with Silk/QA Partner including publishing
a set of language extensions (I had the good fortune to be the first beta
tester for SilkTest), and an article on object based design in the Silk
newsletter.
·
HP QuickTest
Pro: Since 2005. Have implemented a
keyword driven system so that cases weren't "coded" but rather put in
a database. Also implemented a
·
Build
automation: 6 years experience (overall)
with designing and implementing continuous integration automated build and test
execution systems.
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Software QA: Since 1990. Competent with
·
Management: 14 years overall. Seven years managing software QA/test
automation efforts, three years managing builds, four years managing tech
support, and three years managing overseas automated test development teams in
·
Management
Relationship Coaching: 7 years
coaching managers and others on relationship dynamics and goal achievement. I
have also taught workshops at conferences on Relationships since 2002.
·
Courseware
design and presentation: Since 1992
(sporadic). Trained staff in SilkTest, modular architecture, and related
technical topics. Trained workshop attendees in relationship dynamics (see
Management Relationship Coaching, below). From 1985, gave sporadic trainings in
broadsword fighting and Scottish accents at Renaissance Faires.
·
Programming/Scripting/Computers
in general: Since 1984. Experience overall
with computers and scripting, from building binary adders, special purpose OS,
to QA test scripting.
About Me
I am proficient at leaping into
new things, learning as I go. I’ve taught myself QA, object oriented
programming, QuickTest Pro, Silk/QA Partner, a host of other languages and
tools; management relationship skills, and requirements writing. I am
particularly good at synthesizing new solutions, and working as a technical
resource for others, coaching staff to achieve their full potential. I have
experience testing a broad range of product types, I manage crisis and people
well, and I love doing the impossible.
Selected Publications
·
VBScript++: An
article I wrote about a library which brings true object oriented programming
to VBScript. The library is available for download at the end of the article.
Link: http://www.advancedqtp.com/knowledge-base/articles/code-techniques-id15/code-design-id16/using-classes-id30/vbscript/
Selected Professional
Experience
Test Automation
Architect; Delta Dental of California,
·
Reviewed
applications to be tested, analyzing for optimal automation strategy.
·
Designed high
speed implementation/high reuse framework for test automation – created
standards and base code for implementation team.
·
Trained team
and reviewed their implementation of cases for adherence to standards.
·
Implemented
true object based framework (VBScript++) for QTP/VBScript, including
inheritance and polymorphism.
·
Created
·
Toubleshooting
as needed, and designed new strategies and routines as application specific
challenges arose.
·
Mentored staff
on architectural approach to everything we did.
Products: Internal use systems
for claims processing and member management
Test Automation
Architect; Nimblefish Technologies, Inc.
, San Francisco – 2005 – 2007
·
Implemented database
based test automation system in Mercury Quick Test Pro. (Automated cases were
in the database, not implemented in code. Reduced automation failures due to
bugs in the automation code.)
·
Evaluated
testing needs based on requirements, wrote test plans, test cases, and bug
reports.
·
Implemented
TrackStudio bug tracking system on a variety of task types including bugs,
stories (discrete requirements), incidents (production system failures), help
desk requests, and others. Trained staff on the new system.
·
Performed
automated and manual testing.
Products: Highly relevant direct
marketing
QA Test Automation
Manager, Architect; Zone Labs, San Francisco – 2002 – 2005
·
Implemented
automated test architecture that reduced typical maintenance tasks from 1.5
days to 2 hours
·
Created
estimating tools and guidelines that reduced project calendar overrun to zero.
·
Coached
management staff in coaching employees
·
Defined
automation infrastructure including automated execution system
·
Implemented
test case database (
·
Wrote standards
·
Managed teams
of varying sizes, peaking at 10 in
Products: Endpoint firewall
products for consumer and enterprise
QA Test Automation
Manager, Architect; ProBusiness,
·
Implemented
automation infrastructure that allowed automated test cases to be used against
multiple applications with overlapping functionality.
·
Managed team of
six (including two telecommute workers), coaching, reporting status, etc.
·
Wrote a variety
of technical documents including white papers, design documents, IEEE compliant
requirements documents, coding standards, and project plans.
·
Trained team in
automation methodologies.
·
Responsible for
project scheduling and timely completion.
·
Defined test
automation harness frameworks, specified automated build and test execution
system, and managed implementation of these infrastructure components.
·
Built tools to
allow SilkTest to test a FoxPro for DOS and a Visual FoxPro application
(different versions of the same underlying product) using the same test cases
for both products. This was deemed impossible by the SilkTest community before
we did it.
Products: Two payroll tools, web
based benefits management
·
Managed team of
seven, including hiring, coaching, reporting status, etc.
·
Negotiated
service contract, resulting in a savings to the company of $30K annually.
·
Defined test
automation harness frameworks, trained team in automation methodologies,
oversaw project that reduced build times from hours to minutes.
·
Responsible for
project scheduling and timely completion.
·
Developed and
implemented company’s first beta test program.
Products: Web image color
correction application (a service provided to web retailers)
·
Managed
overseas development project of 6 months with 6 engineers, including writing
requirements, review of design documents and status. Oversaw project from
requirements to deployment and operation.
