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I specialize in adapting to diverse contexts to deliver high-quality software solutions efficiently, and I'm passionate about testing and tool development, they are both critical to driving software excellence and maintaining delivery speed. == Skills Summary ===== Testing Skills ===
Fulltime. : Served as a quality coach for a startup company developing a ReactJS Web App for the AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism) industry.
<br>'''===[[Archive What I'm Reading, Watching, Listing, Learning, and Trying Out|Archive of ]]===:Old pre-2024 entries]]''' --------
== <end> ==[[#Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer|Back to Top]], Send [http://dirksonline.net/cvwiki/index.php?title=Talk:Curriculum_Vitae_-_Vincent_Dirks <u>feedback</u>]
→Test Community Events
== Intro Vincent Dirks - Software Quality Engineer ==
As a versatile Software Quality Engineer, I aim to understand the nuances of the product, team dynamics, technological landscapes, and organizational structures so that I can adapt and contribute effectively. My approach extends I specialize in adapting to diverse contexts, and look beyond traditional testing methodologies; I to consider the design of the whole quality ecosystem that facilitates excellence and efficiency in necessary for delivering quality software developmentsolutions efficiently.
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=== Programming and Automation Skills ===
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* Splunk (log aggregation & analysis)
* Postman, Newman
* Github/Bitbucket
* Jenkins, Azure Devops, TFS, Google Cloud Platform
* Bash & Powershell scripting
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=== General Skills ===
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== Work Experience ==
I am currently on taking a [[Mental Health and Wellbeing Break]] (Jan-2024 - Present) break from work to give myself some time for self-care and recovery following significant life events in recent after some difficult periods over the last couple of years.
=== [[TTC - Water Services Reform, Dept. of Internal Affairs (NZ Govt) - Senior Test Automation Engineer]] (Nov-2023 - Jan-2023 contracting2024) ===: Contracting through [https://ttcglobal.com TTC Global]. Part of the Test Automation team for the Three Waters Project, developing a UI Automation suite in Java using the [https://wave.tidalcode.dev/ Tidal. wave] Selenium automation library
=== [[Westpac NZ - Senior Automation Quality Engineer]] (Apr-2021 - Nov-2023) ===
: Served as a Roving Automation Quality Engineer, bridging testing and automation gaps across multiple teams. Tested and automated mobile apps (Appium & XCUITest), a D365 web UI (Java, Selenium, POM's), and various APIs (Java, REST Assured). Also undertook a secondment as a platform engineer supporting Splunk, and later developed a ReactJS web app for viewing the test environment landscapeenvironments and interconnections.
=== [[FirstAML - Test Analyst]] (Oct-2020 - Mar-2021) ===
=== [[Weather Radar NZ limited - Weather Radar Systems Engineer]] (Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) ===
: Contracting 4 days/week. Helping modify legacy weather radars with some embedded Arduino micro controllers. Designing new electronics, PCB's, maintaining power waveguide systems, and performing signal analysis.
=== [[Grappler- Agile Quality Analyst]] (Jun-2020 - Oct-2020) ===
: Contracting 1 day/week. Developed a Postman collection to test the API and implemented a node in Google Cloud Platform to execute the collection using Newman, and a simple Web UI (Node.js, Express.js) to trigger test runs and display HTML test reports. The Web UI implemented access restrictions for whitelisted IPs and authenticated users.
=== [[Fiserv Auckland - Intermediate Software Test Engineer]] (Jan-2017 - Apr-2020) ===
: Native Mobile App functional and accessibility testing. API testing and automation. Using Postman/Newman, Specflow with C#, Javascript(Postman/Node.js/Express.js), Splunk for dashboards, TFS & Powershell for System deployment automation. Created a [[Postman Testrunner Framework]] for automated API integration checks and environment health monitoring.
=== [[Engel Consulting - Contracting]] (Sep 2016 - Dec 2016) ===
=== [[Trade Me - Senior Software Test Analyst]] (Dec-2014 - Aug-2016) ===
: Part of a small squad at Trade Me, I conducted context-driven exploratory testing for software changes to the iconic website. My responsibilities included testing DBs, UIs, APIs, and mobile apps, leading deployments, conducting test planning and peer reviews, utilizing BDD and visual test tools. I gained experience with implementing agile methods, Splunk, ReadyAPI, XMind, Jira, and Confluence. I also enjoyed onboarding new staff and contributing to the test and agile guilds. === [[LeasePlan Pre-2014 Roles]] ===: [[Pre-2014 Roles#Monitor Business Machines NZ Ltd - Logistics Manager (Aug-2005 - Aug-2009)|Logistics Manager]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Primary Caregiver (Sep-2003 - Jul-2005)|Caregiver]], [[Pre-2014 Roles#Bioengineering Institute - Software Engineer (Sep 2002 - Aug 2003)|Software TesterEngineer]] , [[Pre-2014 Roles#Monitor Business Machines NZ Ltd - Development & Support Engineer (Apr 2013 Aug 1997 - Nov 2001)|Development & Support Engineer]], [[Pre- Dec 2014Roles#Carter Holt Harvey(Tissue Group) ====== - Production Scheduler (1994 - 1996)|Production Scheduler]], [[Pre-2013 2014 Roles#University of Auckland - Lab Coordinator & Physics Tutor (Sep-2003 - Jul-2005 part time)|Physics Tutor]] ===
== Related wiki pages ==
=== [[References_-_Full_List|References]] ===
:[[References_-_Full_List#Dept. of Internal Affairs (TTC)| TTC]], [[References_-_Full_List#Westpac| Westpac ]], [[References_-_Full_List#Fiserv| Fiserv ]], [[References_-_Full_List#| Trade Me Motors]]
=== [[Volunteering]] ===
: [[Ministry of Testing - Auckland Branch|Ministry of Testing]], Eastern Suburbs AFC, Glendowie Boating Club, MOTAT, Eastern Suburbs Montessori Primary School
=== [[Professional Development]] ===
: Conferences, workshops, meetups etc.
=== [[Education]] ===
: University of Auckland: ME(Elec)
=== [[Presentations, Posts, and blogs]] ===
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==What I'm reading, watching, listening, learning, and trying out in 2024==
=== Test Community Events ===
* Registered to go to the [https://nztestingconf.nz/ NZTestingConf 2024] in Wellington to listen to
** Shay Naiki, QA Manager @ Alphero: Creating a collaborative culture in the testing world: lessons from life in a digital agency
** Nevetha Mani, Product Human @ Hectre: Off the beaten path: rethinking quality in the startup world
** Emma Procter & Jonathan Shirley, @ PikPok: Finding the fun: researching and playtesting games at PikPok
** Patricio Miner, Content Creator @ Free Range Testers: ETL: the testing niche you've never thought of
** Toby Martin, QA Practice Lead @ Pushpay: Stop automating, start investigating: a guide to slowing down to speed up
** Ryan Bevens, QA Community Manager @ Potentia: Diary of a reluctant recruiter: your value as a tester
:''== Watch this space for conference notes ==''
===Interesting Reads===
* '''[https://www.satisfice.com/download/a-context-driven-approach-to-automation-in-testing A Context Driven Approach to Automation in Testing]''' By James Bach and Michael Bolton
* Setting up Docker Desktop at home to run the [https://github.com/Splunk/docker-Splunk Docker Splunk Image]