·
Designed and
operated automated build and test execution system.
·
Responsible for
13+ (up to 80) builds per day, along with execution of complete test suite
(650,000 test cases).
·
Defined
automation harness frameworks.
·
Hired and
managed team of seven.
·
Along with team,
created coding styles guidelines, code review procedures, and a document review
process, as well as test plans and bug report summaries.
Products: Embedded OS,
development environment, telephony applications (G711, G729, etc.), chip layout
tools, chip simulators (in C++ and Verilog)
Sr.
·
Tested and
automated the testing of ROM development environment (100 test cases).
·
Extended and
maintained Macintosh-based host/target automated test system for MagicCap-based handheld devices (300 test
cases).
·
Constructed
hardware devices to generate telephone line noise for internal modem testing.
·
Evangelized
automation, trained staff, wrote documentation and test scripts.
Products: MagicCap (embedded OS
for palmtop device), and MagicCap development environment
Sr.
·
Wrote automated
tests and contributed to group efforts to extend existing automation harness
(250 test cases).
·
Technical
resource for team on both Silk/QA Partner and Windows platform
intricacies.
·
Promoted need
to automate results processing.
Products: AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
·
Architected
automated testing systems (library of 350 objects and functions, 11,000 test
cases).
·
Wrote
automation style standardization guidelines.
·
Introduced
object oriented programming in Silk/
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Mentored
coworkers on Silk/
·
Developed
standards in conjunction with Engineering for custom controls in order to
facilitate automation of more than half of the test cases.
Products: ViewStar workflow
process management suite
·
Designed
unattended, platform-independent, multi-station test distribution system.
·
Defined
automation framework and built automated testing systems for both
character-based and GUI environments (3000 test cases, 120 objects and
functions).
·
Constructed an
intelligent, unattended test monkey.
·
Served as
technical resource for several groups.
Products: Three different
project management packages (TimeLine DOS, TimeLine Windows, On Target)
Manager of Technical
Services; Micro Planning International,
·
Built and
managed technical services department; responsible for network services,
computer acquisition, setup, training and support.
·
Served on
software design team and assisted with product quality assurance.
·
Wrote product
technical notes.
Products: Three different
project management packages (InstaPlan, X-PERT, MicroPlanner)
General
Manager/Programmer; SofTalent (Defunct), Livermore – 1985 - 1988
·
Responsible for
vendor relations, hardware acquisition.
·
Trained and
supervised staff of six.
·
Managed five
projects to timely completion.
·
Wrote tools for
in-house use.
Products: Games, reusable game
development platform, in house business tools
Technical Skills/Keywords
Fluent with Silk/QA Partner, Quick
Test Pro, QuickTest Pro, QuickTestPro, QTP, VBScript, VS Script, NT batch
scripting; experienced with WinBatch & 4NT; some experience with Visual
Basic, Expect, TCL, Bash Unix shell scripting, C/C++, Java; Also facile with
Windows system administration (including the usual: mail, web, news, ftp, and
time servers as well as some PIM admin); Build experience with MS DevStudio
(and an automated build and test execution system that I designed, which was
written in Java). Other things I’ve done include a little bit of
Formal training
·
Zone Labs:
Server Management and Security Policy Design for Zone Labs Integrity, 2003
·
ProBusiness:
Management training on layoffs, 2002
·
M. Rosenberg,
creator of NVC (see below): Power Relationships , 2002
·
Blessing White:
Management Coaching, 2002
·
Center for
Leadership Excellence: Management Leadership Intensive, 2001
·
Jean Morrison
and Martine Algier: Basics of Non-Violent Communication (NVC), 2001
·
Scott Taylor:
Fundamentals of Management Responsibility, 1999
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Landmark
Education: “Communication, Access to Power”, 1999
·
Landmark
Education: “The Advanced Course”, 1999
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Landmark
Education: “The Forum”, CA 1998
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Symantec: C/C++
In house training, CA 1992
·
Symantec:
·
Segue:
Trainings given
·
Principles of
software architecture (ongoing)
·
TrackStudio use
training, presented 2005
·
Test Automation
Using SilkTest & Layered Architectures (ongoing – presented to new staff)
·
Managing
jealousy (in research phase now, due to release in June 2005)
·
Making
effective agreements, presented 2004
·
Dealing with
new relationships, presented 2003
·
Effective
scheduling techniques, presented 2002
·
Dating for the
shy & Creative Personals Ads, presented 2002
Requirements
·
Minimal travel
·
Location in
greater San Francisco Bay Area (near BART preferred)
·
Close working
relationship with my upline report (I thrive on developing a sense of loyalty,
and need enthusiastic support to achieve my best results)
·
Typical work
week of 45 hours
Other
·
·
Available with four
weeks notice
This document is available
on-line at: http://www.weirdness.org/akienm/resume
Available in MSWord format at: http://www.weirdness.org/akienm/resume/akienresume.doc
Available in text format at: http://www.weirdness.org/akienm/resume/akienresume.txt